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LIBRARY 

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Biographical  Record 


LOGAN  COUNTY, 

ILLINOIS. 


ILLl  ISTHATKD. 


Thf  people  that  take  no  pride  hi  the  noble  acliievenieiits  of  remote  ancestors  ~vill  never  aehii 
anything  -.•:orthy  to  be  remembered  ivith  pride  by  remote  generations. — ]SlACAri..\  v. 


CHir.\c;o 

The  S.   J.   Clarke  Piblisiiing  Company. 


Biofjraphy  is  the  only  true    History.  —  P.merson. 

L  people  that  take  no   pride   in   the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors 

will  nevei   achieve  anythinj;  worthy  to  be  remembered  with 

pride  by  remote  generations. — Maiaulay. 


CD 


PREFACE. 


ff^M-^y 


T 


?ijHE  frrcatest  of  English  historians,  Macali.ay.  and  one  of  the  most 
S)j  brilliant  writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said  :  "The  history  of  a 
',  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people."  In  con- 
^  formity  with  this  idea,  the  Biographical  Record  has  been  prepared. 
'  Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and  taking  therefrom  dry  statistical 
'y  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our  corps  of  writers  have 
^  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
'"  and  industry,  brought  this  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among 
those  comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  Xo  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelligent 
public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the  imitation 
of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by  industry  and 
economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited  advantages  for  securing 
an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an  influence  extending  througtiout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who  have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of 
life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have  become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in 
every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usually 
crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very  many,  who.  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the 
world,  have  pursued  the  '•  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content  to  have  it  said  of  them,  as  Christ 
said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "  Thej-  nave  done  what  they  could."  It 
tells  how  many,  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood,  left  the  plow  and  the  anvil,  the 
lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  '■  to  do  or  die,''  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was 
restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every 
woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from 
the  fact  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which 
would  otherwise  be  inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work 
and  ever)-  opportunity  possible  given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has 
been  written  ;  and  the  publishers  flatter  themselves  that  thej-  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with 
few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  biographical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of 
representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biograpliical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume. 
For  this  the  publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some 
refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  compile  a  skeich,  while  others  were  indifferent. 
Occasionally  some  member  of  the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such 
opposition  the  support  of  the  interested  one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men 
never  could  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made  at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

December,   1901.  The  S.  J.  Clarke  Piulisiiing  Co. 


852590 


CONTENTS (^ 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


Table  of  Contents 

IXTROinCTORY,        - 


LOMl'EN 

Com PEN 


)U M    OF    NATIONAI 

>iLM  OF  Local  Bi 


INDEX  TO  FART  I. 


Compendium  of  National  Biography. 
Biographical   Sketches  of  National  Celebrities. 


PAGE 

Abbott,   Lyman     144 

Adams,  Charles  Kendall I4;l 

Adams,  John 2h 

Adams,  John  Quincy (il 

Agassiz,  Louis  J.  R.'. 137 

A Itjer,  Russell  A 178 

Allison.  William  B 131 

AUston,  Washington 190 

.Atgeld,  John  Peter  140 

Andrews,  Elisha  B 184 

Anthony,  Susan  B 62 

Armour,  Philip  D 62 

Arnold,  Benedict 84 

Arthur,  Chester  Allen 168 

Astor,  John  Jacob 139 

Audobon,  John  Jacob 166 

Bailey,  James  Montgomery...  177 

Bancroft,  George 74 

Barnard,  Frederick  A.  P 179 

Barnum,   Phineas  T 41 

Barrett,  Lawrence 1.56 

Barton.  Clara 209 

Bavard,  Thomas  Francis 200 

Beard,  William  H 196 

Beauregard.  Pierre  G.  T 2U3 

Beecher.  Henry  Ward 26 

Bell.  Alexander  Graham 96 

Bennett,  lames  Gordon 206 

Benton,  Thomas  Hart .")3 

Bergh,  Henry   160 

Bierstadt,  .Albert 197 

Billings,  Josh 166 

Blaine,  James  Gillespie 22 

Bland,  Richard  Parks 196 


Boone,    Daniel 36 

Booth,  Edwin   -M 

Booth,  Junius  Brutus   177 

Brice,  CaU  in  S 181 

Brooks,   Philips l.SO 

Brown,  John   ...    .SI 

Brown,  Charles  Farrar 91 

Brush,  Chailes  Francis   lo3 

Bryan,  William  Jennings lo8 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 44 

Buchanan,  Franklin 195 

Buchanan,  James     128 

Buckner,  Simon  Boliver 18    I 

Burdette,  Robert  J   103 

Burr,  Aaron     HI 

Butler,  Benjamin  Franklin  ....  24 

Calhoun,  John  Caldwell 23 

Cameron,  lames  Donald 141 

Cameron,  Simon. 141 

Canimack,  Addison   197 

Campbell,  Alexander 180 

Carlisle,  John  G 133 

Carnegie,  An  Irew 73 

Carpenter,  Matthew  Hale 173 

Carson,  Christopher  (Kit)..    ..     86 

Cass,  Lewis 1 10 

Chase,  Salmon  Portland 6.5 

Childs,  George  W   83 

Choate,   Rufus 207 

Chaflin,  Horace  Brigham ll>7 

Clay,  Henry   .' 21 

Clemens,  Samuel  Langhorne.  .     Mi 

Cleveland,   Grover 174 

Clews,  Henry I.'i3 


pa(;e 

Clinton,  DeWitt 110 

Colfax,  Schuyler 139' 

Conkling,  Allred   32 

Conkling,  Ri)SCoe 32 

Cooley,  Thomas  .Mclntyre  ...  140 

Cooper,  James  Fenimore o8 

Cooper,  Peter 37 

Coprly,  John  Singleton 191 

Corbin,  Austin 205 

Corcoran,  W.  W 196 

Cornell,   Ezra 161 

Cramp,  William 189^ 

Crockett,  David 76 

Cullom,  nhelby  Moore  116 

Curtis,  George  William 144 

Cushman,  Charlotte 107 

Custer,  George  A 95 

Dana.  Charles  A 88 

"Ddnhury  News  Man" 177 

Davenport,  Fanny 106 

Davis,  Jefferson 24 

Debs,  Eugene  \' 132 

Decatur,  Ster.hen   101 

Deering,  William.... 198 

Depew,  Chauncey  Mitchell...  209^ 

Dickinson,  Anna 103 

Dickinson.  Don  .\I    139 

Dinglcy,  Nelson,  Jr 215 

Donnelly,  Ignatius 161 

Douglas,  Stephen  Arnold 5:1 

Douglass,    Frederick 4:i 

Dow,  Neal 108. 

Diaper,  John  William 184 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS— PART  I 


PAGE 

Urcxel.  Anthony  Joseph 124 

Uupuni,  Henry 198 

1                             \\s^ .V' 

i                            .-•  F 'iOl 

i                            - 1«8 

I                          !.  Waldo 67 

Kru,...,,,  j..hh 127 

Evans.  William  Maxwell »i 

Karragut,  David  Glascoe 80 

Fii-Ul.  L  vrus  Wi-st 173 

Kicld.  I  liivi.l  Dudley 126 

Fir'.!    M.irv!:n!! W 

I         .    ^-    -  .     ■    •    ' •'>■■ 


Gage,  Lvman  I  ~\ 

Gallatin;  Altari    112 

Gartiild,  Jaiiiis  A \y<A 

Gam-It,  John  Work 2tH) 

Garrison,  William  Lloyd W 

Gates,   Horatio 70 

GatliiiK,  Kithard  Jordan lU! 

( IcorKf,  Ht-nry   2<i;l 

GiblKins,  Cardinal  James 209 

Gilmore,  Patrick  Sarsfield. 

Girar.l,  Slephun 

Gi.utrh,  John  B 

(ioul.l.  Jav 

Gordon.  lohn  B 

Grant,  llysses  S 

Gray,  Asa 

Grav,  Elislia 

Grcelev,  Adolphus  W.... 

Griclty,  Horace. 

Grei-ni-,  Nathaniel 

Gresliam,  Walter  yuintin. 


i:<7  i 
i.n 

.V2   I 
215 
155 

88 
149 
142 

20 


Hale,  Edward  Everett 

Hall,  Charles  Francis 

Hamilton,  .-Mexander 

Hamlm.llannihal 

Hampton.  W.i.le    

HanciK:k,  Winlield  Scott 

Hanna,  Marms  Alonzo 

Harris,  Isham  G 

Harrison,  William  Henry 

Harrison,  Benjamin 

Harvard,  Jolm 

Havemeyer,  John  Grain; 

Hawthorne,  Nathaniel 

Hayes,  Rutherford  Birchard.. 
Hendricks,  Thomas  Andrew. 

Henry,  Josejih 

Henrv,«ratrick 

Hill.liavid   Bennett 

Holiart.  Garrett  A 

Holmes.  Oliver  Wen.lell 

ll.«,ker.  Joseph 

Howe,  Elias... 

Howills,  William  Uean 


PAGE 

Houston,  Sam— 130 

Hughes,  Archbishop  John 157 

HuL'hitl,  Marvm 1.59 

Hull,  Isaac .'... 169 

H  untington,  Collis  Potter 94 

Ingalls,  John  James 114 

InKersoll,  Robert  C 85 

Irving,  Washington iiS 

iackstm,  Andrew 71 
ackson,  "  Stonewall  " 67 
ackson,  Thomas  Jonathan 67 
,-.v    I..hn   39 

'   •• Inseph 47 

I'homas  34 

\ndrrw 145 

I  .istman   202 

|..|,n--,..ii.  Jose^.h  Ecclcslon....  K'> 
Jones.  James  K    171 

iones,  John  I'aul S*7 
ones,  Samuel  I'orter 115 

Kane,  Elisha  Kent 125 

Kearney,  Philip 210 

Kenton!  Simon lif 

Knox,  John  Jay 134 

Lamar,  Lucius  Q.  C 201 

Landon,  Melville  D 109 

Lee.  Kolierl   Edward 38 

Lewis,  Charles  B 19:5 

Lincoln.  Aliraham l:« 

Livermore,  Marv  Ashton 131 

Locke,  David  Ross 172 

Loiian,  |ohn  .A 26 

Longfellow,  Henry  Wadsworth  37 

Longstreet,  James 56 

Lowell,  lames  Russell 104 

Mackay,  John  William 148 

Madison,  lames 42 

Marshall.John 156 

Mather,  Cotton 164 

Mather,  Increase 16;i 

Maxim,  Hiram  S 194 

McClelUin.CieorRe  Brinton 47 

McCormick.  Cvrus  Hall 172 

McDonouj;h.  Com.  Thomas.. .  167 

McKinlev,  William 217 

Meade,  George  Gordon 75 

Medill.  Joseph 159 

Miles,  Nelson  A 176 

Miller,  Cincinnatus  Heine 218 

Miller,  Jo.-i.iuin 218 

.Mills.  KoKeryuarles. 211 

Monroe,  lames 54 

MikkIv,  Dwight  L 207 

Moran,Thoin;is  98 

Morgan,  John  I'ierpont 208 

Morgan,  John  T 216 

Morris,   Robert 165 

Morse,  Samuel   F.  B 124 

Morton,  Levi   1' 142 

Morton,  Oliver  Perry 215 

Motley,  John  Lathrop l-'W 

"Nye,  Bill" 59 

Nye,  Edgar  Wilson 59 


I  PAGE 

I   O'Conor,  Charles ll<7 

I  OIney,  Richard 133 

,    Paine,  Thomas 147 

Palmer,  John  .M 195 

\    Parkhursi,  Charles  Henry 160 

\  "Partington,  .Mrs." 202 

Pealxidv,  George 170 

Peck,  deorpe  W 1X7 

'    Peffer,  William  A 164 

Perkins.  Eli 109 

Perrv,  Oliver  Hazard 97 

Philfips,  Wendell 30 

Pierce,  Franklin 122 

Pingree,  Hazen  S 212 

Plant,  Henrv  B 192 

Po.-,  Edgar  Alleii 69 

Polk.  James  Knox 102 

Porter.  David  Dixon 68 

Porter.  N<ah 9!} 

Prentice,  George  Denison..  . .     119 

i'rescolt,  William  Hickling 96 

Pullman,  George  .Mortimer —  121 


Qu.-id,  M 

Quay   Matthew  S. 


Randolph,  Edmund 136 

Read,  Thomas  Buchanan VSt 

Reed,  Thomas  Bracket! 208 

149 
190 
195 
218 
113 
67 


Reid,  Whitelaw 

Roach,  John 

Rockefeller,  John  Davison... 

Root,  George  Frederick 

Rothermel.  Peter  F 

Rutledgc,  John 

.Sage,  R  ussell 

Schotield,  John  McAllister 

Scluir/,  Carl 

Scott.  Thomas  Alexander 

Scott,  Winlield 

i   Seward,  William  Henry 

'   Sharon,  William 

i   Shaw.  Henrv  W 

Sheridan.  Phillip  Henry 

Sherman.  Charles  R 

I   Sherman,  lohn 

;   Shillabir.  Benjamin  Penhallow 

.Sherman.  William  Tecum.seh.. 

I   Smith.  Edmund  Kirby 

j   Sousa.  John  Philip 

.Spreckels.  Claus 

Stanford.  Lelan.l 

1    Stanton.  Edwin  McMaslers... 

Stanton.  Elizabeth  Cady 

I    Stejihens.  .-Mexander  Hamilton 
'   Stephensin,  .-Xillai  Ewing...    . 

i    Stewart.  Alexander  T 

j   Stewart.  William  Morris. 

I   Stowe,        Harriet        Elizabeth 

I  Beecher   

!   Stuart,  James  E.  B 

I   Sumner,  Charles 


Talmage,  Thomas  DcWitt 
Taney,  Roger  Brool.- 

Tavlor,  /.acharv 

Teller.  Henr%  M 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS— PART  I 


I'AGF. 

Tesln,  Nikola 193 

Thomas,  Gcoree  H 73 

Thomas,  Theoilore 172 

Thiirman,  Allen  G 90 

Thursion,   John  M 106 

Tilden,  Samuel  J 48 

Tillman,  Ucnjamin  Rvan 1  Ul 

Toombs,  Robert '. '20o 

"Twain,  Mark" f^t; 

Tyler,  John 93 

Van  Buren,  Martm 78 

Vanderbilt,  Cornelius  35 

Vail,  Alfred 154 

^'est,  George  Graham 214 


Vilas,  William  Freeman 140 

\'oorhees,  Uaniel  Wolsey 95 

Waite,  Morrison  Remich 125 

Wallace,  Lewis 199 

Wallatk,  Lester 121 

Wallack,  John  Lester 121 

Wanamakcr,  julin 89 

Ward,  "Artemus  " 91 

Washburne,  Klihu  IJenjamin. .  l!<9 

Washington,  George 17 

Watson,  Thomas  E 178 

Watterson,  Henry 7(5 

Weaver,  James  U 123 

Webster,  Daniel 19 


Webster,  Noah 49 

Weed,  Thurlow 91 

West,  Benjamin 115 

Whipple,  Henry  Benjamin.  ...  161 

White,  Stephen  V 162 

Whitetield,  George 150 

Whitman,  Walt 197 

Whitnev,  Eli 120 

Whitney,  William  Collins 92 

Whittier,  John  Greenleaf 67 

Willard,  Frances  E 133 

Wilson,  William  L 180 

Winchell,  Alexander 175 

Windom,  William 13« 


PORTRAITS  OF  NATIONAL  CELEBRITIES. 


PAGF. 

Alger,  Russell  A 16 

Allison,  William  B 99 

Anthony,  Susan  B 63 

Armour,  Philip  1) 151 

Arthur,  Chester  A 81 

I5arnuiii,  Phineas  T 117 

Beecher,  Henry  Ward 27 

Blaine,  James  G 151 

Booth,  Edwin 63 

Brvan,  Wm.  J 63 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 185 

Buchanan,  James 81 

Buckner,  Simon  B 16 

Butler  Benjamin  F 151 

Carlisle,  John  G 151 

Chase,  Salmon  P 16 

Childs,  George  W 99 

Clay,  Henry 81 

Cleveland,  Grover 45 

Cooper,  Peter 99 

Dana,  Charles  A 151 

Depew,  Chauncey  M 117 

Douglass,  Fred 63 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo 27 

Evans,  William  M 99 

Farragut,  Com.  D.  G 185 

Field,  Cyrus  W 63 


PAGF. 

Field,  Marshall 117 

Franklin,  Benjamin 63 

Fremont,  Gen.  John  C 16 

Gage,  Lyman  J: 151 

Garfield,  James  A 45 

Garrison,  William  Lloyd 63 

George,  Henry 117 

Gould,  Jav 99 

Grant,  Gc'n.  U.  S 1H5 

Greeley,  Horace 81 

Hampton,  Wade 16 

Hancock,  Gen.  Winfield  S 185 

Hanna,  MarkA   117 

Harrison,  Benjamin 81 

Hayes,  R.  B 45 

Hendricks,  Thomas  A 81 

Holmes,  Oliver  W 151 

Hooker,  Gen.  Joseph 16 

Ingersoll,  Robert  G 117 

Irving,  Washington 27 

Jackson,  Andrew 45 

Jefferson,  Thomas 45 

Johnston,  Gen.  J.  E 16 

Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E 186 

Lincoln,  Abraham 81 

Logan,  Gen.  lohn  A 16 

Longfellow,  Henry  W 185 


PAGK 

Longstreot,  Gen.  James 16 

Lowell,  James  Russell 27 

McKinley,  William 45 

Morse,  S.  F.  B 185 

Phillips,  Wendell 27 

Porter,  Com.  D.  D 1»5 

Pullman,  George  M 117 

Quay,  M.  S 99 

Reed,  Thomas  B 151 

Sage,  Russell   117 

Scott,  Gen.  Winfield 185 

Seward,  William  H 45 

Sherman,  John 99 

.Sherman,  Gen.  W.  T 151 

Stanton,  Elizabeth  Cady 27 

Stowe,  Harriet  Beecher 27 

Sumner,  Charles  45 

Talmage,  T.  DeWitt 63 

Teller,  Henry  M 99 

Thurman,  Allen  G 81 

Tilden,  Samuel  J 117 

\'an  Buren,  Martin 81 

\'anderbilt.  Commodore 99 

Webster,  Daniel 27 

\yhittier,  John  G 21 

Washington,  George 46 

Watterson,  Henry 63 


IX13EX. 

PART  II.   BIOGRAPHICAL 


\  inn       1-      1 

-iXi 

Mirens,    Albert 

\hrens.  P.  G 

Vlixiin.lcr,  J.  S 

\rmsiron(j.  William..  . 

Atchison.  A.    U 

Atchison.  O.  W 

Atlass.    Frank 

Alleberry.    William... 

57.-1 

277 

.-.17 

-.M 

.-.71 

.-.71 

4«a 

:w2 

.-.!(» 

.  .-.8:1 

.-«:< 

Kangeri.    Henrv 

Hapst.  William. 

Harnrtt.  J.  K..  M.  1>    . 

23« 

.'572 

iU 

(122 

Heaver    W     S 

(HN) 

Hehrcnds.    B.    1< 

Hekemeyer.  C.   H 

:«»7 

:i7:i 

4.-.S 

Herrvhill.    A.   J 

Hinns.    H.    A 

Hltck    (■    K 

»iS 

.-.i:i 

:i7:i 

HIackl.um.  T.  1 

Hlinn    K    D                /   . 

SKI 

4(i:i 

Hock.  Adam 

Hohan.  Patrick 

Host   Jacob 

2.-.0 

2;i2 

.>4(l 

l^wles.  C.  H 

:iH2 

Howies  W    II 

4:12 

Hojarth.  J.  \V      M.  1>. 

Hrainard.  H.  11 

Hramman.  A.  J 

Hraucher.  I).  I 

Hrawley,  J.  K 

Krennan,  Thoma.s 

:«i2 

21M 

.-.4:1 

:ui» 

4«!l 

(M.-. 

Hresl.  John 

Bridge.  C.   P 

Briees  W   T 

M-i 

flllH 

2:1:1 

Brock   \V   N 

41HI 

Brown.  H.  B.  M.  U,. 
Biirchetl,  Landrum... 
Burnt   James 

:h:! 

:i.-Kt 

:i2:t 

Buizard.  L.  () 

27!l 

famerer.  T.   N . 


C'arnahan.   William 47li 

rhestnut,  D.  N :«W 

Chestnut.  T.  J •'.:» 

riark.  K.  D '.IH* 

Coflman.  Levi ■•'•7 

lollins.  J.  W :<42 

Combs.   Jonathan 4'^ 

Cook.  W.  H.  B T.\ 

Corthon.   A.  S Xi>i 

Cosbv.  H.  L..  M.  D :«1 

Cosby.   Noah .-.!>2 

Cossitt,  J.   J .-.«.-> 

Cottle.  F.  W 474 

Council.  G.  R "KM 

Council.  Hardy .->:<1 

Crane.  MA '-m 

Criichfield,  J.   A 444 

(urn,.  J.   D 44(t 

Dawson.  S.  C 4o:t 

Dittus.  E.  J 2.-.:i 

Dittus.   Frederick :i2lt 

Downey.  J.  B .•«*< 

Downing.  L.  D 272 

Downing.  S.  W :MI2 

Downing.  W.  1 2:<l 

Drake.  S.  H 4WI 

Dunham.  W.  S ■"H 

Dunn.  N.   S d.'.:! 

Kllis.  Mrs.   Marjsaret .-.<•!• 

Kwing.  1.  N <•>:>•-> 

Fenton.  Thomas .KM* 

Finfrock.  I.  G IH4 

Foley.  J.  B :H7 

Fulsher.  William .'.7:1 

Fuson.   I'.  S :'72 

c.addis.  B.  K :mi 

Gardner.  B.  F..  M.  D 007 

Gasaway   J.    Mc M-i 

(Jasaway.  N.  P .-.(W 

Gasawav.  T.  A HIO 

(;eml«:rlinR.  J.    A tMl 

Geml.erlinK.  R.  G 0:»:i 

(;ibson.  Kdward .V.4 

Gilchrist.   David .'114 

(iiichrist.  D.J :wm 

Gilchrist.   Robert 21»2 

Gillette.  J.    D M'. 


Glenn.  J.    A 

Gobelman.    Henry 

Grafl.  Z.  W 

Graham.  J.  C 

Green.  J.   T 

Grinter.   J.  K 

Groves.  L.  I 

(iruensfelder.   Philip. 


Hainline.  .Mien. .  . . 

Hamsen.  ,\.   J 

Hammerton.   J.    H. 

Harley.    F.    M 

Harms.    Nanke 

Harris.  T.  M 

Harris.   John 

Harrison.  J.  B 

Harts.   D.   H 

Heckard.  Frederick 

Henn.  W.    F 

Hill.    Iriah 

Hoblit.   Frank 

Hoblit.   J.  W 

Hoblit.  Laban 

Hocrr.    Frank 

Holland.  Isaac 

Holmes.   T.   F 

Horn.  J.  A 

Horn,  I'aulus 

Houston,  W.  J 

Howe.  T.  D 

Howser.   J.  W 

Hubbard.  G.  H.... 
Hungerford.  William 
Hyde.  J.  F 


lies.  Edward 

Jeckel.  J.    F 

Jewett,  J.  E 

Jones.   W.   B 

Johnston.  James. . 
Johnston.   William. 

Judy.   Jacob 

Judy.  J.   1 


Kaesebier.   W.  C.   R 

Kennedy.  T.  D 

Keys.  Andrew 

Kiick.    John 

Kincaid.  W.  R..    M.  D 
Kirbv.  W.  H..  M.  D.. 


620 
344 
01  :< 
am 

478 
342 

:i84 

002 

22:j 
4:11 
■.r,4 

447 


370 

:<:tn 

227 
200 

.V«l 


:hm 


:W4 
o:t2 

.•SIM 

.wi 

:<8:< 

..  :t4-2 


INDEX. 


Klokkeniia.  Harm. 

Knaak,  H 

Koch,  \V.  .\.,  M.  U. 
Koehnle.  F.    C.  \V 
Kretzinger.   C.   A. 
Kiiemniel,  .\.  F.  .  . 

I.achenmyer.  J.J. 
Lanternian.  Scott. 
Larison.    .\bel.... 

Larison,  J.  H 

Lawrence,  C.  S.  . . 

Lee,    C.  \V 

Lee.  Maskel.   M.   I 

Lee.   Peter 

Leach.  \V.  R 

Linbarger,    E.  S. . 

I-ogue,  J.   K 

Long.  J.  H 

Longan.  J.  N 


\V, 


Ma.son.  J.  O 

Matlock.  \V.   P.... 

Maus,  Peter 

Maver.  Jacob 

McCarrel.  Hurlev  . 
McCormick,  J.  D.. 
McCormick.  W.  \V. 
McClelland,  W.  E.. 
McLean,  S.  H..  M. 
McLellan.   James. . 

Meister,  J.  L 

Melrose.  James. . . . 

Merrv.  H.   O 

Miller,  J.  E 

Monnett.  Richard. . 
Montgomery.  H.  C. 

Moos,  E.  M 

Moos.  J.  M 

Motz.  Jacob 

Mountjoy,  E.  L  . .  . 

Mounljoy.  J,  I 

Mountjoy,  \V.  N. .  . 
Murphy.  Patrick. .  . 
Murray,  W.  M:  ... 
Myers.  Squire 

Nail.  K.  P 

Neel.  William  H... 
Nicholson.  E.   B... 

Nine.  C.  E 

Nix,   Jacob 

Nottelraann,  H.  H. 
Nycum,  William.. . 

Obcamp.  Peter. .  .  . 
O'Brien.  Patrick.. . 

Oglevee,   C.  S 

Oldaker,  J.  W 

Ophardt,  Peter. .  . . 


Ovler,  H.  S.,   M.  \>.. 
Oyler,  I'.  H.,  >L  D.. 

( Inon,  1".  C" 

t>rton.  L.  O..  M.  O.. 

I'aine,  W.  C,  M.  1), . 

Parker.  Jeremiah 

Pattison.  T.  R 

Paul.  H.  A.  J 

Payne,  W.  G 

"•ease,  .■\.  J 

Pech.  Robert 

Pegram,  \V.  A 

Perkins.  Edwin  C. . . . 
Potts,  Mrs.  Rachel  A. 

Price,  S.  O 

Purviance,  H.  P 


(Juisenberry.  Albert. . 
yuisenberry.  Allen.. 
(Juisenberry,  .\rthur. 
yuisenberry,  G.  H. . . 

Rademaker,    N,   T... 

Rankin,  Sinnet 

Rayburn,  G.   T 

Read,   J.    T 

Reeder,   C.    C 

Reinders.    Peter 

Keise.  Frederick 

Reiterman,  A.  F 

Rigg.  R.  W.,  M.  D.. 
Rimerman.  Adolph.. 
Rimerman,    William. 

Ritter.  E.  E 

Ritter.  W.   T 

Roberts,  J.    H 

Rodenbeek,  A.  E 

Romer,  .-^nton 

Rothwell.J.M 

Rupp,  William 

Russell,  W.  P 

Ryan,  Patrick 


Sams,  John 

Sandel,    Peter.  .  .  . 
Sargent,  A.    M..   M.  D 
Sargent.  Samuel.  M.  D 
Schaftenacker,  Loui 
Schnathorst.  F.  W. 
Schonauer,  Adam.. 
Schwerdtfeger.   L.  ( 

Scroggin,  A.  C 

Scroggin.  L.   K. . . . 

Seidel,  W.    E 

Sexton,  J.  W 

Shaw,   William 

Sherwood.  Isaac... 
Shirley,  Henry.... 
Shockey.   Daniel... 

Siebert,  G.  W 

Simcoe,    Philander. 

Simpson.  D.  C 

Simpson.   J.  A 

Simpson,   W.  W. .  . 

Sisson.  E.  E 

Smith,  c;.    H 


M.  D 


Smith,    Thoma 
Snook,  J.    A.  .  . 

Snook.  T.  I 

Snyder,  T.  O 

Sparks.  J.  D 

Sparks.  Samuel 

Spinker.    John 

Starr.  Jacob 

Steen.  P.  H 

Stringer,  L.   B 

Strong,  G.  H 

Strong.   John 

Stroud,  W.  B.,  Sr. 
Stroud.  W.  B.,  Jr.. 

Stryker,  H.  T 

Stults,  B.  F..  M.  D 
Stumpf,  Hartman. . 

Sulliyan,  J.  M 

SuUiyan.  T.  I 

Sumner.  J.  W 

Tabke.  J.  A 

Talraage.  J.  F 

Taylor.  C.  B..   M.  D 
Taylor,  J,  C 
Taylo.-,  G.  C 
Telfer,    P.  J ... . 
Tidd,   Joseph. .  . 
Thomas.  J.  C, . . 
Thompson,  A.  S 
Thompson.  Mrs.  Clara 
Thompsoii,  J.  C,  Jr 
Tomlinson,  A.  H.. 
Tomlinson,  F.  L, . 
Tomlinson,  J.  M. . 
Tuohy,   James. .  . . 

Turner,  C.  H 

Tuttle,  F.  M 

Tuttle,  G.  H 

Tuttle.  T.  D 

Tyler,   C.  W 

L'hle.  William    .  . . 

Vanhise.  Dayid.  .  . 
Van  Gerpen,  C. . . 
Verry,  George.  .  .  . 
Vonderlietb,  A,  O. 
Vonderlieth,  G.  W 

Wakeman,  W.    P. 

Walters.  H.  B 

Webster,  J.  T..  M. 
Wiemer,  Henry.. 
Wigginton.  John.  . 
Wigginton.  J.  C.  J 
Wigginton,  W.  W. 
Willbanks.  J.  T... 
Willmert.  F.  J... 
Willmert.  J.    H... 

Woland.  S.  J 

Wood.  Z.  K 

Worth.  Murry.... 
Wyatt.  W.  D'.  .... 

Youngberg.    F.   R. 


42!) 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


_M^^^^l^i^ 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Celebrated  Americans 


"qJ^  '^(0?  ?<  ("l!?  '^uS' 


;^. 


^^. 


iGi 


EORGE    WASHINGTON, 

the  first  president  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  called  the  "Father 
of  his  Country,"  was  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  characters 
in  history.  He  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 22.  1732,  in  Washing- 
ton Parish,  Westmoreland  county,  Virginia. 
His  father,  Augustine  Washington,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bcre  him  four 
children,  and  March  'z.  1730,  he  married 
Mary  Ball.  Of  six  children  by  his  second 
marriage,  George  was  the  eldest. 

Little  is  known  of  the  early  years  of 
Washington,  beyond  the  fact  that  the  house 
in  which  he  was  born  was  burned  during  his 
early  childhood,  and  that  his  father  there- 
upon moved  to  another  farm,  inherited  from 
his  paternal  ancestors,  situated  in  Stafford 
county,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock, and  died  there  in  1 743.  From  earliest 
childhood  George  developed  a  noble  charac- 
ter. His  education  was  somewhat  defective, 
being  confined  to  the  elementary  branches 
taught  him  by  his  mother  and  at  a  neighbor- 
ing school.  On  leaving  school  he  resided 
some  time  at  Mount  Vernon  with  his  half 


brother,  Lawrence,  who  acted  as  his  guar- 
dian.  George's  inclinations  were  for  a  sea- 
faring career,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant 
was  procured  for  him;  butthrough  the  oppo- 
sition of  his  mother  the  project  was  aban- 
doned, and  at  the  age  of  si.xteen  he  was 
appointed  surveyor  to  the  immense  estates 
of  the  eccentric  Lord  Fairfax.  Three  years 
were  passed  by  Washington  in  a  rough  fron- 
tier life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards 
proved  very  essential  to  him.  In  1751, 
when  the  Virginia  militia  were  put  under 
training  with  a  view  to  active  service  against 
France,  Washington,  though  only  nineteen 
years  of  age,  was  appointed  adjutant,  with' 
the  rank  of  major.  In  1752  Lawrence 
Washington  died,  leaving  his  large  property 
to  an  infant  daughter.  In  his  will  George 
was  named  one  of  the  executors  and  as  an 
eventual  heir  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  by  the 
death  of  the  infant  niece,  soon  succeeded  to 
that  estate.  In  1753  George  was  commis- 
sioned adjutant-general  of  the  Virginia 
militia,  and  performed  important  work  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  was  rapidly  promoted,  and  at  the  close  of 
that  war  we  find  him  commander-in-chief  of 


IS 


COMPE.XDILM   OF    lilOGHAPHr. 


all  the  forces  raised  in  Virginia.  A  cessation 
of  Indian  hostilities  on  the  frontier  having 
followed  the  expulsion  of  the  French  from 
the  Ohio,  he  resigned  his  commission  as 
crmmander-in-chief  of  the  V'irfjinia  forces, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Williamsburg  to  take 
his  seat  in  the  Virginia  Assembly,  of  which 
he  had  been  elected  a  member. 

January  17.  1759.  Washington  married 
Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Curtis,  a  young 
and  beautiful  widow  of  great  wealth,  and 
devoted  himself  for  the  ensuing  hfteen  years 
tc  the  quiet  pursuits  of  agriculture,  inter- 
rupted only  by  the  annual  attendance  in 
winter  upon  the  colonial  legislature  at 
Williamsburg,  until  summoned  by  his  coun- 
try to  enter  upon  that  other  arena  in  which 
his  fame  was  to  become  world-wide.  The 
war  for  independence  called  Washington 
into  service  again,  and  he  was  made  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces,  and 
was  the  most  gallant  and  conspicuous  fig-ure 
in  that  bloody  struggle,  serving  until  Eng- 
land acknowledged  the  independence  of 
each  of  the  thirteen  States,  and  negotiated 
with  them  jointly,  as  separate  sovereignties. 
December  4,  1783,  the  great  commander 
took  leave  of  his  officers  in  most  affection- 
ate and  patriotic  terms,  and  went  to  An- 
napolis, Maryland,  where  the  congress  of 
the  States  was  in  session,  and  to  that  body, 
when  peace  and  order  prevailed  everywhere, 
resigned  his  commission  and  retired  to 
Mount  Vernon. 

It  was  in  1789  that  Washington  was 
called  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  na- 
tion. The  inauguration  took  place  April 
30,  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  multi- 
tude which  had  assembled  to  witness  the  new 
and  imposing  ceremony.  In  the  manifold  de- 
tails of  his  civil  administration  Washington 
proved  himsclffully equal  to  the  requirements 
of  his  position.      In  1 792.  at  the  second  presi- 


I  dential  election,  Washington  was  desirous 
to  retire;  but  he  yielded  to  the  general  wish 
of  the  country,  and  was  again  chosen  presi- 
dent. At  the  third  election,  in  1796,  he 
was  again  most  urgently  entreated  to  con- 
sent to  remain  in  the  executive  chair.  This 
he  positively  refused,  and  after  March  4, 
1797,  he  again  retired  to  Mount  N'ernon 
for  peace,  quiet,  and  repose. 

Of  the  call  again  made  on  this  illustrious 
chief  to  quit  his  repose  at  Mount  Ver- 
non and  take  command  of  all  the  United 
States  forces,  with  rank  of  lieutenant-gen- 
eral, when  war  was  threatened  with  France 
in  179S,  nothing  need  here  be  stated,  ex- 
cept to  note  the  fact  as  an  unmistakable 
testimonial  of  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
was  still  held  by  his  countrymen  of  all 
shades  of  political  opinion.  He  patriotic- 
ally accepted  this  trust,  but  a  treaty  of 
peace  put  a  stop  to  all  action  under  it.  He 
again  retired  to  Mount  Vernon,  where  he 
died  December  14,  1799,  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  his  age.  His  remains  were  depos- 
ited in  a  family  vault  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac,  at  Mount  Vernon,  where  they  still 
lie  entombed. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN,  an  eminent 
American  statesman  and  scientist,  was 
born  of  poor  parentage,  January  17,  1706, 
in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He  was  appren- 
ticed to  his  brother  James  to  learn  the  print- 
er's trade  to  prevent  his  running  away  and 
going  to  sea,  and  also  because  of  the  numer- 
ous family  his  parents  had  to  support  (there 
being  seventeen  children, ,  Henjaniin  being 
the  fifteenth).  He  was  a  great  reader,  and 
soon  developed  a  taste  for  writing,  and  pre- 
pared a  number  of  articles  and  had  them 
published  in  the  paper  without  his  brother  s 
knowledge,  and  when  the  authorship  be- 
came known  it  resulted  in  difficulty  for  tlie 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BlOGRAl'Hr. 


young  apprentice,  although  his  articles  had 
been  received  with  favor  by  the  public. 
James  was  afterwards  thrown  into  prison  for 
political  reasons,  and  young  Benjamin  con- 
ducted the  paper  alone  during  the  time.  In 
1S23,  however,  he  determined  to  endure  his 
bonds  no  longer,  and  ran  away,  going  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  arrived  with  only 
three  pence  as  his  store  of  wealth.  With 
these  he  purchased  three  rolls,  and  ate  them 
as  he  walked  along  the  streets.  He  soon 
found  employment  as  a  journeyman  printer. 
Two  years  later  he  was  sent  to  England  by 
the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
promised  the  public  printing,  but  did  not  get 
it.  On  his  return  to  Philadelphia  he  estab- 
lished the  "Pennsylvania  Gazette,"  and 
soon  found  himself  a  person  of  great  popu- 
larity in  the  province,  his  ability  as  a  writer, 
philosopher,  and  politician  having  reached 
the  neighboring  colonies.  He  rapidly  grew 
in  prominence,  founded  the  Philadelphia  Li- 
brary in  1842,  and  two  years  later  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  and  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  made 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in  London  in 
1775.  His  world-famous  investigations  in 
electricity  and  lightning  began  in  1746.  He 
became  postmaster-general  of  the  colonies 
in  1753,  having  devised  an  inter-colonial 
postal  system.  He  advocated  the  rights  of  ; 
the  colonies  at  all  times,  and  procured  the  | 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  in  1766.  He  was  I 
elected  to  the  Continental  congress  of  1775, 
and  in  1776  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  | 
of  Independence,  being  one  of  the  commit- 
tee appointed  to  draft  that  paper.  He  rep- 
resented the  new  nation  in  the  courts  of 
Europe,  especially  at  Paris,  where  his  simple 
dignity  and  homely  wisdom  won  him  the 
admiration  of  the  court  and  the  favor  of  the 
people.  He  was  governor  of  Pennsylvania 
tear  vears;  was  also  a  member  of   the  con- 


vention in  1787  that  drafted  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States. 

His  writings  upon  political  topics,  anti- 
slavery,  finance,  and  economics,  stamp  him 
as  one  of  the  greatest  statesmen  of  his  time, 
while  his  "Autobiography"  and  "Poor 
Richard's  Almanac  "  give  him  precedence  in 
the  literary  field.  In  early  life  he  was  an 
avowed  skeptic  in  religious  matters,  but 
later  in  life  his  utterances  on  this  subject 
were  less  extreme,  though  he  never  e.\- 
pressed  approval  of  any  sect  or  creed.  He 
died  in  Philadelphia  April  17,  1790. 


DANIEL  WEBSTER— Of  world  wide 
reputation  for  statesmanship,  diplo- 
macy, and  oratory,  there  is.  perhaps  no  more 
prominent  figure  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try in  the  interval  between  181 5  and  i86r, 
than  Daniel  Webster.  He  was  born  at 
Salisbury  (now  Franklin),  New  Hampshire, 
January  18,  1782,  and  was  the  second  son 
of  Ebenezer  and  Abigail  (Eastman)  Webster. 
He  enjoyed  but  limited  educational  advan- 
tages in  childhood,  but  spent  a  few  months 
in  1797,  at  Phillip  Exeter  Academy.  He 
completed  his  preparation  for  college  in  the 
family  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  at  Boscawen, 
and  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  the  fall 
of  1797.  He  supported  himself  most  of  the 
time  during  these  years  b\-  teaching  school 
and  graduated  in  1801,  having  the  credit  of 
being  the  foremost  scholar  of  his  class.  He 
entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  Thomas  W. 
Thompson,  at  Salisbury.  In  1S02  he  con- 
tinued his  legal  studies  at  Fryeburg,  Maine, 
where  he  was  principal  of  the  academy  and 
copyist  in  the  office  of  the  register  of 
deeds.  In  the  office  of  Christopher  Gore, 
at  Boston,  he  completed  his  studies  in 
1804-5,  ^n<i  ^^'^s  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
latter  year,  and  at  Boscawen  and  at  Ports- 
mouth soon  rose  to  eminence  in    his  profes- 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


sic.ii.  lie  t)i-caiiic  known  as  a  federalist 
but  dit'  not  court  p<^jlitical  honors;  but.  at- 
tracting attention  by  his  eloquence  in  oppos- 
ing the  war  with  England,  he  was  elected 
to  congress  in  |8|2.  During  the  special 
session  of  May,  1813,  he  was  appointed  on 
the  committee  on  foreign  affairs  and  made 
his  maiden  speech  June  10,  1813.  Through- 
o'jt  this  session  (as  afterwards)  he  showed 
his  mastery  of  the  great  economic  questions 
of  the  day.  He  was  re-elected  in  1814.  In 
1816  he  removed  to  Boston  and  for  seven 
years  devoted  himself  to  his  profession, 
sarning  by  his  arguments  in  the  celebrated 
"Dartmouth  College  Case"  rank  among 
*he  most  distinguished  jurists  of  the  country. 
!n  1820  Mr.  Webster  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  state  convention  of  Massachusetts,  to 
revise  the  constitution.  The  same  year  he 
delivered  the  famous  discourse  on  the  "  Pil- 
grim fathers,"  which  laid  the  foundation  for 
his  fame  as  an  orator.  Declining  a  nomi- 
nation for  United  States  senator,  in  1822  he 
was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  congress 
and  was  re-elected  in  1S24  and  1826,  but  in 
1827  was  transferred  to  the  senate.  He 
retained  his  seat  in  the  latter  chamber  until 
1841.  During  this  time  his  voice  was  ever 
lifted  in  defence  of  the  national  life  and 
honor  and  although  politically  opposed  to 
him  he  gave  his  support  to  the  administra- 
lion  of  President  Jackson  in  the  latter's  con- 
test with  nullification.  Through  all  these 
rears  he  was  ever  found  upon  the  side  of 
eight  and  justice  and  his  speeches  upon  all 
(he  great  questions  of  the  day  have  be- 
'.ome  household  words  in  almost  every 
lamily.  In  1841  Mr.  Webster  was  appointed 
secretary  of  state  by  President  Harrison 
and  was  continued  in  the  same  office  by 
I'resident  Tyler.  While  an  incumbent  of 
this  office  he  showed  consummate  ability  as 
a  diplomat  in  the  negotiation  of  the  "Ash- 


burton  treaty  "  of  August  9,  1849.  which 
settled  many  points  of  dispute  between  the 
United  States  and  England.  In  May,  1843. 
he  resigned  his  post  and  resumed  his  pro- 
fession, and  in  December,  1845,  took  his 
place  again  in  the  senate.  He  contributed 
in  an  unofficial  way  to  the  solution  of  the 
Oregon  question  with  Great  Britain  in  1847. 
He  was  disappointed  in  1848  in  not  receiv- 
ing the  nomination  for  the  presidency.  He 
became  secretary  of  state  under  President 
Fillmore  in  1850  and  in  dealing  with  all  the 
complicated  questions  of  the  day  showed  a 
wonderful  mastery  of  the  arts  of  diplomacy. 
Being  hurt  in  an  accident  he  retired  to  his 
home  at  Marshfield,  where  he  died  Octo- 
ber 24,   1852. 

HORACE  GREELEY. —As  journalist, 
author,  statesman  and  political  leader, 
there  is  none  more  widely  known  than  the 
man  whose  name  heads  this  article.  He 
was  born  in  Amherst,  New  Hampshire,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  181 1,  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm. 
At  an  early  age  he  evinced  a  remarkable 
intelligence  and  love  of  learning,  and  at 
the  age  of  ten  had  read  every  book  he  could 
borrow  for  miles  around.  About  1821  the 
family  removed  to  Westhaven,  Vermont, 
and  for  some  years  young  Greeley  assisted 
in  carrying  on  the  farm.  In  1826  he  entered 
the  office  of  a  weekly  newspaper  at  East 
Poultney,  Vermont,  where  he  remained 
about  four  years.  On  the  discontinuance 
of  this  paper  he  followed  his  father's 
family  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
whither  they  had  moved,  and  for  a  time 
worked  at  the  printer's  trade  in  that  neigh- 
borhood. In  I  S3 1  Horace  went  to  New- 
York  City,  and  for  a  time  found  employ- 
ment as  journeyman  printer.  January, 
1833,  in  partnership  with  Francis  Story,  he 
published  the  Morning  Post,  the  first  penny 


COMPEXDIVM   OF    BIOGRAPJIV. 


21 


paper  ever  printed.  This  proved  a  failure 
and  was  discontinued  after  three  weeks. 
The  business  of  job  printing  was  carried  on, 
however,  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Story  in 
July  following.  In  company  with  Jonas 
Winchester,  March  22,  1S34,  Mr.  Greeley 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Nciv 
Yorker,  a  weekly  paper  of  a  high  character. 
For  financial  reasons,  at  the  same  time, 
Greeley  wrote  leaders  for  other  papers,  and, 
in  1838,  took  editorial  charge  of  the  Jcffcr- 
sonian,  a  Whig  paper  published  at  Albany. 
In  1840,  on  the  discontinuance  of  that  sheet, 
ha  devoted  his  energies  to  the  Log  Cabin,  a 
campaign  paper  in  the  interests  of  the  Whig 
party.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the  latter  paper 
was  consolidated  with  the  Xcn'  Yorker,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Tribune,  the  first  num- 
ber of  which  was  issued  April  10,  184 1.  At 
the  head  of  this  paper  Mr.  Greeley  remained 
until  the  day  of  his  death. 

In  1848  Horace  Greeley  was  elected  to 
the  national  house  of  representatives  to 
fill  a  vacancy,  and  was  a  member  of  that 
body  until  March  4,  1849.  In  1851  he  went 
to  Europe  and  served  as  a  juror  at  the 
World's  Fair  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  Lon- 
don. In  1855.  he  made  a  second  visit  to 
the  old  world.  In  1859  he  crossed  the 
plains  and  received  a  public  reception  at 
San  Francisco  and  Sacramento.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Republican  national  con- 
vention, at  Chicago  in  i860,  and  assisted  in 
the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
President.  The  same  year  he  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  for  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  a  delegate  to  the  Loyalist  convention 
at  Philadelphia. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1865,  Mr. 
Greeley  became  a  strong  advocate  of  uni- 
versal amnesty  and  complete  pacification, 
and  in  pursuance  of  this  consented  to  be- 
come one   of  the    bondsmen   for  Jefferson 


Davis,  who  was  imprisoned  for  treason.  In 
1867  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  New  York 
state  convention  for  the  revision  of  the 
constitution.  In  1870  he  was  defeated  for 
congress  in  the  Sixth  New  York  district. 
At  the  Liberal  convention,  which  met  in 
Cincinnati,  in  May,  1872,  on  the  fifth  ballot 
Horace  Greeley  was  nominated  for  presi- 
dent and  July  following  was  nominated  for 
the  same  office  by  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion at  Baltimore.  He  was  defeated  by  a 
large  majority.  The  large  amount  of  work 
done  by  him  during  the  campaign,  together 
with  the  loss  of  his  wife  about  the  same 
time,  undermined  his  strong  constitution, 
and  he  was  seized  with  inflammation  of  the 
brain,  and  died  November  29,  1872. 

In  addition  to  his  journalistic  work,  Mr. 
Greeley  was  the  author  of  several  meritori- 
ous works,  among  which  were:  "Hints 
toward  reform,"  "Glances  at  Europe," 
' '  History  of  the  struggle  for  slavery  exten 
sion,"  "Overland  journey  to  San  Francis- 
co," "The  American  conflict,"  and  "  Rec- 
ollections of  a  busy  life." 


HENRY  CLAY.— In  writing  of  this  em- 
inent American,  Horace  Greeley  once 
said:  "He  was  a  matchless  party  chief,  an 
admirable  orator,  a  skillful  legislator,  wield- 
ing unequaled  influence,  not  only  over  his 
friends,  but  even  over  those  of  his  political 
antagonists  who  were  subjected  to  the  magic 
of  his  conversation  and  manners.  "  A  law- 
yer, legislator,  orator,  and  statesman,  few 
men  in  history  have  wielded  greater  influ- 
ence, or  occupied  so  prominent  a  place  in 
the  hearts  of  the  generation  in  which  they 
lived. 

Henry  Clay  was  born  near  Richmond, 
in  Hanover  county,  Virginia,  April  12, 
1777,  the  son  of  a  poor  Baptist  preacher 
who  died  when   Henry  was  but   five  years 


22 


co.u/'i:\/)j(.u  OF  uioi./^Aj'j/r. 


old.  The  mother  married  again  about  ten 
years  later  and  lemoved  to  Keiitutky  leav- 
ing Henry  a  cleik  in  a  store  at  Kichmond. 
Soon  afterward  Henry  Clay  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  copyist  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the 
high  court  of  chancery,  and  four  years  later 
entered  the  law  office  of  Robert  Brooke, 
then  attorney  general  and  later  governor  of 
his  native  stale.  In  1797  Henry  Clay  was 
licensed  as  a  lawyer  and  followed  his  mother 
to  Kentucky,  opening  an  office  at  Lexington 
and  soon  built  up  a  profitable  practice. 
Soon  afterward  Kentucky,  in  separating  from 
Virginia,  called  a  state  convention  for  the 
purpose  of  framing  a  constitution,  and  Clay 
at  that  time  took  a  prominent  part,  publicly 
urging  the  adoption  of  a  clause  providing 
for  the  abolitiof:  of  slavery,  but  in  this  he 
was  overruled,  as  he  was  fifty  years  later, 
when  in  the  height  of  his  fame  he  again  ad- 
vised the  same  course  when  the  state  con- 
stitution was  revised  in  1850.  Young  Clay 
took  a  very  active  and  conspicuous  part  in 
the  presidential  campaign  in  1800,  favoring 
the  election  of  Jefferson;  and  in  1803  was 
choson  to  represent  Fayette  county  in  the 
state  'egislature.  In  1806  General  John 
Adair,  ihen  United  States  senator  from 
Kentucky,  resigned  and  Henry  Clay  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  by  the  legislature 
and  served  through  one  session  in  which  he 
at  once  assumed  a  prominent  place.  In 
1807  he  was  again  a  representative  in  the 
legislature  and  was  elected  speaker  of  the 
house.  At  this  time  originated  his  trouble 
with  Humphrey  Marshall.  Clay  proposed 
that  each  member  clothe  himself  and  family 
wholly  in  American  fabrics,  which  ^Ii^r.•^hall 
characterized  as  the  "  language  of  a  dema- 
gogue." This  led  to  a  duel  in  which  both 
parties  were  slightly  injured.  In  1809 
Henry  Clay  was  again  elected  to  fill  a  va- 
cancy in  the  United  States   senate,  and  two 


years  later  elected  representative  in  tne  low- 
er house  of  congress,  being  chosen  speaker 
of  the  house.  About  this  time  war  was  de- 
clared against  Great  Britain,  and  Clay  took 
a  prominent  public  place  during  this  strug- 
gle and  was  later  one  of  the  commissioners 
sent  to  Europe  by  President  Madison  to  ne- 
gotiate peace,  returning  in  September,  1815. 
having  been  re-elected  speaker  of  the 
house  during  his  absence,  and  was  re-elect- 
ed unanimously.  He  was  afterward  re- 
elected to  congress  and  then  became  secre- 
t.-'.ry  of  state  under  John  Quincy  Adams. 
In  1 83 1  he  was  again  elected  senator  from 
Kentucky  and  remained  in  the  senate  most 
of  the  time  until  his  death. 

Henry  Clay  was  three  times  a  candidate 
for  the  presidency,  and  once  very  nearly 
elected.  He  was  the  unanimous  choice  of 
the  Whig  party  in  1S44  for  the  presidency, 
and  a  great  effort  was  made  to  elect  him 
but  without  success,  his  opponent,  James  K. 
Polk,  carrying  both  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  by  a  very  slender  margin,  while  either 
of  them  alone  would  have  elected  Clay. 
Henry  Clay  died  at   Washington  Juije   29, 

I8s2. 


JAMES  GILLESPIE  BLAINE  was  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  of  American 
statesmen  and  legislators.  He  was  born 
January  31,  1830,  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  received  a  thorough  edu- 
cation, graduating  at  Washington  College  in 
1S47.  In  early  life  he  removed  to  Maine 
and  engaged  in  newspaper  work,  becoming 
editor  of  the  Portland  "Advertiser."  While 
yet  a  young  man  he  gained  distinction  as  a 
debater  and  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
political  and  public  affairs.  In  1862  he  was 
elected  to  congress  on  the  Republican  ticket 
in  Maine  and  was  re-elected  five  times.  In 
March,  1S69,  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the 


COMPEXDlLWr  OF    BIOGRAPJir. 


■2% 


house  of  representatives  and  was  re-elected 
in  1871  and  again  in  1873.  In  1S76  he  was 
a  representative  in  the  lower  house  of  con- 
gress and  during  that  year  was  appointed 
United  States  senator  by  the  Governor  to 
fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Senator  Morrill,  who  had  been  appointed 
secretary  of  the  treasury.  Mr.  Blaine 
served  in  the  senate  until  March  5,  1881, 
when  President  Garfield  appointed  him  sec- 
retary of  state,  which  position  he  resigned 
in  December,  1 88 1.  Mr.  Blaine  was  nom- 
inated for  the  presidency  by  the  Republic- 
ans, at  Chicago  in  June,  1884,  but  was  de- 
feated by  Grover  Cleveland  after  an  exciting 
and  spirited  campaign.  During  the  later 
years  of  his  life  Mr.  Blaine  devoted  most  of 
his  time  to  the  completion  of  his  work 
"Twenty  Years  in  Congress,"  which  had  a 
remarkably  large  sale  throughout  the  United 
States.  Blaine  was  a  man  of  great  mental 
ability  and  force  of  character  and  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  men  of  his  time.  He  was  the  origina- 
tor of  what  is  termed  the  "  reciprocity  idea" 
in  tariff  matters,  and  outlined  the  plan  of 
carrying  it  into  practical  effect.  In  1876 
Robert  G.  IngersoU  in  making  a  nominating 
speech  placing  Blaine's  name  as  a  candidate 
for  president  before  the  national  Republican 
convention  at  Cincinnati,  referred  to  Blaine 
as  the  "  Plumed  Knight  "  and  this  title  clung 
to  him  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
death  occurred  at  Washington,  January  27, 
1893-  

JOHN  C.-\LD\VELL  CALHOUN,  a  dis- 
tinguished Am.erican  statesman,  was  a 
native  of  South  Carolina,  born  in  Abbeville 
district,  March  18,  17S2.  He  was  given 
the  advantages  of  a  thorough  education, 
graduating  at  Yale  College  in  1804,  and 
adopted  the  calling  of  a  lawyer.     A  Demo- 


crat politically,  at  that  time,  he  took  a  fore- 
most part  in  the  councils  of  his  party  and 
was  elected  to  congress  in  181 1,  supporting 
the  tariff  of  1816  and  the  establishing  of 
the  United  States  Bank.  In  18 17  he  be- 
came secretary  of  war  in  President  Monroe's 
cabinet,  and  in  1824  was  elected  vice-president 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  ticket  with  John 
Quincy  Adams,  and  re-elected  in  1 82S,  on  the 
ticket  with  General  Jackson.  Shortly  after 
this  Mr.  Calhoun  became  one  of  the  strongest 
advocates  of  free  trade  and  the  principle  of 
sovereignty  of  the  states  and  was  one  of 
the  originators  of  the  doctrine  that  "any 
state  could  nullify  unconstitutional  laws  of 
congress."  Meanwhile  Calhoun  had  be- 
come an  aspirant  for  the  presidency,  and 
the  fact  that  General  Jackson  advanced  the 
interests  of  his  opponent.  Van  Buren,  led 
to  a  quarrel,  and  Calhoun  resigned  the  vice- 
presidency  in  1832  and  was  elected  United 
States  senator  from  South  Carolina.  It  was 
during  the  same  year  that  a  convention  was 
held  in  South  Carolina  at  which  the  "  Nul- 
lification ordinance  "  was  adopted,  the  -ob- 
ject of  which  was  to  test  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  protective  tariff  measures,  and 
to  prevent  if  possible  the  collection  of  im- 
port duties  in  that  state  which  had  been 
levied  more  for  the  purpose  of  ' '  protection "' 
than  revenue.  This  ordinance  was  to  go 
into  effect  in  February,  1833,  and  created  a 
great  deal  of  uneasiness  throughout  the 
country  as  it  was  feared  there  would  be  a 
clash  between  the  state  and  federal  authori- 
ties. It  was  in  this  serious  condition  ot 
public  affairs  that  Henry  Clay  came  forward 
with  the  the  famous  "tarifl  compromise" 
of  1833.  to  which  measure  Calhoun  and 
most  of  his  followers  gave  their  support  and 
the  crisis  was  averted.  In  1843  Mr.  Cal- 
houn was  appointed  secretarj'  of  state  in 
President  Tylers  cabinet,  and   it  was  under 


24 


COMPIi.XD/l.U    O/'-    JHOGRAl'lir. 


his  administration  that  the  treaty  concern- 
ing the  annexation  of  Texas  was  ncgotiateu. 
In  1845  he  was  re-elected  to  the  United 
Stales  senate  and  continued  in  the  senate 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March, 
1 850.  He  occupied  a  high  rank  as  a  scholar, 
student  and  orator,  and  it  is  conceded  that 
he  was  one  of  the  greatest  debaters  America 
has  produced.  The  famous  debate  between 
Calhoun  and  Webster,  in  1833,  is  regarded 
as  the  most  noted  for  ability  and  eloquence 
in  the  history  of  the  country. 


BENJ.WIIN  FRANKLIN  BUTLER,  one 
of  America's  most  brilliant  and  pro- 
found lawyers  and  noted  public  men,  was 
a  native  of  New  England,  born  at  Deer- 
field,  New  Hampshire,  November  5,  1818. 
His  father.  Captain  John  Butler,  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day,  commanded  a 
company  during  the  war  of  1812,  and 
served  under  Jackson  at  New  Orleans. 
Benjamin  F.  Butler  was  given  an  excellent 
education,  graduated  at  Waterville  College, 
Maine,  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1840,  at  Lowell,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  and  gained  a  wide  reputation  fur 
his  ability  at  the  bar,  acquiring  an  extensive 
practice  and  a  fortune.  Early  in  life  he 
began  taking  an  active  interest  in  military 
affairs  and  served  in  the  state  militia  through 
all  grades  from  private  to  brigadier-general. 
In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  Lowell, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  passage  of 
legislation  in  the  interests  of  labor.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year  he  was  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  and  in  1S39  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  Massachusetts 
senate.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out 
General  Butler  took  the  field  and  remained 
at   the   front   most  of  the  time  during  that 


bloody  struggle.  Part  of  tne  time  he  had 
charge  of  Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  Febru- 
ary.  1862,  took  command  of  troops  forming 

j  part  of  the  expedition  against  New  Orleans, 
and  later  had  charge  of  the  department  of 
the  Gulf.  He  was  a  conspicuous  figure  dur- 
ing the  continuance  of  the  war.  After  the 
close  of  hostilities  General  Butler  resumed 
his  law  practice  in  Massachusetts  and  in 
1866  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  Es- 
sex district.      In    1SS2   he  was  elected  gov- 

I  ernor  of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1884  was  the 
nominee  of  the  "Greenback"  party  for 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  con- 
tinued his  legal  practice,  and  maintained  his 
place  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in 
New  England  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  January  10,  1893. 


JEFFERSON  DAVIS,  an  officer,  states- 
man and  legislator  of  prominence  in 
America,  gained  the  greater  part  of  his  fame 
from  the  fact  that  he  was  president  of  the 
southern  confederacy.  Mr.  Davis  was  born 
in  Christian  county.  Kentucky,  June  3, 
1808,  and  his  early  education  and  surround- 
ings were  such  that  his  sympathies  and  in- 
clinations were  wholly  with  the  southern 
people.  He  received  a  thorough  education, 
graduated  at  West  Point  in  1828.  and  for  a 
number  of  years  served  in  the  army  at  west- 
ern posts  and  in  frontier  service,  first  as 
lieutenant  and  later  as  adjutant.  In  1835 
he  resigned  and  became  a  cotton  planter  in 
Warren  county.  Mississippi,  where  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  be- 
came a  conspicuous  figure  in  politics.  In 
1844  he  was  a  presidential  elector  from 
Mississippi  and  during  the  two  following 
'  years  served  as  congressman  from  his  d's- 
trict.  He  then  became  colonel  of  a  ivussis- 
I  sippi  regiment  in  the  war  with  Mexico  ana 
I  participated  in  some  of  the  most  sev';re  i-u- 


COMPENDIUM   OP    BIOGRAI'lir. 


25 


ties,  being  seriously  wounded  at  Buena 
Vista.  Upon  his  return  to  private-  life  he 
again  took  a  prominent  part  in  political  af- 
fairs and  represented  his  state  in  the  United 
States  senate  from  1847  to  185 1.  He  then 
entered  President  Pierce's  cabinet  as  secre- 
tary of  war,  after  which  he  again  entered 
the  United  States  senate,  remaining  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  He  then  be- 
came president  of  the  southern  confederacy 
and  served  as  such  until  captured  in  May, 
1865,  at  Irwinville,  Georgia.  He  was  held 
as  prisoner  of  war  at  Fortress  Monroe,  until 
i'S67,  when  he  was  released  on  bail  and 
finally  set  free  in  1868.  His  death  occurred 
December  6,  1889. 

Jefferson  Davis  was  a  man  of  excellent 
abilities  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
best  organizers  of  his  day.  He  was  a 
forceful  and  fluent  speaker  and  a  ready 
writer.  He  wrote  and  published  the  "  Rise 
and  Fall  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,"  a 
work  which  is  considered  as  authority  by 
the  southern  peopk'. 


JOHN  .\DAMS,  the  second  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  early  struggles  of 
his  country  for  independence,  was  born  in 
the  present  town  of  Quincy,  then  a  portion 
of  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  October  30, 
1735.  He  received  a  thorough  education, 
graduating  at  Harvard  College  in  1755, 
studied  law  aud  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1758.  He  was  well  adapted  for  this  profes- 
sion and  after  opening  an  office  in  his  native 
town  rapidly  grew  in  prominence  and  public 
favor  and  soon  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  the  country.  His  atten- 
tion was  called  to  political  affairs  by  the 
passage  of  the  S;amp  Act,  in  1765,  and  he 
drew  up  a  set  of  resolutions  on  the  subject 
which  were  very  popular.     In    1768  he  re- 


moved to  Boston  and  became  one  of  the 
most  courageous  and  prominent  advocates 
of  the  popular  cause  and  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Colonial  legislature  from 
Boston.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  that 
represented  Massachusetts  in  the  first  Con- 
tinental congress,  which  met  in  September, 
1774.  In  a  letter  written  at  this  crisis  he 
uttered  the  famous  words:  "The  die  is  now 
cast;  I  have  passed  the  Rubicon.  Sink  or 
swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish  with  my 
country,  is  my  unalterable  determination." 
He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  congress  and 
advocated  the  movement  for  independence 
when  a  majority  of  the  members  were  in- 
clined to  temporize  and  to  petition  the  King. 
In  May,  1776,  he  presented  a  resolution  in 
congress  that  the  colonies  should  assume 
the  duty  of  self-government,  which  was 
passed.  In  June,  of  the  same  year,  a  reso- 
lution that  the  United  States  "are,  and  oi 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent," 
was  moved  by  Richard  H.  Lee,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Adams  and  adopted  by  a  small  majority. 
Mr.  Adams  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  five  appointed  June  1 1  to  prepare  a 
declaration  of  independence,  in  support  of 
which  he  made  an  eloquent  speech.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  War  in  1776  and 
in  1 778  was  sent  as  commissioner  to  France, 
but  returned  the  following  year.  In  1780 
he  went  to  Europe,  having  been  appointed 
as  minister  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace 
and  commerce  with  Great  Britain.  Con- 
jointly with  Franklin  and  Jay  he  negotiated 
a  treaty  in  1782.  He  was  employed  as  a 
minister  to  the  Court  of  St.  James  from 
1785  to  1788,  and  during  that  period  wrote 
his  famous  "Defence  of  the  American  Con- 
stitutions." In  1789  he  became  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  and  was  re-elected 
in  1792. 

In  1 796   Mr.    Adams  was  chosen   presi- 


i>C 


coMr/:.\/>/i  M  oi''  HioiUiM'Hr. 


dent  of  the  United  States,  his  competitor 
being  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  became  vice- 
president.  In  1800  he  was  the  Federal 
candidate  for  president,  but  he  was  not 
cordially  supported  by  Gen.  Hamilton,  the 
favorite  leader  of  his  party,  and  was  de- 
feated by  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Mr.  Adams  then  retired  from  public  life 
to  his  large  estate  at  (,_)uincy,  Mass. ,  where 
he  died  July  4,  1826,  on  the  same  day  that 
witnessed  the  death  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 
Though  his  physical  frame  began  to  give  way 
many  years  before  his  death,  his  mental 
powers  retained  their  strength  and  vigor  to 
the  last.  In  his  ninetieth  year  he  was  glad- 
dened by  .the  elevation  of  his  son,  John 
Quincy  Adams,  to  the  presidential  office. 


HENRY  WARD  BEECHER,  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  American  preachers 
and  authors,  was  born  at  Litchfield,  Connec- 
ticut, June  24,181 3.  His  father  was  Dr.  Ly- 
man Beecher.  also  an  eminent  divine.  At 
an  early  age  Henry  Ward  Beecher  had  a 
strong  predilection  for  a  sea-faring  life,  and 
it  was  practically  decided  that  he  would  fol- 
low this  inclination,  but  about  this  time,  in 
consequence  of  deep  religious  impressions 
which  he  experienced  during  a  revival,  he 
renounced  his  former  intention  and  decided 
to  enter  the  ministry.  After  having  grad- 
uated at  Amherst  College,  in  1834,  he  stud- 
ied theology  at  Lane. Seminary  under  the 
tuition  of  his  father,  who  was  then  president 
of  that  institution.  In  1847  he  became  pas- 
tor of  the  Plymouth  Congregational  church 
in  Brooklyn,  where  his  oratorical  ability  and 
original  eloquence  attracted  one  of  the  larg- 
est congregations  in  the  country.  He  con- 
tinued to  served  this  church  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  March  8,  1887.  Mr.  Beecher 
als.  'ound  time  for  a  great  amount  of  liter- 
ary wuik-     For  a  number  of  years  he  was 


editor  of  the  "Independent"  and  also  the 
"Christian  Union."  He  also  produced  many 
works  which  are  widely  known.  Among  his 
I  principal  productionsare  "I^ecturesto  Voung 
I  Men."  "  Star  Papers, "  "Life  of  Christ." 
"Life  Thoughts,"  "Royal  Truths"  (a 
novel),  "Norwood,"  "  Evolution  and  Rev- 
olution," and  "  Sermons  on  Evolution  and 
Religion."  Mr.  Beecher  was  also  long  a 
prominent  advocate  of  anti-slavery  princi- 
ples and  temperance  reform,  and.  at  a  later 
period,  of  the  rights  of  women. 


JOHN  A.  LOGAN,  the  illustrious  states- 
man and  general,  was  born  in  Jackson 
county,  Illinois.  February  9,  1824.  In  his 
boyhood  days  he  received  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  county. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Me.vico 
he  enlisted  in  the  First  Illinois  Volunteers 
and  became  its  quartermaster.  At  the  close 
of  hostilities  he  returned  home  and  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Jackson  county 
in  1849.  Determining  to  supplement  his 
education  Logrm  entered  the  Louisville  Uni- 
versity, from  which  he  graduated  in  1852 
and  taking  up  the  study  of  law  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  attained  popularity  and  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  profession  and  was  elected 
to  the  legislature  in  1852.  1853,  1856  and 
1857.  He  was  prosecuting  attorney  from 
1853  to  1857.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
in  1858  to  till  a  vacancy  and  again  in  i860. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  Logan  re- 
signed his  office  and  entered  the  army,  and 
in  September.  1861.  was  appointed  colonel 
of  the  Thirty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  which  he 
led  in  the  battles  of  Belmont  and  Fort  Don- 
elson.  In  the  latter  engagement  he  was 
wounded.  In  March.  1SC2,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  brigadier-general  and  in  the 
following  month  participated  in  the  battles 
of  f'ittsburg  Landing.      In  November,  1862, 


Of  i«t 
uHWtRsaY  Of ' 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BlOGRAPlir. 


29 


for  gallant  conduct  he  was  made  major-gen- 
eral. Throughout  the  Vicksburg  campaign 
he  was  in  coininand  of  a  division  of  the  Sev- 
enteenth Corps  and  was  distinguished  at 
Port  Gibson,  Champion  Kills  and  in  the 
siege  and  capture  cf  Vicksburg.  In  Octobtr, 
1863,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
Fifteenth  Corps,  which  he  led  with  great 
credit.  During  the  terrible  conflict  before 
Atlanta,  July  22,  1864,  on  the  death  of 
General  McPherson,  Logan,  assuming  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  led  it 
on  to  victory,  saving  the  day  by  his  energy 
and  ability.  He  was  shortly  after  succeeded 
by  General  O.  O.  Howard  and  returned  to 
the  command  of  his  corps.  He  remained 
in  command  until  the  presidential  election, 
when,  feeling  that  his  influence  was  needed 
at  home  he  returned  thither  and  there  re- 
mained until  the  arrival  of  Sherman  at  Sa- 
vannah, when  General  Logan  rejoined  his 
command.  In  May,  1865,  he  succeeded 
General  Howard  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee.  He  resigned  from  the  army 
in  August,  the  same  year,  and  in  November 
was  appointed  minister  to  Mexico,  but  de- 
clined the  honor.  He  served  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  fortieth  and  forty-first  con- 
gresses, and  was  elected  United  States  sena- 
tor from  his  native  state  in  1870,  1878  and 
1885.  He  was  nominated  for  the  vice-presi- 
dency in  1884  on  the  ticket  with  Blaine,  but 
was  defeated.  General  Logan  was  the 
author  of  "  The  Great  Conspiracy,  its  origin 
and  history,"  published  in  1885.  He  died 
at  Washington,  December  26,  1886. 


JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT,  the  first 
Republican  candidate  for  president,  was 
born  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  January  21, 
18 1 3.  He  graduated  from  Charleston  Col- 
lege (South  Carolina)  in  1830,  and  turned  his 
attention  to  civil  engineering.  He  was  shortly 


afterward  employed  in  the  department  of 
government  surveys  on  the  Mississippi,  and 
constructing  maps  of  that  region.  He  was 
made  lieutenant  of  engineers,  and  laid  be- 
fore the  war  department  a  plan  for  pene- 
trating the  Rocky  Mountain  regions,  which 
was  accepted,  and  in  1S42  he  set  out  upon 
his  first  famous  exploring  expedition  and  ex- 
plored the  South  Pass.  He  also  planned  an 
expedition  to  Oregon  by  a  new  route  further 
south,  but  afterward  joined  his  expedition 
with  that  of  Wilkes  in  the  region  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake.  He  made  a  later  expedi- 
tion which  penetrated  the  Sierra  Nevadas, 
and  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  river 
valleys,  making  maps  of  all  regions  explored. 
In  1845  he  conducted  the  great  expedi- 
tion which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of 
California,  which  it  was  believed  the  Mexi- 
can government  was  about  to  dispose  of  to 
England.  Learning  that  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernor was  preparing  to  attack  the  American 
settlements  in  his  dominion,  Fremont  deter- 
mined to  forestall  him.  The  settlers  rallied 
to  his  camp,  and  in  June,  1846,  he  defeated 
the  Mexican  forces  at  Sonoma  Pass,  and  a 
month  later  completely  routed  the  governor 
and  his  entire  army.  The  Americans  at 
once  declared  their  independence  of  Mexico, 
and  Fremont  was  elected  governor  of  Cali- 
fornia. By  this  time  Commodore  Stockton 
had  reached  the  coast  with  instructions  from 
Washington  to  conquer  California.  Fre- 
mont at  once  joined  him  in  that  effort,  which 
resulted  in  the  annexation  of  California  with 
its  untold  mineral  wealth.  Later  Fremont 
became  involved  in  a  difficulty  with  fellow 
officers  which  resulted  in  a  court  martial, 
and  the  surrender  of  his  commission.  He 
declined  to  accept  reinstatement.  He  af- 
terward laid  out  a  great  road  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  to  San  Francisco,  and  became 
the  first  United  States  senator  from  Califor- 


ci>M/'EX/>/i  w  or  nnx.iiAj'in'. 


nia,  in  1849.  In  1856  he  was  nominated 
by  the  new  Republican  party  as  its  first  can- 
didate for  president  afjaiiist  Buchanan,  and 
received  1 14  electoral  votes,  out  of  29C. 

In  1S61  he  was  made  major-general  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  western  department. 
He  planned  the  reclaiming  of  the  entire 
Mississippi  valley,  and  gathered  an  army  of 
thirty  thousand  men,  with  plenty  of  artil- 
lery, and  was  ready  to  move  upon  the  con- 
federate General  Price,  when  he  was  de- 
prived of  his  command.  He  was  nominated 
for  the  presidency  at  Cincinnati  in  1S64,  but 
withdrew.  He  was  governor  of  Arizona  in 
1S78,  holding  the  position  four  years.  He 
was  interested  in  an  enjjineering  enterprise 
looking  toward  a  great  southern  trans-con- 
tinental railroad,  and  in  his  later  years  also 
practiced  law  in  New  York.  He  died  July  13, 
1890. 

WENDELL  PHILLIPS,  the  orator  and 
abolitionist,  and  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  American  history,  was  born  November 
29,  181 1,  at  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He 
received  a  good  education  at  Harvard 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1831, 
and  then  entered  the  Cambridge  Law  School. 
After  completing  his  course  in  that  institu- 
tion, in  1833,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
in  1S34,  at  Suffolk.  He  entered  the  arena 
of  life  at  the  time  when  the  forces  of  lib- 
erty and  slavery  had  already  begun  their 
struggle  that  was  to  culminate  in  the  Civil 
war.  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  by  his  clear- 
headed, courageous  declarations  of  the  anti- 
slavery  principles,  had  done  much  to  bring 
about  this  struggle.  Mr.  Phillips  was  not  a 
man  that  could  stand  aside  and  .see  a  great 
struggle  being  carried  on  in  the  interest  of 
humanity  and  look  passively  on.  He  first 
attracted  attention  as  an  orator  in  1S37,  at 
a  meeting  that  was  called  to  protest  against 


the  murder  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy. 
The  meeting  would  have  ended  in  a  few 
perfunctory  resolutions  had  not  Mr.  Phillip? 
by  his  manly  eloquence  taken  the  meeting 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  few  that  were  in- 
clined to  temporize  and  avoid  radical  utter- 
ances. Having  once  started  out  in  this  ca- 
reer as  an  abolitionipt  Phillips  never  swerved 
from  what  he  deemed  his  duty,  and  never 
turned  back.  He  gave  up  his  legal  practice 
and  launched  himself  heart  and  soul  in  the 
movement  for  the  liberation  of  the  slaves. 
He  was  an  orator  of  very  great  ability  and 
by  his  earnest  efforts  and  eloquence  he  did 
much  in  arousing  public  sentiment  in  behalf 
of  the  anti-slavery  cause — possibly  more 
than  any  one  man  of  his  time.  After  the 
abolition  of  slavery  Mr.  Piiillips  was,  if  pos- 
sible, even  busier  than  before  m  the  literary 
and  lecture  field.  Besides  temperance  and 
women's  rights,  he  lectured  often  and  wrote 
much  on  finance,  and  the  relations  of  labor 
and  capital,  and  his  utterances  on  whatever 
subject  always  bore  the  stamp  of  having 
emanated  from  a  master  mind.  Eminent 
Clitics  have  stated  that  it  might  fairly  be 
questioned  whether  there  has  ever  spoken 
in  America  an  orator  superior  to  Phillips. 
The  death  of  this  great  man  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 4,   1884. 


WILLIAM  TECUMSEH  SHERMAN 
was  one  of  the  greatest  generals  that 
the  world  has  ever  produced  and  won  im- 
mortal fame  by  that  strategic  and  famous 
"  march  to  the  sea,  "  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion. He  was  born  February  8,  1S20.  at 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  was  reared  in  the 
family  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  as  his 
father  died  when  he  was  but  nine  years  of 
age.  He  entered  West  Point  in  1836,  was 
graduated  from  the  same  in  1S40,  and  ap- 
pointed  a  second   lieutenant   in   the   Third 


COMPEXDIi'M   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


31 


Artillery.  He  passed  through  the  various 
grades  of  the  service  and  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Regular  Infantry.  A  full  history 
of  General  Sherman's  conspicuous  services 
would  be  to  repeat  a  history  of  the  army. 
He  commanded  a  division  at  Shiloh,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  winning  of  that  bat- 
tle, and  was  also  present  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  On  July  4,  1S63,  he  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  of  the  regular  army,  and 
shared  with  Hooker  the  victory  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge.  He  was  commander  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Tennessee  from  October 
27th  until  the  appointment  of  General 
Grant  as  lieutenant-general,  by  whom  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Mississippi,  which  he  as- 
sumed in  March,  1864.  He  at  once  began 
organizing  the  army  and  enlarging  his  com- 
munications preparatory  to  his  march  upon 
Atlanta,  which  he  started  the  same  time  of 
the  beginning  of  the  Richmond  campaign  by 
Grant.  He  started  on  May  6,  and  was  op- 
posed by  Johnston,  who  had  fifty  thousand 
men,  but  by  consummate  generalship,  he 
captured  Atlanta,  on  September  2,  after 
several  months  of  hard  fighting  and  a  severe 
loss  of  men.  General  Sherman  started  on 
his  famous  march  to  the  sea  November  15, 
1864,  and  by  December  10  he  was  before 
Savannah,  which  he  took  on  December  23. 
This  cam.paign  is  a  monument  to  the  genius 
of  General  Sherman  as  he  only  lost  567 
men  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  After  rest- 
ing his  army  he  moved  northward  and  occu- 
pied the  following  places:  Columbia, 
Cheraw,  Fayetteville,  Ayersboro,  Benton- 
ville,  Goldsboro,  Raleigh,  and  April  18,  he 
accepted  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army 
on  a  basis  of  agreement  that  was  not  re- 
ceived by  the  Government  with  favor,  but 
finally  accorded  Johnston  the  same  terms  as 


Lee  was  given  by  General  Grant.  He  was 
present  at  the  grand  review  at  Washington, 
and  after  the  close  of  the  war  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  military  division  of 
the  Mississippi;  later  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant-general, and  assigned  to  the  military 
division  of  the  Missouri.  When  General 
Grant  was  elected  president  Sherman  became 
general,  March  4,  1869,  and  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  army.  His  death  oc- 
curred February   14,  1891,  at  Washington. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  the  early  American 
statesmen  and  financiers,  was  born  in  Nevis, 
an  island  of  the  West  Indies,  January  11, 
1757,  his  father  being  a  Scotchman  and  his 
mother  of  Huguenot  descent.  Owing  to  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  business  reverses 
which  came  to  his  father,  young  Hamilton 
was  sent  to  his  mother's  relatives  in  Santa 
Cruz;  a  few  years  later  was  sent  to  a  gram- 
mar school  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
and  in  1773  entered  what  is  now  known  as 
Columbia  College.  Even  at  that  time  he 
began  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
and  his  speeches,  pamphlets,  and  newspaper 
articles  on  political  affairs  of  the  day  at- 
tracted considerable  attention.  In  1776  he 
received  a  captain's  commission  and  served 
in  Washington's  army  with  credit,  becoming 
aide-de-camp  to  Washington  with  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel.  In  1781  he  resigned  his 
commission  because  of  a  rebuke  from  Gen- 
eral Washington.  He  next  received  com- 
mand of  a  New  York  battalion  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Yorktown.  After 
this  Hamilton  studied  law,  served  several 
terms  in  congress  and  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  at  which  the  Federal  Constitu- 
tion was  drawn  up.  His  work  connected 
with  "  The  Federalist  "  at  about  this  time 
attracted   much    attention.      Mr.    Hamilton 


COMl'EXniCM   OF    BIOGRAriir. 


was  chosen  as  the  first  secretary  of  the 
United  States  treasury  and  as  such  was  the 
author  of  the  funding  system  and  founder  of 
the  United  States  Bank.  In  1798  he  was 
made  inspector-general  of  the  army  with  the 
rank  of  major-general  and  was  also  for  a 
short  time  commander-in-chief.  In  1804 
Aaron  Hurr.  then  candidate  for  governor  of 
New  York,  challenged  Alexander  Hamilton 
to  fight  a  duel,  Burr  attributing  his  defeat 
to  Hamilton's  opposition,  and  Hamilton, 
though  declaring  the  code  as  a  relic  of  bar- 
barism, accepted  the  challenge.  They  met 
at  Weehawken,  New  Jersey.  July  11,  1804. 
Hamilton  declined  to  fire  at  his  adversary, 
but  at  Burr's  first  fire  was  fatally  wounded 
and  died  July  12,  1804. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  STEPH- 
ENS, vice-president  of  the  southern 
confederacy,  a  former  United  States  senator 
and  governor  of  Georgia,  ranks  among  the 
great  men  of  American  history.  He  was  born 
February  11,  1812,  near  Crawfordsville, 
Georgia.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia,  and  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1834.  In  1837  he  made  his  debut  in 
political  life  as  a  member  of  the  state  house 
of  representatives,  and  in  1 841  declined  the 
nomination  for  the  same  office;  but  in  1842 
he  was  chosen  by  the  same  constituency  as 
state  senator.  Mr.  Stephens  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  Western  and  Atlantic 
Railroad.  In  1843  he  was  sent  by  his  dis- 
trict to  the  national  house  of  representatives, 
which  office  he  held  for  si.xteen  consec- 
utive years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
house  during  the  passing  of  the  Compromise 
Bill,  and  was  one  of  its  ablest  and  most 
active  supporters.  The  same  year  (1850) 
Mr.  Stephens  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  that  framed  the  celebrated 
"  Georgia  Platform,"  and  was  also   a  dele- 


gate to  the  convention  that  passed  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  though  he  bitterly  op- 
posed that  bill  by  voice  and  vote,  yet  he 
readily  acquiesced  in  their  decision  after 
it  received  the  votes  of  the  majority  of  the 
convention.  He  was  chosen  vice-president 
of  the  confederacy  without  opposition,  and 
in  1865  he  was  the  head  of  the  commis- 
sion sent  by  the  south  to  the  Hampton 
Roads  conference.  He  was  arrested  after 
the  fall  of  the  confederacy  and  was  con- 
fined in  Fort  Warren  as  a  prisoner  of  state 
but  was  released  on  his  own  parole.  Mr. 
Stephens  was  elected  to  the  forty-third, 
forty-fourth,  forty-fifth,  forty-si.xth  and  for- 
ty-seventh congresses,  with  hardly  more  than 
nominal  opposition.  He  was  one  of  the 
Jeffersonian  school  of  American  politics. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  works,  principal 
among  which  are:  "Constitutional  X'iew 
of  the  War  between  the  States,"  and  a 
"  Compendium  of  the  History  of  the  United 
States."  He  was  inaugurated  as  governor 
of  Georgia  November  4th,  1882,  but  died 
March  4,  1883,  before  the  completion  of 
his  term. 

ROSCOE  CONKLING  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  and  famous  of  American 
statesmen.  He  was  among  the  most  fin- 
ished, fluent  and  eloquent  orators  that  have 
ever  graced  the  halls  of  the  American  con- 
gress; ever  ready,  witty  and  bitter  in  de- 
bate he  was  at  once  admired  and  feared  by 
his  political  opponents  and  revered  by  his 
followers.  True  to  his  friends,  loyal  to  the 
last  degree  to  those  with  whom  his  inter- 
ests were  associated,  he  was  unsparing  to  his 
foes  and  it  is. said  "never  forgot  an  injury." 
Roscoe  Conkling  was  born  at  Albany, 
New  York,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1829, 
being  a  son  of  Alfred  Conkling.  Alfred 
Conkling  was  also   a   native  of  New  York. 


COMPliXniLM    OF    BIOC.RAI'lir, 


33 


born  at  East  Hampton,  October  12,  1789, 
and  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  law- 
yers in  the  Empire  state;  published  several 
legal  works;  served  a  term  in  congress;  aft- 
erward as  United  States  district  judge  for 
Northern  New  York,  and  in  1852  was  min- 
ister to  Mexico.  Alfred  Conkling  died  in 
1874. 

Roscoe  Conkling,  whose  name  heads 
this  article,  at  an  early  age  took  up  the 
study  of  law  and  soon  became  successful  and 
prominent  at  the  bar.  About  1846  he  re- 
moved to  Utica  and  in  1858  was  elected 
mayor  of  that  city.  He  was  elected  repre.- 
sentative  in  congress  from  this  district  and 
was  re-elected  three  times.  In  1867  he  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  the  state 
of  New  York  and  was  re-elected  in  1873 
and  1879.  In  May,  1881,  he  resigned  on 
account  of  differences  with  the  president. 
In  March,  1882,  he  was  appointed  and  con- 
firmed as  associate  justice  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court  but  declined  to  serve. 
His  death  occurred  April  18,   1888. 


WASHINGTON  IRVING,  one  of  the 
most  eminent,  talented  and  popu- 
lar of  American  authors,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  April  3,  1783.  His  father  was 
William  Irving,  a  merchant  and  a  native  of 
Scotland,  who  had  married  an  English  lady 
and  emigrated  to  America  some  twenty 
years  prior  to  the  birth  of  Washington. 
Two  of  the  older  sons,  William  and  Peter, 
were  partially  occupied  with  newspaper 
work  and  literary  pursuits,  and  this  fact 
naturally  inclined  Washington  to  follow 
their  example.  Washington  Irving  was  given 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  began  studying  law,  but  continued 
to  acquire  his  literary  training  by  diligent 
perusal  at  home  of  the  older  English  writers. 


When  nineteen  he  made  his  first  literary 
venture  by  printing  in  the  ' '  Morning  Chroni- 
cle," then  edited  by  his  brother,  Dr.  Peter 
Irving,  a  series  of  local  sketches  under  the 
nom-dc-plumc  oi  "Jonathan  Oldstyle."  In 
1804  he  began  an  extensive  trip  through 
Europe,  returned  in  1806,  quickly  com- 
pleted his  legal  studies  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  but  never  practiced  the  profession. 
In  1807  he  began  the  amusing  serial  "Sal- 
magundi," which  had  an  immediate  suc- 
cess, and  not  only  decided  his  future 
career  but  long  determined  the  charac- 
ter of  his  writings.  In  1S08,  assisted  by 
his  brother  Peter,  he  wrote  "  Knickerbock- 
er's History  of  New  York,"  and  in  1810  an 
excellent  biography  of  Campbell,  the  poet. 
After  this,  for  some  time,  Irving's  attention 
was  occupied  by  mercantile  interests,  but 
the  commercial  house  in  which  he  was  a 
partner  failed  in  18 17.  In  18 14  he  was 
editor  of  the  Philadelphia  "  Analectic  Maga- 
zine." About  1818  appeared  his  "Sketch- 
Book,  "  over  the  iioin-dc-plume  of  '  'Geoffrey 
Crayon,"  which  laid  the  foundation  of  Ir- 
ving's fortune  and  permanent  fame.  This 
was  soon  followed  by  the  legends  of 
"Sleepy  Hollow,"  and  "  Rip  Van  Winkle," 
which  at  once  took  high  rank  as  literary 
productions,  and  Irving's  reputation  was 
firmly  established  in  both  the  old  and  new 
worlds.  After  this  the  path  of  Irving  was 
smooth,  and  his  subsequent  writings  ap- 
peared with  rapidity,  including  "Brace- 
bridge  Hall,"  "The  Tales  of  a  Traveler," 
"History  of  the  Life  and  Voyages  of  Chris- 
topher Columbus,"  "The  Conquest  of 
Granada,"  "The  Alhambra,"  "  Tour  on 
the  Prairies,"  "Astoria,"  "Adventures  of 
Captain  Bonneville,"  "Wolfert's  Roost," 
"  Mahomet  and  his  Successors,"  and  "Life 
of  Washington,"  besides  other  works. 

Washington  Irving  was  never  married. 


;t4 


co.\//'/-:\D/i  M  OF  /uu(i/iA/'j/y. 


He  resided  during  the  closing  years  of  his 
life  at  Sunnyside  (Tarrytown)  on  the  Hud- 
son, where  Ke  died  November  28,  1859. 


CHARLES  SUMNER.— Boldly  outlined 
on  the  papes  of  our  history  stands  out 
the  ru^;ged  fifjure  of  Charles  Sumner,  states- 
man, lawyer  and  writer.  A  man  of  unim- 
peachable intej^rity.  indomitable  will  and 
with  the  power  of  tireless  toil,  he  was  a  fit 
leader  in  troublous  times.  First  in  rank  as 
an  anti-slavery  leader  in  the  halls  of  con- 
gress, he  has  stamped  his  imaf^e  upon  the 
annals  of  his  time.  As  an  orator  he  took 
front  rank  and,  in  wealth  of  illustration, 
rhetoric  and  lofty  tone  his  eloquence  equals 
anything  to  be  found  in  history. 

Charles  Sumner  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  January  6.  1811,  and  was 
the  son  of  Charles  P.  and  Relief  J.  Sumner. 
The  family  had  long  been  prominent  in  that 
state.  Charles  was  educated  at  the  Boston 
Public  Latin  School;  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1826,  and  graduated  therefrom  in 
1830.  In  1 83 1  he  joined  the  Harvard  Law 
School,  then  under  charge  of  Judge  Story, 
and  gave  himself  up  to  the  study  of  law 
with  enthusiasm.  His  leisure  was  devoted 
to  contributing  to  the  American  Jurist.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1834  he  was  appointed 
reporter  to  the  circuit  court  by  Judge  Story. 
He  published  several  works  about  this  time, 
and  from  1835  to  1837  and  again  in  1843 
was  lecturer  in  the  law  school.  He  had 
planned  a  lawyer's  life,  but  in  1S45  he  gave 
his  attention  to  politics,  speakingaiui  working 
against  the  admission  of  Texas  to  the  Union 
and  subsequently  against  the  Mexican  war. 
In  1848  he  was  defeated  for  congress  on  the 
Free  Soil  ticket.  His  stand  on  the  anti- 
slavery  question  at  that  time  alienated  both 
friends  and  clients,  but  he  never  swerved 
from  his  convictions.    In  1851  he  was  elected 


to  the  United  States  senate  and  took  his 
seat  therein  December  1  of  that  year.  From 
this  time  his  life  became  the  history  of  the 
anti-slavery  cause  in  congress.  In  August, 
1852.  he  began  his  attacks  on  slavery  by  a 
masterly  argument  for  the  repeal  of  the 
fugitive  slave  law.  On  May  22,  1S56,  Pres- 
ton Brooks,  nephew  of  Senator  Butler,  of 
South  Carolina,  made  an  attack  upon  Mr. 
Sumner,  at  his  desk  in  the  senate,  striking 
him  over  the  head  with  a  heavy  cane.  The 
attack  was  quite  serious  in  its  effects  and 
kept  Mr.  Sumner  absent  from  his  seat  in  the 
senate  for  about  four  years.  In  1857,  1863 
and  1 869  he  was  re-elected  to  the  office  of 
senator,  passing  some  twenty-three  years  in 
that  position,  always  advocating  the  rights 
of  freedom  and  equity.  He  died  March  11, 
1874-  

THOMAS  JEFFERSON,  the  third  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was  born 
near  Charlottesville,  Albemarle  county,  Vir- 
ginia, April  13,  1743,  and  was  the  son  of 
Peter  and  Jane  (Randolph*  Jefferson.  He 
received  the  elements  of  a  good  education, 
and  in  1760  entered  William  and  Mary  Col- 
lege. After  remaining  in  that  institution  for 
two  years  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  with 
George  Wythe,  of  Williamsburg,  \irginia, 
one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  his  day,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1767.  He  ob- 
tained a  large  and  profitable  practice,  which 
he  held  for  eight  years.  The  conflict  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  then 
drew  him  into  public  life,  he  having  for 
some  time  given  his  attention  to  the  study 
of  the  sources  of  law,  the  origin  of  liberty 
and  equal  rights. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  the  Virginia 
hoHse  of  burgesses  in  1769,  and  served  in 
that  body  several  years,  a  firm  supporter  of 
liberal    measures,    and,    although    a    slave- 


COM/'/:\/)/C.}f    OF    BIOGRAI'lir 


35 


holder  himself,  an  opponent  of  slavery. 
With  othurs,  he  was  a  leader  among  the  op- 
position to  the  king.  He  took  his  place  as 
a  member  of  the  Continental  congress  June 
21,  1775,  and  after  serving  on  several  com- 
mittees was  appointed  to  draught  a  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  which  he  did,  some 
corrections  being  suggested  by  Dr.  Franklin 
and  John  Adams.  This  document  was  pre- 
sented to  congress  June  28,  1776,  and  after 
six  days'  debate  was  passed  and  was  signed. 
In  the  following  September  Mr.  Jefferson 
resumed  his  seat  in  the  Virginia  legislature, 
and  gave  much  time  to  the  adapting  of  laws 
of  that  state  to  the  new  condition  of  things. 
He  drew  up  the  law,  the  first  ever  passed  by 
a  legislature  or  adopted  by  a  government, 
which  secured  perfect  religious  freedom. 
June  I,  1779,  he  succeeded  Patrick  Henry 
as  governor  of  Virginia,  an  office  which, 
after  co  operating  with  Washington  in  de- 
fending the  country,  he  resigned  two  3'ears 
later.  One  of  his  own  estates  was  ravaged 
by  the  British,  and  his  house  at  Monticello 
was  held  by  Tarleton  for  several  days,  and 
Jtfferson  narrowly  escaped  capture.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  in  17S2,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  plenipotentiary  to  France, 
which  he  had  declined  in  1776.  Before 
leaving  he  served  a  short  time  in  congress 
at  Annapolis,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  a 
bill  for  establishing  our  present  decimal  s\s- 
tem  of  currency,  one  of  his  most  useful  pub- 
lic services.  He  remained  in  an  official  ca- 
pacity until  October,  1789,  and  was  a  most 
active  and  vigilant  minister.  Besides  the 
onerous  duties  of  Lis  office,  during  this  time, 
he  published  "Notes  on  Virginia,"  sent  to 
the  United  States  seeds,  shrubs  and  plants, 
forwarded  literary  and  scientific  news  and 
gave  useful  advice  to  some  of  the  leaders  of 
the  French  Revolution. 

Mr.  JefTerson  landed  in  Virginia  Novem- 


ber 18,  1789,  having  obtained  a  leave  of 
absence  from  his  post,  and  shortly  after  ac- 
cepted Washington's  offer  of  the  portfolio 
of  the  department  of  state  in  his  cabinet. 
He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in 
March,  1791,  and  held  it  until  January  i, 
1794,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation. 
About  this  time  he  and  Alexander  Hamilton 
became  decided  and  aggressive  political  op- 
ponents, Jefferson  being  in  warm  sympathy 
with  the  people  in  the  French  revolution 
and  strongly  democratic  in  his  feelings, 
whije  Hamilton  took  the  opposite  side.  In 
1796  Jefferson  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  United  States.  In  1800  he  was  elected 
to  the  presidency  and  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1801.  During  his  administration, 
which  lasted  for  eight  years,  he  having  been 
re-elected  in  1804,  he  waged  a  successful 
war  against  the  Tripolitan  pirates;  purchased 
Louisiana  of  Napoleon;  reduced  the  public 
debt,  and  was  the  originator  of  many  wise 
measures.  Declining  a  nomination  for  a 
third  term  he  returned  to  Monticello,  where 
he  died  July  4,  1826,  but  a  few  hours  before 
the  death  of  his  friend,  John  Adams. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  married  January  i, 
1772,  to  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  young, 
beautiful,  and  wealthy  widow,  who  died 
September  6,  1782,  leaving  three  children, 
three  more  having  died  previous  to  her 
demise. 

CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT, known  as 
' '  Commodore  "  Vanderbilt,  was  the 
founder  of  what  constitutes  the  present  im- 
mense fortune  of  the  Vanderbilt  family.  He 
was  born  May  27,  1794,  at  Port  Richmond, 
Staten  Island,  Richmond  county,  New 
York,  and  we  find  him  at  sixteen  years  run- 
ning a  small  vessel  between  his  home  and 
New  York  City.  The  fortifications  of  Sta- 
ten and  Long  Islands  were  just  in  course  of 


coMPjixniLM  OF  liioGHArin: 


construction,  and  he  carried  the  laborers 
from  New  York  to  the  fortifications  in  his 
"  perianf;er,  "  as  it  was  called,  in  the  day, 
and  at  nif;ht  carried  supplies  to  the  fort  on 
the  Hudson.  Later  he  removed  to  New 
York,  where  he  added  to  his  little  fleet.  At 
the  age  of  twenty- three  he  was  free  from 
debt  and  was  worth  $9,000,  and  in  181 7, 
with  a  partner  he  built  the  first  steamboat 
that  was  run  between  New  York  and  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  and  became  her 
captain  at  a  salary  of  $1,000  a  year.  The 
next  j'ear  he  took  command  of  a  larger  and 
better  boat  and  by  1824  he  was  in  complete 
control  of  the  Gibbon's  Line,  as  it  was 
called,  which  he  had  brought  up  to  a  point 
where  it  paid  $40,000  a  year.  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  acquired  the  ferry  between  New 
York  and  Eli/abethport,  New  Jersey,  on  a 
fourteen  years'  lease  and  conducted  this  on 
a  paying  basis.  He  severed  his  connections 
with  G.bbons  in  1829  and  engaged  in 
business  alone  and  for  twenty  years  he  was 
the  leading  steamboat  man  in  the  country, 
building  and  operating  steamboats  on  the 
Hudson  River,  Long  Island  Sound,  on  the 
Delaware  River  and  the  route  to  Boston, 
and  he  had  the  monopoly  of  trade  on  these 
routes.  In  1S50  he  determined  to  broaden 
his  field  of  operation  and  accordingly  built 
the  steamship  Prometheus  and  sailed  for 
the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  where  he  desired  to 
make  a  personal  investigation  of  the  pros- 
pects of  the  American  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Ship  Canal  Company,  in  which  he  had  pur- 
chased a  controlling  interest.  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  planned,  as  a  result  of  this  visit, 
a  transit  route  (rofu  Greytown  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  to  San  Juan  del  Sud  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  which  was  a  saving  of  700  miles 
over  the  old  route.  In  1851  he  placed  three 
steamers  on  the  Atlantic  side  and  four  on 
the  Pacific  side  to  accommodate  the  cnor- 


j  mous  traffic  occasioned  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California.  The  following  year 
three  more  vessels  were  added  to  his  fleet 
I  and  a  branch  line  established  from  New 
I  Orleans  to  Greytown.  In  1853  the  Com- 
I  modore  sold  out  his Nicaraugua  Transit  Com- 
pany, which  had  netted  him  $1,000,000 
and  built  the  renowned  steam  yacht,  the 
■' North  Star."  He  continued  in  the  ship- 
ping business  nine  years  longer  and  accu- 
mulated some  $10,000,000.  In  1861  he 
presented  to  the  government  his  magnifi- 
cent steamer  "  \'anderbilt,  "  which  had  cost 
him  $800,000  and  for  which  he  received  the 
thanks  of  congress.  In  1844  he  became 
interested  in  the  railroad  business  which  he 
followed  in  later  years  and  became  one  of 
the  greatest  railroad  magnates  of  his  time. 
He  founded  the  Vanderbilt  University  at  a 
cost  of  $1,000,000.  He  died  January  4, 
1S77,  leaving  a  fortune  estimated  at  over 
$100,000,000  to  his  children. 


DANIEL  BOONE  was  one  of  the  most 
famous  of  the  many  American  scouts, 
pioneers  and  hunters  which  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  western  states  brought  into 
prominence.  DanJfel  Boone  was  born  Feb- 
ruary II,  1735,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  while  yet  a  young  man  removed 
to  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  married. 
In  1769,  with  five  companions,  he  pene- 
trated into  the  forests  and  wilds  of  Kentucky 
— then  uninhabited  by  white  men.  He  had 
frequent  conflicts  with  the  Indians  and  was 
captured  by  them  but  escaped  and  continued 
to  hunt  in  and  explore  that  region  for  over 
a  year,  when,  in  1771,  he  returned  to  his 
home.  In  the  summer  of  1773,  he  removed 
with  his  own  and  five  other  families  into 
what  was  then  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky, 
and  to  defend  his  colony  against  the  savages, 
he  built,  in  1775,  a  fort  at    Boonesborough. 


COMrEXDllWf   OF    BIOGRAriir. 


37 


on  the  Kentucky  river.  This  fort  was  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians  several  times  in  1777, 
but  they  were  repulsed.  The  following 
year,  however,  Boone  was  surprised  and 
captured  by  them.  They  took  him  to  De- 
troit and  treated  him  with  leniency,  but  he 
soon  escaped  and  returned  to  his  fort  which 
he  defended  with  success  against  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Indians  in  August,  1778.  His 
son,  Enoch  Boone,  was  the  first  white  male 
child  born  in  the  state  of  Kentucky.  In 
1795  Daniel  Boone  removed  with  his  family 
to  Missouri,  locating  about  forty-five  miles 
west  of  the  present  site  of  St.  Louis,  where 
he  found  fresh  fields  for  his  favorits  pursuits 
— adventure,  hunting,  and  pioneer  life.  His 
death  occurred  September  20,  1820. 


HENRY  W.\DS\VORTH  LONGFEL- 
LOW, said  to  have  been  America's 
greatest  "poet  of  the  people,"  was  born  at 
Portland,  Maine,  February  27,  1807.  He 
entered  Bowdoin  College  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, and  graduated  in  1825.  During  his 
college  days  he  distinguished  himself  in  mod- 
ern languages,  and  wrote  several  short 
poems,  one  of  the  best  known  of  which  was 
the  "Hymn  of  the  Moravian  Nuns."  After 
his  graduation  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
his  father,  but  the  following  year  was  offered 
the  professorship  of  modern  languages  at 
Bowdoin,  with  the  privilege  of  three  years 
study  in  Europe  to  perfect  himself  in  French, 
Spanish,  Italian  and  German.  After  the 
three  years  were  passed  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  entered  upon  his  profes- 
sorship in  1829.  His  first  volume  was  a 
small  essay  on  the  "Moral  and  Devotional 
Poetry  of  Spain"  in  1833.  In  1835  he  pub- 
lished some  prose  sketches  of  travel  under 
the  title  of  "Outre  Mer,  a  Pilgrimage  be- 
yond the  Sea."  In  1835  he  was  elected  to 
the  chair  of  modern  languages  and  literature 


at  Harvard  University  and  spent   a  year  in 
I  Denmark,  Sweden   and  Switzerland,    culti- 
vating a  knowledge  of  early  Scandinavian 
t  literature  and  entered  upon    his    professor- 
ship in  1836.      Mr.  Longfellow  published  in 
I    1 839  "  Hyperion,  a  Romance, '"  and  ' '  Voices 
;  of  the  Night, "  and  his  first  volume  of  original 
I  verse  comprising   the    selected    poems    of 
j  twenty  years  work,  procured  him  immediate 
I  recognition  as  a  poet.      "  Ballads  and  other 
1  poems"    appeared    in    1842,  the    "Spanish 
I  Student"  a  drama   in   three    acts,  in  1843, 
I   "The  Belfry  of  Bruges  "  in   1846,  "Evan- 
!  geline,  a    Tale  of  Acadia,"  in   1847,  which 
I  was  considered  his   master  piece.     In  1845 
he  published  a  large  volume  of  the  "Poets 
and  Poetry  of  Europe,"  1849  "  Kavanagh, 
a  Tale,"    ''The   Seaside    and   Fireside"  in 
1850,  "The  Golden  Legend  "in  1851,  "The 
Song  of  Hiawatha  "  in   1855,  "  The  Court- 
ship of  Miles  Standish  "  in  1858,  "  Tales  of 
a  Wayside  Inn  "  in  1863;  "  Flower  de  Luce' 
in    1866;"   "New    England    Tragedies"    in 
1869;     "The    Divine    Tragedy"    in    1871; 
"Three    Books    of   Song"  in    1872;    "The 
Hanging  of  the  Crane  "  in    1874.      He  also 
published    a  masterly  translation  of  Dante 
in  1867-70  and  the  "  Morituri  Salutamus," 
a  poem  read   at   the  fiftieth   anniversary  of 
his  class  at  Bowdoin  College.      Prof.  Long- 
fellow resigned  his  chair  at  Harvard  Univer- 
sity in  1854,  but  continued  to  reside  at  Cam- 
bridge.    Some  of  his  poetical   works  have 
been  translated  into    many   languages,  and 
their  popularity  rivals  that  of  the  best  mod- 
ern English    poetry.      He    died    March    24, 
1882,  but  has  left  an  imperishable  fame  as 
one  of  the  foremost  of  .American  poets. 


PETER  COOPER  was  in  three  partic- 
ulars— as  a  capitalist  and  manufacturer, 
as  an  inventor,  and  as  a  philanthropist — 
connected  intimately  with  sotne  of  the  most 


88 


CUMfh.MHI.  M    uJ-     JyJuuh'A/'f/y. 


important  and  useful  accessions  to  the  in- 
dustrial arts  (>(  Anier'ca,  its  progress  in  in- 
ve  lion  and  the  promotion  of  educational 
and  bene\t  lent  institutions  intended  for  the 
facnt-fit  of  people  at  large.  He  was  born 
in  New  York  city.  February  I2,  1791.  His 
life  was  one  of  labor  and  struggle,  as  it  was 
with  most  of  America's  successful  men.  In 
early  bo\hood  he  commenced  to  help  his 
'ather  as  a  manufacturer  of  hats.  He  at- 
tended school  only  for  half  of  each  day  for 
a  single  year,  and  beyond  this  his  acquisi- 
tions were  all  his  own.  When  seventeen 
years  old  he  was  placed  with  John  Wood- 
ward to  learn  the  trade  of  coach-making  and 
served  his  apprenticeship  so  satisfactorily 
that  his  master  oP"red  to  set  him  up  in  busi- 
ness, but  this  he  declined  because  of  the 
debt  and  obligation  it  would  involve. 

The  foundation  of  Mr.  Cooper's  fortune 
was  laid  in  the  invention  of  an  improvement 
in  machines  for  shearing  cloth.  This  was 
largely  called  into  use  during  the  war  of 
1812  with  England  when  all  importations 
of  cloth  from  that  country  were  stopped. 
The  machines  lost  their  value,  however,  on 
the  declaration  of  peace.  Mr.  Cooper  then 
turned  his  shop  into  the  manufacture  of 
cabinet  ware.  He  aftersvards  went  into  the 
grocery  business  in  New  York  and  finally  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glue  and  isin- 
glass which  he  carried  on  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  In  1830  he  erected  iron  works 
in  Canton,  near  Baltimore.  Subsequently 
he  erected  a  rolling  and  a  wire  mill  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  which  he  first  success- 
fully applied  anthracite  to  the  puddling  of 
iron.  In  these  works,  he  was  the  first  to 
roll  wrought- iron  beams  fur  lire-proof  build- 
ings. These  works  grew  to  be  very  exten- 
sive, including  mines,  blast  furnaces,  etc. 
While  in  Haltimore  Mr.  Cooper  built  in 
1830,  after  his  own   designs,  the   first  loco- 


'  motive  engine  ever  constructed  on  this  con- 
tinent and  it  was  successfully  operated  on 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio   Railroad.      He  also 
j  took  a  great  interest  and  invested  large  cap- 
ital in  the  3xtension  of  the  electric  telegraph. 
I  also  in  the  laying  of  the  first  Atlantic  cable; 
besides    interesting    himself    largely    in   the 
New    York    state    canals.       But    the    most 
:  cherished   object   of   Mr.    Cooper's  life  was 
the  establishment   of  an   institution  for  the 
I  instruction  of  the  industrial  classes,  which 
1  he  carried  out  on  a  magnificent  scale  in  New 
I  York    city,    where    the    "Cooper    Union" 
j  ranks  among  the   most    important   institu- 
tions. 

In  May.  1876.  the  Independent  party 
nominated  Mr.  Cooper  for  president  of  the 
United  States,  and  at  the  election  following 
he  received  nearly  100.000  votes.  His 
dea:h  occurred  April  4.  1S83. 


GZNERAL  ROBERT  EDWARD  LEE. 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  Confeder- 
ate generals  during  the  Civil  war,  and  one 
of  the  ablest  military  commanders  of  mod- 
ern times,  was  born  at  Stratford  House, 
Westmoreland  county,  Virginia,  January  19, 
1807.  In  1825  he  entered  the  West  Point 
academy  and  was  graduated  second  in  his 
class  in  1829,  and  attached  to  the  army  as 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  thus  engaged  in  en- 
gineering work,  aiding  in  establishing  the 
boundary  line  between  Ohio  and  Michigan, 
and  superintended  various  river  and  harbor 
improvements,  becoming  captain  of  engi- 
neers in  1838.  He  first  saw  field  service  in 
the  Mexican  war,  and  under  General  Scott 
pirformed  valuable  and  efficient  service. 
In  that  brilliant  campaign  he  was  conspicu- 
ous for  professional  ability  as  well  as  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct,  winning  in  quick 
succession  the  brevets  of  major,  lieutenant 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPlir. 


colonel,  and  colonel  for  his  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Cherubusco, 
Chapultepec,  and  in  the  capture  of  the  city 
Mexico.  At  the  close  of  that  war  he  re- 
sumed his  engineering  work  in  connection 
with  defences  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
from  1852  to  1855  was  superintendent  of 
the  Military  Academy,  a  position  which  he 
gave  up  to  become  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Second  Cavalry.  For  several  years  there- 
after he  served  on  the  Texas  border,  but 
happening  to  be  near  Washington  at  the 
time  of  John  Brown's  raid,  October  17  to 
25,  1859,  Colonel  Lee  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Federal  forces  employed  in  its 
repression.  He  soon  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment in  Texas  where  he  remained  the 
greater  part  of  i860,  and  March  16,  1 861, 
became  colonel  of  his  regiment  by  regular 
promotion.  Three  weeks  later,  April  25,  he 
resigned  upon  the  secession  of  Virginia, 
went  at  once  to  Richmond  and  tendered  his 
services  to  the  governor  of  that  state,  being 
by  acclamation  appointed  commander-in- 
chief  of  its  military  and  naval  forces,  with 
the  rank  of  major-general. 

He  at  once  set  to  work  to  organize  and 
develop  the  defensive  resources  of  his  state 
and  within  a  month  directed  the  occupation 
in  force  of  Manassas  Junction.  Meanwhile 
Virginia  having  entered  the  confederacy  and 
Richmond  become  the  capitol,  Lee  became 
one  of  the  foremost  of  its  military  officers 
and  was  closely  connected  with  Jefferson 
Davis  in  planning  the  moves  of  that  tragic 
time.  Lee  participated  in  many  of  the 
hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war  among 
which  were  Fair  Oaks,  White  Lake  Swamps, 
Cold  Harbor,  and  the  Chickahominy,  Ma- 
nassas, Cedar  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville,  Malvern  Hill,  Get- 
tysburg, the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  cam- 
paign, all  the  campaigns  about  Richmond, 


Petersburg,  Five  Forks,  and  others.  Lee's 
surrender  at  Appomatox  brought  the  war  to 
a  close.  It  is  said  of  General  Lee  that  but 
few  commanders  in  history  have  been  so 
quick  to  detect  the  purposes  of  an  opponent 
or  so  quick  to  act  upon  it.  Never  surpassed, 
if  ever  equaled,  in  the  art  of  winning  the 
passionate,  personal  love  and  admiration  of 
his  troops,  he  acquired  and  held  an  influ- 
ence over  his  army  to  the  very  last,  founded 
upon  a  supreme  trust  in  his  judgment,  pre- 
science and  skill,  coupled  with  his  cool, 
stable,  equable  courage.  A  great  writer  has 
said  of  him:  "As  regards  the  proper  meas- 
ure of  General  Lee's  rank  among  the  sol- 
diers of  history,  seeing  what  he  wrought 
with  such  resources  as  he  had,  under  all  the 
disadvantages  that  ever  attended  his  oper- 
ations, it  is  impossible  to  measure  what  he 
might  have  achieved  in  campaigns  and  bat- 
tles with  resources  at  his  own  disposition 
equal  to  those  against  which  he  invariably 
contended." 

Left  at  the  close  of  the  war  without  es- 
tate or  profession,  he  accepted  the  presi- 
dency of  Washington  College  at  Lexington, 
Virginia,  where  he  died  October  12,  1870. 


JOHN  JAY,  first  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  New  York, 
December  12,  1745.  He  took  up  the  study 
of  law,  graduated  from  King's  College 
(Columbia  College),  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1768.  He  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  New  York  citizens  to 
protest  against  the  enforcement  by  the 
British  government  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill, 
was  elected  to  the  Continental  congress 
which  met  in  1774,  and  was  author  of  the 
addresses  to  the  people  of  Great  Britian  and 
of  Canada  adopted  by  that  and  the  suc- 
ceeding congress.  He  was  chosen  to  the 
provincial  assembly  of    his   own  state,  and 


10 


LO.MI'HM'ILM    UJ-    JJKn./iA/'J/r. 


resigned  from  the  Continental  congress  to 
serve  in  that  body,  wrote  most  of  its  public 
papers,  including  the  constitution  of  the  new 
state,  and  was  then  made  chief-justice.  He 
was  af;ain  chosen  as  a  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental congress  in  1778.  and  became  presi- 
dent of  that  body.  He  was  sent  to  Spain 
as  minister  in  1780,  and  his  services  there 
resulted  in  substantial  and  moral  aid  for  the 
struggling  colonists.  Jay,  Franklin,  and 
Adams  negotiated  the  treaty  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain  in  1782,  and  Jay  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  foreign  affairs  in  1784, 
and  held  the  position  until  the  adoption  of 
the  Federal  constitution.  During  this  time 
he  had  contributed  strong  articles  to  the 
"Federalist"  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution,  and  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  ratification  of  that 
instrument  by  his  state.  He  was  appointed 
by  Washington  as  first  chief-justice  of  the 
United  Slates  in  1789.  In  this  high  capac- 
ity the  great  interstate  and  international 
questions  that  arose  for  immediate  settle- 
ment came  before  him  for  treatment. 

In  1794,  at  a  time  when  the  people  in 
gratitude  for  the  aid  that  France  had  ex- 
tended to  us,  were  clamoring  for  the  privilege 
of  going  to  the  aid  of  that  nation  in  her 
struggle  with  Great  Britain  and  her  own  op- 
pressors, John  Jqy  was  sent  to  England  as 
special  envoy  to  negotiate  a  treaty  with 
that  power.  The  instrument  known  as 
"Jay's  Treaty  "  was  the  result,  and  while 
in  many  of  its  features  it  favored  our  nation, 
yet  the  neutrality  clause  in  it  so  angered  the 
masses  that  it  was  denounced  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  John  Jay  was  burned 
in  effigy  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The 
treaty  was  finally  ratified  by  Washington, 
and  approved,  in  August,  1795.  Having 
been  elected  governor  of  his  state  for  three 
consecutive   terms,    he    then    retired    from 


active  life,  declining  an  appointment  as 
I  chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court,  made  by 
!  John  Adams  and  confirmed  by  the  senate. 
I  He  died  in  New  York  in  1S29. 


PHILLIP  HENRY  SHERIDAN  was 
one  of  the  greatest  American  cavalry 
generals.  He  was  born  March  6,  1831,  at 
Somerset,  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  United  States  Military  Acad- 
emy at  West  Point,  from  which  he  graduat- 
ed and  was  assigned  to  the  First  Infantry  as 
brevet  second  lieutenant  July  i,  1853. 
After  serving  in  Texas,  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
in  Washington  and  Oregon  territories  until 
the  fall  of  1861.  he  was  recalled  to  the 
states  and  assigned  to  the  army  of  south- 
west ?dissouri  as  chief  quartermaster  from 
the  duties  of  which  he  was  soon  relieved. 
After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  he  was  quar- 
termaster in  the  Corinth  campaign,  and  on 
May  25  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Second  Michigan  Cavalry.  On  July  i,  in 
command  of  a  cavalry  brigade,  he  defeated 
a  superior  force  of  the  enemy  and  was  com- 
missioned brigadier-general  of  volunteers. 
General  Sheridan  was  then  transferred  to 
the  army  of  the  Ohio,  and  commanded  a 
division  in  the  battle  of  Perrysville  and  also 
did  good  service  at  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  where  he  was  commissioned  major- 
general  of  volunteers.  He  fought  with 
great  gallantry  at  Chickamauga,  after  which 
Rosecrans  was  succeeded  by  General  Grant, 
under  whom  Sheridan  fought  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga  and  won  additional  renown. 
Upon  the  promotion  of  Grant  to  lieutenant- 
general,  he  applied  for  the  transfer  of  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  to  the  east,  and  appoint  d 
him  chief  of  cavalry  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  During  the  campaign  of  1S64 
the  cavalry  coV(  red  the  front  and  flank-:  oi 
the  inia:  trv  until  M.i\   S,  when  it  was  wii.> 


coMrEXDiiwr  of  niOGRArifr. 


drawn  and  General  Sheridan  started  on  a 
raid  against  the  Confederate  lines  of  com- 
munication with  Richmond  and  on  May  25 
he  rejoined  the  army,  having  destroyed  con- 
siderable of  the  confederate  stores  and  de- 
feated their  cavalry  under  General  Stuart  at 
Yellow  Tavern.  The  outer  line  of  defences 
around  Richmond  were  taken,  but  the  sec- 
ond line  was  too  strong  to  be  taken  by  as- 
sault, and  accordingly  Sheridan  crossed  the 
Chickahominy  at  Meadow  Bridge,  reaching 
James  River  May  14,  and  thence  by  White 
House  and  Hanover  Court  House  back  to 
the  army.  The  cavalry  occupied  Cold 
Harbor  May  31,  which  they  held  until  the 
arrival  of  the  infantry.  On  General  Sheri- 
dan's next  raid  he  routed  Wade  Hampton's 
cavalry,  and  August  7  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  Middle  Military  division, 
and  during  the  campaign  of  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley  he  performed  the  unheard  of 
feat  of  "  destroying  an  entire  army."  He 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  the  reg- 
ular army  and  for  his  victory  at  Cedar  Creek 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral. General  Sheridan  started  out  Febru- 
ary 27,  1865,  with  ten  thousand  cavalry 
and  destroyed  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad 
and  the  James  River  Canal  and  joined  the 
army  again  at  Petersburg  March  27.  He 
commanded  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  the 
decisive  victory  which  compelled  Lee  to 
evacuate  Petersburg.  On  April  9,  Lee  tried 
to  break  through  Sheridan's  dismounted 
command  but  when  the  General  drew  aside 
his  cavalry  and  disclosed  the  deep  lines  of 
infantry  the  attempt  was  abandoned.  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  mounted  his  men  and  was  about 
tc  charge  when  a  white  flag  was  flown  at  the 
head  of  Lee's  column  which  betokened  the 
surrender  of  the  army.  After  the  war  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  had  command  of  the  army  of 
the  southwest,  of  the  gulf  and  the  depart- 


ment of  Missouri  until  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant-general  and  assigned  to  the  di- 
vision of  Missouri  with  headquarters  at  Chi- 
cago, and  assumed  supreme  command  of 
the  army  November  i,  1883.  which  post  he 
held  until  his  death.  August  5,  1888. 


PHINEAS  T.  BARNUM.  the  greatest 
showman  the  world  has  ever  seen,  was 
born  at  Danbury.  Connecticut,  July  5,  1810. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  He  opened  a  re- 
tail fruit  and  confectionery  house,  including 
a  barrel  of  ale,  in  one  part  of  an  old  car- 
riage house.  He  spent  fifty  dollars  in  fitting 
up  the  store  and  the  stock  cost  him  seventy 
dollars.  Three  years  later  he  put  in  a  full 
stock,  such  as  is  generally  carried  in  a 
country  store,  and  the  same  year  he  started 
a  Democratic  newspaper,  known  as  the 
"Herald  of  Freedom."  He  soon  found 
himself  in  jail  under  a  sixty  days'  sentence 
for  libel.  During  the  winter  of  1834-5  he 
went  to  New  York  and  began  soliciting  busi- 
ness for  several  Chatham  street  houses.     In 

1835  he  embarked  in  the  show  business  at 
Niblo's  Garden,  having  purchased  the  cele- 
brated "  Joice  Heth"  for  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  afterward  engaged  the  celebrated 
athlete,  Sig.  Vivalia,  and  Barnum  made  his 
"  first  appearance  on  any  stage, "  acting  as  a 
"super"  to  Sig.  Vivalia  on  his  opening 
night.  He  became  ticket  seller,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  Aaron  Turner's  circus  in 

1836  and  traveled  with  it  about  the  countrv. 
His  next  venture  was  the  purchase  01  a 
steamboat  on  the  Mississippi,  and  engasred 
a  theatrical  company  to  show  in  the  princi- 
pal towns  along  that  river.  In  1840  he 
opened  \aux  Hall  Garden,  New  York,  with 
variety  performances,  and  introduced  the 
celebrated  jig  dancer,  John  Diamond,  to  the 
public.     The   next  year  he  quit   ihe  show 


42 


coMrEXDii.M  OF  moGRAriir. 


business  and  settled  down  in  New  York  as 
agent  of  Sear's  Pictorial  Illustration  of  the 
Bible,  but  a  few  months  later  again  leased 
\'aux  Hall.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
be  again  left  the  business,  and  became 
"pufT"  writer  for  the  Bowery  Amphitheater. 
In  December  he  bought  the  Scudder  Museum, 
and  a  year  later  introduced  the  celebrated 
Tom  Thumb  to  the  world,  taking  him  to 
England  in  1844,  and  remaining  there  three 
years.  He  then  returned  to  New  York,  and 
in  1849,  through  James  Hall  Wilson,  he  en- 
gaged the  "Swedish  Nightingale,"  Jenny 
Lind,  to  come  to  this  country  and  make  a 
tour  under  his  management.  He  also  had 
sent  the  Swiss  Bell  Ringers  to  America  in 
1844.  He  became  owner  of  the  Baltimore 
Museum  and  the  Lyceum  and  Museum  at 
Philadelphia.  In  1850  he  brought  a  dozen 
elephants  from  Ceylon  to  make  a  tour  of  this 
country,  and  in  1S51  sent  the  "  Bateman 
Children"  to  London.  During  185 1  and 
1S52  he  traveled  as  a  temperance  lecturer, 
and  became  president  of  a  bank  at  Pequon- 
nock,  Connecticut.  In  1852  he  started  a 
weekly  pictorial  paper  known  as  the  "  Illus- 
trated News."  In  1865  his  Museum  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  immediately  leased 
the  \\'inter  Garden  Theatre,  where  he  played 
his  company  until  he  opened  his  own 
Museum.  This  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1868,  and  he  then  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  George  Wood  Museum. 

After  dipping  into  politics  to  some  ex- 
tent, he  began  his  career  as  a  really  great 
showman  in  1871.  Three  years  later  he 
erected  an  immense  circular  building  in  New 
York,  in  which  he  produced  his  panoramas. 
He  has  frequently  appeared  as  a  lecturer, 
some  times  on  temperance,  and  some  times 
on  other  topics,  among  which  were  "Hum- 
bugs of  the  World,"  "Struggles  and 
Triumphs,"  etc.      He  was  owner  of  the  im- 


mense menagerie  and  circus  known  as  the 
I  "Greatest  Show  on  Earth,"  and  his  fame 

extended  throughout  Europe  and  America. 
1   He  died  in  1891. 


j-^: 


\MES  MADISON,  the  fourth  president 


born  at  Port  Conway,  Prince  George  coun- 
ty, \'irginia,  March  16,  1751.  He  was  the 
son  of  a  wealthy  planter,  who  lived  on  a  fine 
estate  called  "  Montpelier,"  which  was  but 
twenty-five  miles  from  Monticello,  the  home 
of  Thomas  Jefferson.  Mr.  Madison  was  the 
eldest  of  a  family  pf  seven  children,  all  of 
whom  attained  maturity.  He  received  his 
early  education  at  home  under  a  private 
tutor,  and  consecrated  himself  with  unusual 
vigor  to  study.  At  a  very  early  age  he  was 
a  proficient  scholar  in  Latin,  Greek,  French 
and  Spanish,  and  in  17C9  he  entered  Prince- 
ton College,  New  Jersey.  He  graduated  in 
1 77 1,  but  remained  for  several  months  after 
his  graduation  to  pursue  a  course  of  study 
under  the  guidance  of  Dr.  Witherspoon. 
He  permanently  injured  his  health  at  this 
time  and  returned  to  \'irginia  in  1772,  and 
for  two  years  he  was  immersed  in  the  study 
of  law,  and  at  the  same  time  made  extend- 
ed researches  in  theology,  general  literature, 
and  philosophical  studies.  He  then  directed 
his  full  attention  to  the  impending  struggle 
of  the  colonies  for  independence,  and  also 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  religious  con- 
troversy at  that  time  regarding  so  called 
persecution  of  other  religious  denominations 
by  the  Church  of  England.  Mr.  Madison 
was  elected  to  the  Virginia  assembly  in  1776 
arid  in  November,  1777,  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  council  of  state.  He  took 
his  seat  in  the  continental  congress  in 
March,  1780.  He  was  made  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  foreign  relations,  and 
drafted  an  able   memoranda  for  the  use  of 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


43 


the  American  ministers  to  the  French  and 
Spanish  governments,  that  established  the 
claims  of  the  republic  to  the  territories  be- 
tween the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  the 
Mississippi  River.  He  acted  as  chairman  of 
the  ways  and  means  committee  in  1783  and 
as  a  member  of  the  Virginia  legislature  in 
1784-86  he  rendered  important  services  to 
the  state.  Mr.  Madison  represented  Vir- 
giana  in  the  national  constitutional  conven- 
tion at  Philadelphia  in  1787,  and  was  one  of 
the  chief  framers  of  the  constitution.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  four  congresses, 
1789-97,  and  gradually  became  identified 
with  the  anti-federalist  or  republican  party 
of  which  he  eventually  became  the  leader. 
He  remained  in  private  life  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  John  Adams,  and  was  secre- 
tary of  state  under  President  Jefferson.  Mr. 
Madison  administered  the  affairs  of  that 
post  with  such  great  ability  that  he  was  the 
natural  successor  of  the  chief  magistrate 
and  was  chosen  president  by  an  electoral 
vote  of  122  to  53.  He  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1809,  at  that  critical  period  in  our 
history  when  the  feelings  of  the  people  were 
embittered  with  those  of  England,  and  his 
first  term  was  passed  in  diplomatic  quarrels, 
which  finally  resulted  in  the  declaration  of 
war,  June  18,  1812.  In  the  autumn  of  that 
year  President  Madison  was  re-elected  by  a 
vote  of  128  to  89,  and  conducted  the  war 
for  three  years  with  varying  success  and 
defeat  in  Canada,  by  glorious  victories  at 
sea,  and  by  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  that 
was  fought  after  the  treaty  of  peace  had 
been  signed  at  Ghent,  December  24,  1814. 
During  this  war  the  national  capitol  at 
Washington  was  burned,  and  many  valuable 
papers  were  destroyed,  but  the  declaration 
of  independence  was  saved  to  the  country 
by  the  bravery  and  courage  of  Mr.  Madi- 
son's illustrious  wife.     A  commercial  treaty 


was  negotiated  with  Great  Britain  in  181 5, 
and  in  April,  1816,  a  national  bank  was  in- 
corporated by  congress.  Mr.  Madison  was 
succeeded,  March  4,  iS  17,  by  James  Monroe, 
and  retired  into  private  life  on  his  estate  at 
Montpelier,    where  he  died  June  28,   1836. 


FREDERICK  DOUGLASS,  a  noted 
American  character,  was  a  protege  of 
the  great  abolitionist,  William  Lloyd  Garri- 
son, by  whom  he  was  aided  in  gaining  his 
education.  Mr.  Douglass  was  born  in  Tuck- 
ahoe  county,  Maryland,  in  February,  18 17, 
his  mother  being  a  negro  woman  and  his 
father  a  white  man.  He  was  born  in  slav- 
ery and  belonged  to  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Lloyd,  under  which  name  he  went  until  he 
ran  away  from  his  master  and  changed  it  to 
Douglass.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was 
sent  to  Baltimore  where  he  learned  to  read 
and  write,  and  later  his  owner  allowed  him 
to  hire  out  his  own  time  for  three  dollars  a 
week  in  a  shipyard.  In  September,  1838, 
he  fled  from  Baltimore  and  made  his  way  to 
New  York,  and  from  thence  went  to  New 
Bedford,  Massachusetts.  Here  he  was  mar- 
ried and  supported  himself  and  family  by 
working  at  the  wharves  and  in  various  work- 
shops. In  the  summer  of  1841  he  attended 
an  anti-slavery  convention  at  Nantucket, 
and  made  a  speech  which  was  so  well  re- 
ceived that  he  was  offered  the  agency  of  the 
Massachusetts  Anti-slavery  Society.  In  this 
capacity  he  traveled  through  the  New  En- 
gland states,  and  about  the  same  time  he 
published  his  first  book  called  "Narrative 
of  my  E.xperience  in  Slavery."  Mr.  Doug- 
lass went  to  England  in  1845  and  lectured 
on  slavery  to  large  and  enthusiastic  audi- 
ences in  all  the  large  towns  of  the  country, 
and  his  friends  made  up  a  purse  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  purchased  his 
freedom  in  due  form  of  law. 


4t 


COMPENDIUM    OF   JSlOGliAPJir. 


Mr.  Douglass  applied  himself  to  the  de- 
livery of  lyceum  lectures  after  the  abolition 
of  slavery,  and  in  iS7ohe  became  the  editor 
of  the  "  New  National  Era  "  in  Washington. 
In  1871  he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary 
of  the  commission  to  San  Domingo  and  0:1 
his  return  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  ter- 
ritorial council  for  the  District  of  Colorado 
by  President  Grant.  He  was  elected  presi- 
dential elector-at-large  for  the  state  of  New 
York  and  was  appointed  to  carry  the  elect- 
oral vote  to  Washington.  He  was  also 
United  States  marshal  for  the  District  of 
Columbia  in  i87(;,  and  latei  was  recorder 
of  deeds  for  the  same,  from  which  position 
he  was  removed  by  President  Cleveland  in 
1886.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  visited 
England  to  inform  the  friends  that  he  had 
made  while  there,  of  the  progress  of  the 
colored  race  in  America,  and  on  his  return 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  Hayti,  by 
President  Harrison  in  1889.  His  career  as 
a  benefactor  of  his  race  was  closed  by  his 
death  in  February,  1895,  near  Washington. 


WILLI.\MCULLEN  BRY.^NT.— The 
ear  (ur  rhythm  and  the  talent  for 
graceful  expression  are  the  gifts  of  nature, 
and  they  were  plentifully  endowed  on  the 
above  named  poet.  The  principal  charac- 
teristic of  his  poetry  is  the  thoughtfulness 
and  intellectual  process  by  which  his  ideas 
ripened  in  his  mind,  as  all  his  poems  are 
bright,  clear  and  sweet.  Mr.  Bryant  was 
born  November  3,  1794,  at  Cummington, 
Hainpsiiire  county,  Massachusetts,  and  was 
educated  at  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated,  having  entered  it  in  1810. 
He  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  in  1815 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  after  practicing 
successfully  for  ten  years  at  Plainfield  and 
Great  Barrington,  he  removed  to  New  York 
i"    i"^''       '!  i'-    following  year  he  became 


the  editor  of  the  "Evening  Post,"  which 
he  edited  until  his  death,  and  under  his  di- 
rection this  paper  maintained,  through  a 
long  series  of  years,  a  high  standing  by  the 
boldness  of  its  protests  against  slavery  be- 
fore the  war,  by  its  vigorous  support  of  the 
government  during  the  war,  and  by  the 
fidelity  and  ability  of  its  advocacy  of  the 
Democratic  freedom  in  trade.  Mr.  Bry- 
ant visited  Europe  in  1834,  1845.  1849  and 
1S57,  and  presented  to  the  literary  world 
tlie  fruit  of  his  travels  in  the  series  of  "Let- 
ters of  a  Traveler,"  and  "Letters  from 
Spain  and  Other  Countries."  In  the  world 
of  literature  he  is  known  chiefly  as  a  poet, 
and  here  Mr.  Bryant's  name  is  illustrious, 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  contributed 
verses  to  the  "Country  Gazette  "  before  he 
was  ten  years  of  age,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  wrote  "  Thanatopsis,"  the  most  im- 
pressive and  widely  known  of  his  p>oems. 
The  later  outgrowth  of  his  genius  was  his 
translation  of  Homer's  "Iliad"  in  1870 
and  the  "Odyssey"  in  1871.  He  also 
made  several  speeches  and  addresses  which 
have  been  collected  in  a  comprehensive  vol- 
ume called  "  Orations  and  Addresses."  He 
was  honored  in  many  ways  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  who  delighted  to  pay  tributes  of 
respect  to  his  literary  eminence,  the  breadth 
of  his  public  spirit,  the  faithfulness  of  his 
service,  and  the  worth  of  his  private  char- 
acter. Mr.  Bryant  died  in  New  York  City 
June  12,   1S78. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  SEWARD,  the 
secretary  of  state  during  one  of  the 
most  critical  times  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  and  the  right  hand  man  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  ranks  among  the  greatest 
statesmen  America  has  produced.  Mr. 
Seward  was  born  May  16,  1801,  at  Florida. 
Orange  county.    New  York,    and  with  such 


UBRARY 

OF  THE 

UMlVtRSlTY  OF  ILLINOIS 


COMPEXD/rM   OF    BIOGRAPHT 


facilities  as  the  place  afforded  he  fitted  him- 
self for  a  college  course.  He  attended 
Union  College  at  Schenectady,  New  York, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  took  his  degree  in 
the  regular  course,  with  signs  of  promise  in 
1S20,  after  which  he  diligently  addressed 
himself  to  the  study  of  law  under  competent 
instructors,  and  started  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  1S23. 

Mr.  Seward  entered  the  political  arena 
and  in  1828  we  find  him  presiding  over  a 
convention  in  Xew  York,  its  purpose  being 
the  nomination  of  John  Quincy  Adams  for  a 
second  term.  He  was  married  in  1824  and 
in  1830  was  elected  to  the  state  senate. 
From  1838  to  1S42  he  was  governor  of  the 
state  of  New  York.  Mr.  Seward's  next  im- 
portant position  was  that  of  United  States 
senator  from  New  York. 

\\'.  H.  Seward  was  chosen  by  President 
Lincoln  to  fill  the  important  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state,  and  by  his  firmness  and 
diplomacy  in  the  face  of  difficulties,  he  aided 
in  piloting  the  Union  through  that  period  of 
strife,  and  won  an  everlasting  fame.  This 
great  statesman  died  at  Auburn,  New  York, 
October  10,  1872.  in  the  seventy-second 
year  of  his  eventful  life. 


JOSEPH  JEFFERSON,  a  name  as  dear 
as  it  is  familiar  to  the  theater-going 
world  in  America,  suggests  first  of  all  a  fun- 
loving,  drink-loving,  mellow  voiced,  good- 
natured  Dutchman,  and  the  name  of  "Rip 
Van  Winkle  "  suggests  the  pleasant  features 
of  Joe  Jefferson,  so  intimately  are  play  and 
player  associated  in  the  minds  of  those  who 
have  had  the  good  fortune  to  shed  tears  of 
laughter  and  sympathy  as  a  tribute  to  the 
greatness  of  his  art.  Joseph  Jefferson  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  February  20,  1829. 
His  genius  was  an  inheritance,  if  there  be 
=uch,     as    his    great-grandfather,     Thomas 


Jefferson,  was  a  manager  and  actor  in  Eng 
land.  His  grandfather,  Joseph  Jefferson, 
was  the  most  popular  comedian  of  the  New 
York  stage  in  his  time,  and  his  father,  Jos- 
eph Jefferson,  the  second,  was  a  good  actor 
also,  but  the  third  Joseph  Jefferson  out- 
shone them  all. 

At  the  age  of  three  years  Joseph  Jeffer- 
son came  on  the  stage  as  the  child  in  "Pi- 
zarro,"  and  his  training  was  upon  the  stage 
from  childhood.  Later  on  he  lived  and 
acted  in  Chicago,  Mobile,  and  Texas.  After 
repeated  misfortunes  he  returned  to  New 
Orleans  from  Texas,  and  his  brother-in-law, 
Charles  Burke,  gave  him  money  to  reach 
Philadelphia,  where  he  joined  the  Burton 
theater  company.  Here  his  genius  soon  as- 
serted itself,  and  his  future  became  promis- 
ing and  brilliant.  His  engagements  through- 
out the  United  States  and  Australia  were 
generally  successful,  and  when  he  went  to 
England  in  1865  Mr.  Boucicault  consented 
to  make  some  important  changes  in  his 
dramatization  of  Irving's  story  of  Rip  Van 
Winkle,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  at  once  placed 
it  in  the  front  rank  as  a  comedy.  He  made 
a  fortune  out  of  it,  and  played  nothing  else 
for  many  years.  In  later  years,  however, 
Mr.  Jefferson  acquitted  himself  of  the  charge 
of  being  a  one-part  actor,  and  the  parts  of 
"Bob  Acres,"  "Caleb  Plummer"  and 
"Golightly  "  all  testify  to  the  versatility  of 
his  genius. 

GEORGE  BRINTON  McCLELLAN, 
a  noted  American  general,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  December  3,  1826.  He 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1846  from  West  Point,  and 
was  breveted  second  lieutenant  of  engineers. 
He  was  with  Scott  in  the  Mexican  war, 
taking  part  in  all  the  engagements  from 
j  Vera  Cruz  to  the  final  capture  of  the  Mexi- 


COMPEXDIIM    OF    Ji/OC.h'A/'J/y. 


can  capital,  and  was  breveted  first  lieuten- 
ant and  captain  for  gallantry  displayed  on 
various  occasions.  In  1857  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  accepted  the  position  of 
chief  engineer  in  the  construction  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  became  presi- 
dent of  the  St.  Louis  &  Cincinnati  Railroad 
Company.  He  was  commissioned  major- 
general  by  the  state  of  Ohio  in  1861, 
placed  in  command  of  the  department  of 
the  Ohio,  and  organized  the  first  volunteers 
called  lor  from  that  state.  In  May  he  was 
appointed  major-general  in  the  United 
States  army,  and  ordered  to  disperse  the 
confederates  overrunning  West  Virginia. 
He  accomplished  this  task  promptly,  and 
received  the  thanks  of  congress.  After  the 
first  disaster  at  Bull  Run  he  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  department  of  Wash- 
ington, and  a  few  weeks  later  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  Upon  retirement 
of  General  Scott  the  command  of  the  en- 
tire United  States  army  devolved  upon  Mc- 
Clellan,  but  he  was  relieved  of  it  within  a 
few  months.  In  March,  1862.  after  elabor- 
ate preparation,  he  moved  upon  Manassas, 
only  to  find  it  deserted  by  the  Confederate 
army,  which  had  been  withdrawn  to  im- 
pregnable defenses  prepared  nearer  Rich- 
mond. He  then  embarked  his  armies  for 
Fortress  Monroe  and  after  a  long  delay  at 
Yorktown,  began  the  disastrous  Peninsular 
campaign,  which  resulted  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  being  cooped  up  on  the  James 
River  below  Richmond.  His  forces  were 
then  called  to  the  support  of  General  Pope, 
near  Washington,  and  he  was  left  without  an 
army.  After  Pope's  defeat  McClellan  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  troops  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  capital,  and  after  a  thorough  or- 
ganization he  followed  Lee  into  Maryland 
and  the  battles  of  Antietam  and  South  Moun- 
tain   ensued.     The    delay    which    followed 


caused  general  dissatisfaction,  and  he  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command, and  retired  from  active 
service. 

In  1864  McClellan  was  nominated  for 
the  presidency  by  the  Democrats,  and  over- 
whelmingly defeated  by  Lincoln,  three 
states  only  casting  their  electoral  votes  for 
McClellan.  On  election  day  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  a  few  months  later  went 
to  Europe  where  he  spent  several  years. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  military  text- books 
and  reports.  His  death  occurred  October 
29,  1885.  

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN.— Among  the  great 
statesmen  whose  names  adorn  the  pages 
of  American  history  may  be  found  that  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Known  as  a 
lawyer  of  highest  ability,  his  greatest  claim 
to  immortality  will  ever  lie  in  his  successful 
battle  against  the  corrupt  rings  of  his  native 
state  and  the  elevation  of  the  standard  of 
official  life. 

Samuel  J.  Tilden  was  born  in  New  Leb- 
anon, New  York,  February  9,  1814.  He 
pursued  his  academic  studies  at  Yale  Col- 
lege and  the  University  of  New  York,  tak- 
ing the  course  of  law  at  the  latter.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1841.  His  rare 
ability  as  a  thinker  and  writer  upon  public 
topics  attracted  the  attention  of  President 
Van  Buren,  of  whose  policy  and  adminis- 
tration he  became  an  active  and  efficient 
champion.  He  made  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  his  profession  and  amassed  quite  a 
fortune  as  the  result  of  his  industry  and 
judgment.  During  the  days  of  his  greatest 
professional  labor  he  was  ever  one  of  the 
leaders  and  trusted  counsellors  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
conventions  to  revise  the  state  constitution, 
both  in  1846  and  1S67,  and  served  two 
terms  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  state  leg- 


COMPEXDIUM    OF    BIOGRArJir 


islature.  He  was  one  of  the  controlling 
spirits  in  the  overthrow  of  the  notorious 
"  Tweed  rim,' "  and  the  reformation  of  the 
government  of  the  city  of  New  York.  In 
1874  he  was  elected  governor  of  the  state  j 
of  New  York.  While  in  this  position  he  | 
assailed  corruption  in  high  places,  success-  1 
full)'  battling  with  the  iniquitous  "canal 
ring  "  and  crushed  its  sway  over  all  depart- 
ments of  the  government.  Recognizing  his 
character  and  executive  ability  Mr.  Tilden 
was  nominated  for  president  by  the  na- 
tional Democratic  convention  in  1S76.  At 
the  election  he  received  a  much  larger  popu- 
lar vote  than  his  opponent,  and  1S4  uncon- 
tested electoral  votes.  There  being  some 
electoral  votes  contested,  a  commission  ap- 
pointed by  congress  decided  in  favor  of  the 
Republican  electors  and  Mr.  Hayes,  the  can- 
didate of  that  party  was  declared  elected. 
In  iSSo,  the  Democratic.party,  feeling  that 
Mr.  Tilden  had  been  lawfully  elected  to  the 
presidency  tendered  the  nomination  for  the 
same  office  to  Mr.  Tilden,  but  he  declined, 
retiring  from  all  public  functions,  owing  to 
failing  health.  He  died  August  4,  1886. 
By  will  he  bequeathed  several  millions  of 
dollars  toward  the  founding  of  public  libra- 
ries in  New  York  Cit\-,  Yonkers,  etc. 

NOAH  WEBSTER.— As  a  scholar,  law- 
yer, author  and  journalist,  there  is  no 
one  who  stands  on  a  higher  plane,  or  whose 
reputation  is  better  established  than  the 
honored  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and  was  born  October  17, 
1758.  He  came  of  an  old  New  England 
family,  his  mother  being  a  descendant  of 
Governor  William  Bradford,  of  the  Ply- 
mouth colony.  After  acquiring  a  solid  edu- 
cation in  early  life  Dr.  Webster  entered 
Yale  College,  from  which   he  graduated  in 


1778.  For  a  while  he  taught  school  in 
Hartford,  at  the  same  time  studying  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1781.  He 
taught  a  classical  school  at  Goshen,  Orange 
county.  New  York,  in  17S2-83,  and  while 
there  prepared  his  spelling  book,  grammar 
and  reader,  which  was  issued  under  the  title 
of  "A  Grammatical  Institute  of  the  English 
Language,"  in  three  parts, — so  successful  a 
work  that  up  to  1876  something  like  forty 
million  of  the  spelling  books  had  been 
sold.  In  1786  he  delivered  a  course  of  lec- 
tures on  the  English  language  in  the  seaboard 
cities  and  the  following  year  taught  an 
academy  at  Philadelphia.  From  December 
•7.  1787,  until  November.  1788,  he  edited 
the  "American  Magazine, "a  periodical  that 
proved  unsuccessful.  In  1789-93  he  prac- 
ticed law  in  Hartford  having  in  the  former 
year  married  the  daughter  of  William  Green- 
leaf,  of  Boston.  He  returned  to  New  York 
and  November,  1793,  founded  a  daily  paper, 
the  "Minerva,"  to  which  was  soon  added  a 
semi-weekly  edition  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Herald."  The  former  is  still  in  existence 
under  the  name  of  the  "  Commercial  Adver- 
tiser." In  this  paper,  over  the  signature  of 
' '  Curtius , "  he  published  a  lengthy  and  schol- 
arly defense  of   "  John  Jaj-'s  treaty. " 

In  1798,  Dr.  Webster  moved  to  New 
Haven  and  in  1S07  commenced  the  prepar- 
ation of  his  great  work,  the  ' '  American  Dic- 
tionary of  the  English  Language,"  which 
was  not  completed  and  published  until  1828. 
He  made  his  home  in  Amherst,  Massachu- 
setts, for  the  ten  years  succeeding  1812,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of 
Amherst  College,  of  which  institution  he  was 
the  first  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
During  1824-5  he  resided  in  Europe,  pursu- 
ing his  philological  studies  in  Paris.  He 
completed  his  dictionary  from  the  libraries 
of  Cambridge  University  in   1S25,  and  de- 


so 


COMPEXDILM   OF    lUOCUAI'Hr 


voted  his  leisure  (or  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  the  revision  of  that  and  his  school 
books.  I 

Dr.  Webster  was  a  member  of  the  legis-  , 
latures  of  both  Connecticut  and  Massachu- 
setts, was  juilf^e  of  one  of  the  courts  of  the 
former  state  and  was  identified  with  nearly 
all  the  literary  and  scientific  societies  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Amherst  College.  He  died 
in  New  Haven,  May  28,  1843. 

Among  the  more  prominent  works  ema- 
nating from  the  fecund  pen  of  Dr.  Noah 
Webster  besides  those  mentioned  above  are 
the  following:  "Sketches  of  American 
Policy,"  "  Winthrop's  Journal,"  ".-V  Brief 
History  of  Epidemics,"  "  Rights  of  Neutral 
Nations  in  time  of  War,"  "A  Philosophical 
and  Practical  Grammar  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage," "Dissertations  on  the  English 
Language,"  "A  Collection  of  Essays," 
"The  Revolution  in  France,"  "Political 
.Progress  of  Britain,"  "Origin,  History,  and 
Connection  of  the  Languages  of  Western 
Asia  and  of  Europe,"  and  many  others. 


WILLIAM  LLOYD  GARRISON,  the 
great  anti-slavery  pioneer  and  leader, 
was  born  in  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
December  12,  1804.  He  was  apprenticed 
to  the  printing  business,  and  in  1828  was  in- 
duced to  take  charge  of  the  "Journal  of  the 
Times"  at  Bennington,  Vermont.  While 
supporting  John  Quincy  Adams  for  the  presi- 
dency he  took  occasion  in  that  paper  to  give 
expression  of  his  views  on  slavery.  These 
articles  attracted  notice,  and  a  Quaker 
named  Lundy,  editor  of  the  "Genius  of 
Emancipation,"  published  in  Baltimore,  in- 
duced him  to  enter  a  partnership  with  him 
for  the  conduct  of  his  paper.  It  soon 
transpired  that  the  views  of  the  partners 
were  not  in  harmony,  I^undy  favoring  grad- 
ual  emancipation,    while    Garrison   favored 


immediate  freedom.  In  1850  Mr.  Garrison 
was  thrown  into  prison  for  libel,  not  being 
able  to  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  and  costs. 
In  his  cell  he  wrote  a  number  of  poems 
which  stirred  the  entire  north,  and  a  mer- 
chant, Mr.  Tappan.  of  New  York,  paid  his 
fine  and  liberated  him,  after  seven  weeks  of 
confinement.  He  at  once  began  a  lecture 
tour  of  the  northern  cities,  denouncing 
slavery  as  a  sin  before  God,  and  demanding 
its  immediate  abolition  in  the  name  of  re- 
ligion and  humanity.  He  opposed  the  col- 
onization scheme  of  President  Monroe  and 
other  leaders,  and  declared  the  right  of 
every  slave  to  immediate  freedom. 

In  1 83 1  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Isaac  Knapp,  and  began  the  publication  of 
the  "  Liberator  "  at  Boston.  The  "  imme- 
diate abolition  "  idea  began  to  gather  power 
in  the  north,  while  the  south  became 
alarmed  at  the  bold  utterance  of  this  jour- 
nal. The  mayor  of  Boston  was  besought 
by  southern  influence  to  interfere,  and  upon 
investigation,  reported  upon  the  insignifi- 
cance, obscurity,  and  poverty  of  the  editor 
and  his  staff,  which  report  was  widely 
published  throughout  the  country.  Re- 
wards were  offered  by  the  southern  states 
for  his  arrest  and  conviction.  Later  Garri- 
son brought  from  England,  where  an  eman- 
cipation measure  had  just  been  passed, 
some  of  the  great  advocates  to  work  for  the 
cause  in  this  country.  In  1835  a  mob 
broke  into  his  office,  broke  up  a  meeting  oi 
women,  dragged  Garrison  through  the  stree; 
with  a  rope  around  his  body,  and  his  lilt 
was  saved  only  by  the  interference  of  the 
police,  who  lodged  him  in  jail.  Garrison 
declined  to  sit  in  the  World's  Anti-Slaverv 
convention  at  London  in  1840.  because 
that  body  had  refused  women  representa- 
tion. He  opposed  the  formation  of  a  po- 
litical party  with  emancipation  as  its  basis. 


COMPEXniL'M    OF    niOGRAPlIT 


51 


He  favored  a  dissolution  of  the  union,  and 
declared  the  constitution  which  bound  the 
free  states  to  the  slave  states  "  A  covenant 
with  death  and  an  agreement  with  hell." 
In  1 843  he  became  president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Anti-Slavery  society,  which  position  he 
held  until  1865,  when  slavery  was  no  more. 
During  all  this  time  the  "Liberator"  had 
continued  to  promulgate  anti-slavery  doc- 
trines, but  in  1865  Garrison  resigned  his 
position,  and  declared  his  work  was  com- 
pleted.     He  died  May  24,  1879. 


JOHN  BROWN  ("Brown  of  Ossawato- 
mie"),  a  noted  character  in  American 
history,  wasborn  atTorrington,  Connecticut, 
May  9,  iSoo.  In  his  childhood  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's 
trade.  He  married  there,  and  in  1S55  set- 
tled in  Kansas.  He  lived  at  the  village  of 
Ossawatomie  in  that  state,  and  there  began 
his  fight  against  slavery.  He  advocated  im- 
mediate emancipation,  and  held  that  the 
negroes  of  the  slave  states  merely  waited 
for  a  leader  in  an  insurrection  that  would  re- 
sult in  their  freedom.  He  attended  the 
convention  called  at  Chatham,  Canada,  in 
1859,  and  was  the  leading  spirit  in  organiz- 
mg  a  raid  upon  the  United  States  arsenal  at 
Harper's  Ferrj',  Virginia.  His  plans  were 
well  laid,  and  carried  out  in  great  secrecy. 
He  ren*^ed  a  farm  house  near  Harper's  Ferry 
in  the  summer  of  1859,  and  on  October 
1 6th  of  that  year,  with  about  twenty  follow- 
ers, he  surprised  and  captured  the  United 
States  arsenal,  with  all  its  supplies  and 
arms.  To  his  surprise,  the  negroes  did  not 
come  to  his  support,  and  the  next  day  he 
was  attacked  by  the  Virginia  state  militia, 
wounded  and  captured.  He  was  tried  in 
the  courts  of  the  state,  convicted,  and  was 
hanged  at  Charlestown,  December  2,  1859. 
The  raid  and  its   results   had  a  tremendous 


effect,  and  hastened  the  culmination  of  the 
troubles  between  the  north  and  south.  The 
south  had  the  advantage  in  discussing  this 
event,  claiming  that  the  sentiment  which 
inspired  this  act  of  violence  was  shared  by 
the  anti-slavery  element  of  the  country. 


EDWIN  BOOTH  had  no  peer  upon  the 
American  stage  during  his  long  career 
as  a  star  actor.  He  was  the  son  of  a  famous 
actor,  Junius  Brutus  Booth,  and  was  born 
in  1833  at  his  father's  home  at  Belair,  near 
Baltimore.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  made  his 
first  appearance  on  the  stage,  at  the  Boston 
Museum,  in  a  minor  part  in  "Richard  III." 
It  was  while  playing  in  California  in  1 851 
that  an  eminent  critic  called  general  atten- 
tion to  the  young  actor's  unusual  talent. 
However,  it  was  not  until  1863,  at  the  great 
Shakspearian  revival  at  the  Winter  Garden 
Theatre,  New  York,  that  the  brilliancy  of 
his  career  began.  His  Hamlet  held  the 
boards  for  100  nights  in  succession,  and 
from  that  time  forth  Booth's  reputation  was 
established.  In  1868  he  opened  his  own 
theatre  (Booth's  Theater)  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Booth  never  succeeded  as  a  manager, 
however,  but  as  an  actor  he  was  undoubted- 
ly the  most  popular  man  on  the  American 
stage,  and  perhaps  the  most  eminent  one  in 
the  world.  In  England  he  also  won  the 
greatest  applause. 

Mr.  Booth's  work  was  confined  mostly 
to  Shakspearean  roles,  and  his  art  was 
characterized  by  intellectual  acuteness, 
fervor,  and  poetic  feeling.  His  Hamlet, 
Richard  II,  Richard  III,  and  Richelieu  gave 
play  to  his  greatest  powers.  In  1865, 
when  his  brother,  John  Wilkes  Booth, 
enacted  his  great  crime,  Edwin  Booth  re- 
solved to  retire  from  the  stage,  but  waspur- 
suaded  to  reconsider  that  decision.  The 
odium  did    not  in    any  way  attach  to    the 


52 


(OMrH.XDllM   OF    DIOCUArJir. 


great  actor,  and  his  popularity  was  not 
affected.  In  all  his  work  Mr.  Booth  clung 
closely  tu  the  legitimate  and  the  traditional 
in  drama,  making  no  experiments,  and  offer- 
ing little  encouragenient  to  new  dramatic 
auth(jrs.  His  death  occurred  in  New  ^■<)rk, 
June  7,   1894. 


JOSEPH  HOOKER,  a  noted  American 
officer,  was  born  at  Hadley,  Massachu- 
setts. November  13,  1S14.  He  graduated 
from  West  Point  Military  Academy  in  1837, 
and  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  artillery. 
He  served  in  Florida  in  the  Seminole  war, 
and  in  garrison  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Mexican  war.  During  the  latter  he  saw 
service  as  a  staff  officer  and  was  breveted 
captain,  major  and  lieutenant-colonel  for 
gallantry  at  Monterey,  National  Bridge  and 
Chapultepec.  Resigning  his  commission  in 
1 833  he  took  up  (arming  in  California,  which 
he  followed  until  1 861.  Daring  this  time 
he  acted  as  superintendent  of  military  roads 
in  Oregon.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebel- 
lion Hooker  tendered  his  services  to  the 
government,  and.  May  17,  1861,  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  He 
served  in  the  defence  of  Washington  and  on 
the  lower  Potomac  until  his  appointment  to 
the  command  of  a  division  in  the  Third 
Corps,  in  March,  1862.  F"or  gallant  con- 
duct at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  in  the 
battles  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Fra- 
zier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill  he  was  made 
major-general.  At  the  head  of  his  division 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Manassas 
and  Chantillv.  September  6.  1S62.  he  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  First  Corps,  and 
in  the  battles  of  South  Mountam  and  An- 
tietam  acted  with  his  usual  gallantry,  being 
wounded  in  the  latter  engagement.  On  re- 
joining the  army  in  November  he  was  maile 
brigadier-general   in  the  regular  army.      On 


General  Bumside  attaining  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  General  Hooker 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  center  grand 
division,  consisting  of  the  Second  and  Fifth 
Corps.  At  the  head  of  these  gallant  men 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, December  13.  1862.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  General  Hooker  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in 
May  following  fought  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville.  At  the  time  of  the  invasion  of 
Pennsylvania,  owing  to  a  dispute  with  Gen- 
eral Halleck,  Hooker  requested  to  be  re- 
lieved of  his  command,  and  June  28  was 
succeeded  by  George  G.  Meade.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  General  Hooker  was  given 
command  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
distinguished  himself  at  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  Ring- 
gold. In  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  saw 
almost  daily  service  and  merited  his  well- 
known  nickname  of  "Fighting  Joe."  July 
30,  1864,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command.  He  subsequently 
was  in  command  of  several  military  depart- 
ments in  the  north,  and  in  October,  1S6S. 
was  retired  with  the  full  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral.     He  died  October  3 1 ,   1879. 


JAY  GOULD,  one  of  the  greatest  finan- 
ciers that  the  world  has  ever  produced, 
was  born  May  27,  1836,  at  Ro.xbury,  Dela- 
ware county.  New  York.  He  spent  his  early 
years  on  his  father's  farm  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  entered  Hobart  Academy,  New 
York,  and  kept  books  for  the  village  black- 
smith. He  acquired  a  taste  for  mathematics 
and  surveying  and  on  leaving  school  found 
employment  in  making  the  surveyor's  map 
of  Ulster  county.  He  surveyed  very  e.xten- 
sively  in  the  state  and  accumulated  five  tiiou- 
sand  dollars  as  the  fruits  of  his  labor.      He 


coMPExnirM  OF  nioGRAPnr. 


was  then  stricken  with  typhoid  fever  but  re- 
covered and  nmae  the  acquaintance  of  one 
Zadock  Pratt,  who  sent  him  into  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state  to  locate  a  site  for  a 
tannery.  He  chose  a  fine  hemlock  grove, 
built  a  sawmill  and  blacksmith  shop  and 
was  soon  doing  a  large  lumber  business  with 
Mr.  Pratt.  Mr.  Gould  soon  secured  control 
of  the  entire  plant,  which  he  sold  out  just 
before  the  panic  of  1857  and  in  this  year  he 
became  the  largest  stockholderintheStrouds- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  bank.  Shortly  after  the 
crisis  he  bought  the  bonds  of  the  Rutland 
&  Washington  Railroad  at  ten  cents  on  the 
dollar,  and  put  all  his  monej'  into  railroad 
securities.  For  a  long  time  he  conducted 
this  road  which  he  consolidated  with  the 
Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Railroad.  In  1859 
he  removed  to  New  York  and  became  a 
heav}'  investor  in  Erie  Railroad  stocks,  en- 
tered that  company  and  was  president  until 
its  reorganizat'on  in  1872.  In  December, 
18S0,  Mr.  Gould  was  in  control  of  ten  thou- 
sand miles  of  railroad.  In  1887  he  pur- 
chased the  controlling  interest  in  the  St. 
Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railroad  Co.,  and 
was  a  joint  owner  with  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Railroad  Co.  of  the  western 
portion  of  the  Southern  Pacific  line.  Other 
lines  soon  came  under  his  control,  aggregat-  . 
ing  thousand  of  miles,  and  he  soon  was  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  world's  greatest  rail- 
road magnates.  He  continued  to  hold  his 
place  as  one  of  the  master  financiers  of  the 
century  until  the  time  of  his  death  which 
occurred  December  2,  1802. 


THOMAS  HART  BENTON,  a  %ery 
prominent  United  States  senator  and 
statesman,  was  born  at  Hillsborough,  North 
Carolina,  March  14,  1782.  He  removed  to 
Tennessee  in  ^ariy  life,  studied  law,  and  be- 
gan   to    practice   at   Nashville  about  1810. 


During  the  war  of  1812-1S15  he  served  as 
colonel  of  a  Tennessee  regiment  under  Gen- 
eral Andrew  Jackson.  In  181 5  he  removed 
to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in  1820  was 
chosen  United  States  senator  for  that  state. 
Having  been  re-elected  in  1S26,  he  sup- 
ported President  Jackson  in  his  opposition 
to  the  United  States  bank  and  advocated  a 
gold  and  silver  currency,  thus  gaining  the 
name  of  "  Old  Bullion,"  by  which  he  was 
familiarly  known.  For  many  years  he  was 
the  most  prominent  man  in  Missouri,  and 
took  rank  among  the  greatest  statesmen  of 
his  day.  He  was  a  member  of  the  senate 
for  thirty  years  and  opposed  the  e.xtreme 
states'  rights  policy  of  John  C.  Calhoun. 
In  1S52  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  which  he  opposed  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise.  He  was  op- 
posed by  a  powerful  party  of  States'  Rights 
Democrats  in  Missouri,  who  defeated  him  as  a 
candidate  for  governor  of  that  state  in  1856. 
Colonel  Benton  published  a  considerable 
work  in  two  volumes  in  1854-56,  entitled 
"Thirty  Years'  View,  or  a  History  of  the 
Working  of  the  American  Government  for 
Thirty  Years,   1820-50."     He  died  April  10, 


STEPHEN  ARNOLD  DOUGLAS.— One 
of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  politic- 
al circles  during  the  intensely  e.xciting  days 
that  preceded  the  war,  and  a  leader  of  the 
Union  branch  of  the  Democratic  party  was 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch. 

He  was  born  at  Brandon,  Rutland  coun- 
ty, Vermont.  April  23,  18 13,  of  poor  but 
respectable  parentage.  His  father,  a  prac- 
ticing physician,  died  while  our  subject  was 
but  an  infant,  and  his  mother,  with  two 
small  children  and  but  small  means,  could 
give  him  but  the  rudiments  of  an  education. 


COM/'E.XDJL'M   or   BIOGRAPHr. 


At  the  age  of  fifteen  youne  Douglas  engaged 
at   work  in    the  cabinei  making  business  to  i 
raise  funds  to   carry  him    througn  college.   | 
After  a  (ew  years  of  labor  he  was  enabled  to  \ 
pursue  an  academical  course,  first  at  Bran-  | 
don,  anc!  later  at  Canandaieua,  New  York. 
In  the  latter  place  he   remained  until  1S33, 
taking  up  the  study  of  law.      Belore  he  was 
twenty,  however,  his  lunas  running  low,  he  j 
abandoned    all    further  attempts  at  educa- 
tion, determining  to  enter  at  once  the  battle 
of  life.      After  some  wanderings  tnrough  the 
western  states  he   looK   up  his  residence  at 
Jacksonville,  Illinois,  where,  after  teaching  \ 
school  for  three  months,  he  was  admitted  to  1 
the     bar,  and  opened    an    office    in     1834.   I 
Within  a  year  from  that  time,  so  rapidly  had  1 
he  risen   in    his  profession,  he  was  chosen 
attorney  general  of  the  state,    and  warmly 
espoused  the   piinciples  of   the  Democratic 
party.     He   soon  became  one  of  the  most 
popular  orators  in  Illinois.      It   was  at  this 
time  he  gained    the    name  of    the   "  Little 
Giant."     In   1835  he  resigned  the  position 
of  attorney  general  having  been   elected  to 
the   legislature.      In   184 1    he    was   chosen 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois  which 
he  resigned  two  years  later  to  take  a  seat  in 
congress.      It  was  during  this   period  of  his 
life,  while   a    member  of  the    lower  house, 
that  he  established  his  reputation  and  took 
the  side  of  those    who  contended  that  con- 
gress had  no  constitutional  right  to  restrict 
the  extension  of    slavery  further    than  the 
agreement  between  the  states  made  in  1820. 
This,  in  spite  of  his  being  opposed  to  slav- 
ery, and  only  on  grounds  which  he  believed 
to  be    right,  favored    what    was    called  the 
Missouri  compromise.      In  1847    Mr.  Doug- 
las was   chosen  United  States    senator  for 
six  years,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself. 
In  1852  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office. 
During  ihi:.  latter   term,   under  his   leader- 


ship, the  "  Kansas- Nebraska  bill  "  was  car- 
ried in  the  senate.  In  1858,  nothwith- 
standing  the  fierce  contest  made  by  his  able 
competitor  for  the  position,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, and  with  the  administration  of  Bu- 
chanan arrayed  against  him,  Mr.  Douglas 
was  re-elected  senator.  After  the  trouble 
in  the  Charleston  convention,  when  by  the 
withdrawal  of  several  state  delegates  with- 
out a  nomination,  the  Union  Democrats, 
in  convention  at  Baltimore,  in  i860,  nomi- 
nated Mr.  Douglas  as  their  candidate  for 
presidency.  The  results  of  this  election  are 
well  known  and  the  great  events  of  1861 
coming  on,  Mr.  Douglas  was  spared  their 
full  development,  dying  at  Chicago,  Illinois. 
June  3,  1 861,  after  a  short  illness.  His 
last  words  to  his  children  were,  "to  obey 
the  laws  and  support  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States." 


JAMES  MONROE,  fifth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land county.  Virginia,  April  28,  1758.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  William  and 
Mary  College,  but  two  years  later  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  having  been 
adopted,  he  left  college  and  hastened  to  New 
York  where  he  joined  Washington's  army  as 
a  military  cadet. 

At  the  battle  of  Trenton  Monroe  per- 
formed gallant  service  and  received  a  wound 
in  the  shoulder,  and  was  promoted  to  a 
captaincy.  He  acted  as  aide  to  Lord  Ster- 
ling at  the  battles  of  Brandy  wine,  German- 
town  and  Monmouth.  Washington  then 
sent  him  to  N'irginia  to  raise  a  new  regimen: 
of  which  he  was  to  be  colonel.  The  ex- 
hausted condition  of  Virginia  made  this  im- 
possible, but  he  received  his  commission. 
He  next  entered  the  law  office  of  Thomas 
Jefferson  to  study  law,  as  there  was  no  open- 
ing   for   him  as  an  officer  in  the  army.      In 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPJIT. 


55 


1782  he  was  elected  to  the  Virginia  assem- 
bly, and  the  next  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  congress.  Realizing  the  inade- 
quacy of  the  old  articles  of  confederation, 
he  advocated  the  calling  of  a  convention  to 
consider  their  revision,  and  introduced  in 
congress  a  resolution  empowering  congress 
to  regulate  trade,  lay  import  duties,  etc. 
This  resolution  was  referred  to  a  committee, 
of  which  he  was  chairman,  and  the  report 
led  to  the  Annapolis  convention,  which 
called  a  general  convention  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1787,  when  the  constitution  was 
drafted.  Mr.  Monroe  began  the  practice  of 
law  at  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  and  was 
soon  after  elected  to  the  legislature,  and  ap- 
pointed as  one  of  the  committee  to  pass 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.  He 
opposed  it,  as  giving  too  much  power  to  the 
central  government.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  in  1789,  where  he 
allied  himself  with  the  Anti-Federalists  or 
"Republicans,"  as  they  were  sometimes 
called.  Although  his  views  as  to  neutrality 
between  France  and  England  were  directly 
opposed  to  those  of  the  president,  yet  Wash- 
ington appointed  him  minister  to  France. 
His  popularity  in  France  was  so  great  that 
the  antagonism  of  England  and  her  friends 
in  this  country  brought  about  his  recall.  He 
then  became  governor  of  Virginia.  He  was 
sent  as  envoy  to  France  in  1802;  minister 
to  England  in  1803;  and  envoy  to  Spam  in 
1805.  The  next  year  he  returned  to  his 
estate  in  Virginia,  and  with  an  ample  in- 
heritance enjoyed  a  few  years  of  repose.  He 
was  again  called  to  be  governor  of  Virginia, 
and  was  then  appointed  secretary  of  state 
by  President  Madison.  The  war  with  Eng- 
land soon  resulted,  and  when  the  capital 
was  burned  by  the  British,  Mr.  Monroe  be- 
came secretary  of  war  also,  and  planned  the 
measures   for  the  defense  of  New  Orleans. 


The  treasury  being  exhausted  and  credit 
gone,  he  pledged  his  own  estate,  and  thereby 
made  possible  the  victory  of  Jackson  at  New 
Orleans. 

In  181 7  Mr.  Monroe  became  president 
of  the  United  States,  having  been  a  candi- 
date of  the  "Republican"  party,  which  at 
that  time  had  begun  to  be  called  the  ' '  Demo- 
cratic" party.  In  1820  he  was  re-elected, 
having  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  electoral 
votes  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-two. 
His  administration  is  known  as  the  "Era of 
good-feeling, "  and  party  lines  were  almost 
wiped  out.  The  slaver}'  question  began  to 
assume  importance  at  this  time,  and  the 
Missouri  Compromise  was  passed.  The 
famous  "Monroe  Doctrine"  originated  in  a 
great  state  paper  of  President  Monroe  upon 
the  rumored  interference  of  the  Holy  Alli- 
ance to  prevent  the  formation  of  free  repub- 
lics in  South  America.  President  Monroe 
acknowledged  their  independence,  and  pro- 
mulgated his  great  "Doctrine,"  which  has 
been  held  in  reverence  since.  Mr.  Monroe's 
death  occurred  in  New  York  on  July  4,  1S31. 


THOMAS  ALVA  EDISON,  the  master 
wizard  of  electrical  science  and  whose 
name  is  synonymous  with  the  subjugation 
of  electricity  to  the  service  of  man,  was 
born  in  1847  at  Milan,  Ohio,  and  it  was  at 
Port  Huron,  Michigan,  whither  his  parents 
had  moved  in  1854,  that  his  self-education 
began — for  he  never  attended  school  for 
more  than  two  months.  He  eagerly  de- 
voured every  book  he  could  lay  his  hands  on 
and  is  said  to  have  read  through  an  encyclo- 
pedia without  missing  a  word.  At  thirteen  he 
began  his  working  life  as  a  trainboy  upon  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railway  between  Port  Huron 
^nd  Detroit.  Much  of  his  time  was  now 
spent  in  Detroit,  where  he  found  increased 
facilities  for  reading  at  the    public  libraries. 


iM 


COMJ'hMJJUM   OJ'    liluuRAl'Hr. 


\\y:  «iis  not  content  to  be  a  newsboy,  so  he 
t"t  c<>_'e!ner  three  hundred  pounds  of  type 
biia  st.irtcd  the  issue  of  the  "  Grand  Trunk 
Herald."  It  was  only  a  small  amateur 
weekly,  printed  on  one  side,  the  impression 
being  made  from  the  type  by  hand.  Chemi- 
cal research  was  his  next  undertaking  and 
a  laboratory  was  added  to  his  movable  pub- 
lishing house,  which,  by  the  way,  was  an 
old  freight  car.  One  day,  however,  as  he 
was  experimenting  with  some  phosphorus. 
it  ignited  and  the  irate  conductor  threw  the 
young  seeker  after  the  truth,  chemicals  and 
all,  from  the  train.  His  office  and  laboratory 
were  then  removed  to  the  cellar  of  his  fa- 
ther's house.  As  he  grew  to  manhood  he 
decided  to  become  an  operator.  He  won 
his  opportunity  by  saving  the  life  of  a  child, 
whose  father  was  an  old  operator,  and  out  of 
gratitude  he  gave  Mr.  Edison  lessons  in  teleg- 
raphy. Five  months  later  he  was  compe- 
tent to  fill  a  position  in  the  railroad  office 
at  Port  Huron.  Hence  he  peregrinated  to 
Stratford,  Ontario,  and  thence  successively 
to  Adrian,  l-'ort  Wayne,  Indianapolis,  Cin- 
ciimati,  Memphis,  Louisville  and  Boston, 
gradually  becoming  an  expert  operator  and 
gaming  experience  that  enabled  him  to 
evolve  many  ingenious  ideas  for  the  im- 
provement of  telegraphic  appliances.  At 
Memphis  he  constructed  an  automatic  re- 
peater, which  enabled  Louisville  and  New 
Orleans  to  communicate  direct,  and  received 
nothing  more  than  the  thanks  of  his  em- 
ployers. Mr.  Edison  came  to  New  York  in 
1870  in  search  of  an  opening  more  suitable 
to  his  capabilities  and  ambitions.  He  hap- 
pened to  be  in  the  office  of  the  Laws  dold 
Reporting  Company  when  one  of  the  in- 
struments got  out  of  order,  and  even  the 
inventor  of  the  system  could  not  make  it 
work.  Edison  requested  to  be  allowed  to 
attempt  the  task,  and  in  a    few  minutes  he 


had  overcome  the  difficulty  and  secured  an 
advantageous  engagement.  For  several 
jears  he  had  a  contract  with  the  Western 
Union  and  the  Gold  Stock  companies, 
whereby  he  received  a  large  salary,  besides 
a  special  price  for  all  telegraphic  improve- 
ments he  could  suggest.  Later,  as  the 
head  of  the  Edison  General  Electric  com- 
pany, with  its  numerous  subordinate  organ- 
izations and  connections  all  over  the  civil- 
ized world,  he  became  several  times  a 
millionaire.  Mr.  Edison  invented  the  pho- 
nograph and  kinetograph  which  bear  his 
name,  the  carbon  telephone,  the  tasimeter, 
and  the  duplex  and  quadruplex  sj'stems  of 
telegraphy. 

JAMES  LONGSTREET,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  of  the  Confederate  generals 
during  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  1 820,  in 
South  Carolina,  but  was  early  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Alabama  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  received  his  early  education.  He 
graduated  at  the  United  States  military 
academy  in  1842,  entering  the  army  as 
lieutenant  and  spent  a  few  years  in  the  fron- 
tier service.  When  the  Mexican  war  broke 
out  he  was  called  to  the  front  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  principal  battles  of  that  war 
up  to  the  storming  of  Chapultcpec,  where 
he  received  severe  wounds.  For  gallant 
conduct  at  Contreras,  Cherubusco,  and  Mo- 
lino  del  Rey  he  received  the  brevets  of  cap- 
tain and  major.  After  the  close  of  the 
Mexican  war  Longstreet  served  as  adjutant 
and  captain  on  frontier  service  in  Texas  un- 
til 1858  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  staff 
as  paymaster  with  rank  of  major.  In  June, 
1861,  he  resigned  to  join  the  Confederacy 
and  immediately  went  to  the  front,  com- 
manding a  brigade  at  Hull  Run  the  follow- 
ing month.  Promoted  to  be  major-general 
in    1862   he   thereafter  bore   a  conspicuous 


COMPEXD/CAf   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


5< 


part  and  rendered  valuable  service  to  the 
Confederate  cause.  He  participated  in 
many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  Civil 
war  including  Bull  Run  (first  and  second), 
Seven  Pines,  Gaines'  Mill,  Fraziers  Farm, 
Malvern  Hill,  Antietam,  Frederickburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Chickamauga, 
the  Wilderness,  Petersburg  and  most  of  the 
fighting  about  Richmond. 

When  the  war  closed  General  Long- 
street  accepted  the  result,  renewed  his  alle- 
giance to  the  government,  and  thereafter 
labored  earnestly  to  obliterate  all  traces  of 
war  and  promote  an  era  of  good  feeling  be- 
tween all  sections  of  the  country.  He  took 
up  his  residence  in  New  Orleans,  and  took 
an  active  interest  and  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs,  served  as  surveyor  of  that 
port  for  several  years;  was  commissioner  of 
engineers  for  Louisiana,  served  four  years 
as  school  commissioner,  etc.  In  1875  he 
was  appointed  supervisor  of  internal  revenue 
and  settled  in  Georgia.  After  that  time  he 
served  four  years  as  United  States  minister 
to  Turkey,  and  also  for  a  number  of  years 
was  United  States  marshal  of  Georgia,  be- 
sides having  held  other  important  official 
positions. 

JOHN  RUTLEDGE.  the  second  chief- 
justice  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1739. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  Rutledge,  who  had 
left  Ireland  for  America  about  five  years 
prior  to  the  birth  of  our  subject,  and  a 
brother  of  Edward  Rutledge,  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  John  Rut- 
ledge received  his  legal  education  at  the 
Temple,  London,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Charleston  and  soon  won  distinction  at 
the  bar.  He  was  elected  to  the  old  Colonial 
congress  in  1765  to  protest  against  the 
"  Stamp  Act,"  and  was  a    member  of  the 


South  Carolina  convention  of  1774,  and  of 
the  Continental  congress  of  that  and  the 
succeeding  year.  In  1776  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  that  draughted  the  con- 
stitution of  his  state,  and  was  president  of 
the  congress  of  that  state.  He  was  not 
pleased  with  the  state  constitution,  how- 
ever, and  resigned.  In  1779  he  was  again 
chosen  governor  of  the  state,  and  granted 
extraordinary  powers,  and  he  at  once  took 
the  field  to  repel  the  British.  He  joined 
the  army  of  General  Gates  in  1782,  and  the 
same  year  was  elected  to  congress.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention which  framed  our  present  constitu- 
tion. In  1 789  he  was  appointed  an  associate 
justice  of  the  first  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States.  He  resigned  to  accept  the 
position  of  chief-justice  of  his  own  state. 
Upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Jay_  he  was 
appointed  chief-justice  of  the  United  States 
in  1795.  The  appointment  was  never  con- 
firmed, for,  after  presiding  at  one  session, 
his  mind  became  deranged,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Judge  Ellsworth.  He  died  at 
Charleston,  July  23,  1800. 


RALPH  WALDO  EMERSON  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  literary  men  of  his 
time.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, May  25,  1803.  He  had  a  minister  for 
an  ancestor,  either  on  the  paternal  or  ma- 
ternal side,  in  every  generation  for  eight 
generations  back.  His  father.  Rev.  Will- 
iam Emerson,  was  a  native  of  Concord, 
Massachusetts,  born  May  6,  1769,  graduated 
at  Harvard,  in  1789,  became  a  Unitarian 
minister;  was  a  fine  writer  and  one  of  the 
best  orators  of  his  day;  died  in  181 1, 

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  was  fitted  for 
college  at  the  public  schools  of  Boston,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1 821,  win- 
ning about    this  time  several  prizes  for  es- 


COMr7£\D/L'M   OF   lilOGRAPIir. 


says.  For  five  years  he  taught  school  in  | 
Boston;  in  1S26  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  i 
in  1829  was  ordained  as  a  colleague  to  Rev.  | 
Henry  Ware  of  the  Second  Unitarian  church  I 
in  Boston.  In  1832  he  resigned,  making 
the  announcement  in  a  sermon  of  his  un- 
ivillingness  longer  to  administer  the  rite  of 
<he  Lord's  Supper,  after  which  he  spent 
about  a  year  in  Europe.  Upon  his  return 
he  began  his  career  as  a  lecturer  before  the 
Boston  Mechanics  Institute,  his  subject  be- 
ing "Water."  His  early  lectures  on  "  Italy" 
and  "Relation  of  ^fan  to  the  Globe"  also 
attracted  considerable  attention;  as  did  also 
his  biographical  lectures  on  Michael  Angelo, 
Milton,  Luther,  George  Fox,  and  Edmund 
Burke.  After  that  time  he  gave  many 
courses  of  lectures  in  Boston  and  became 
one  of  the  best  known  lecturers  in  America. 
But  very  few  men  have  rendered  such  con- 
tinued service  in  this  field.  He  lectured  for 
forty  successive  seasons  before  the  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  Lyceum  and  also  made  re- 
peated lecturing  tours  in  this  country  and  in 
England.  In  1835  Mr.  Emerson  took  up 
his  residence  at  Concord,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until 
his  death  which  occurred  April  27,   1S82. 

Mr.  Emerson's  literary  work  covered  a 
wide  scope.  He  wrote  and  published  many 
works,  essays  and  poems,  which  rank  high 
among  the  works  of  American  literary  men. 
A  few  of  the  many  which  he  produced  are 
the  following:  "Nature;"  "The  Method 
ofNature;"  "  Man  Thinking;"  "The  Dial;" 
"Essays;"  "Poems;"  "English  Traits;" 
"The  Conduct  of  Life;"  "May-Day  and 
other  Poems  "  and  "  Society  and  Solitude;" 
besides  many  others.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society,  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society 
and  other  kindred  associations. 


ALEXANDER  T.  STEWART,  one  of 
the  famous  merchant  princes  of  New 
York,  was  born  near  the  city  of  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, in  1803,  and  before  he  was  eight  years 
of  age  was  left  an  orphan  without  any  near 
relatives,  save  an  aged  prandfafher.  The 
grandfather  being  a  pious  Methodist  wanted 
to  make  a  minister  of  j'oung  Stewart,  and 
accordingly  put  him  in  a  school  with  that 
end  in  view  and  he  graduated  at  Trinity  Col- 
lege, in  Dublin.  When  scarcely  twenty 
years  of  age  he  came  to  New  York.  His 
first  employment  was  that  of  a  teacher,  but 
accident  soon  made  him  a  merchant.  En- 
tering into  business  relations  with  an  ex- 
perienced man  of  his  acquaintance  he  soon 
found  himself  with  the  rent  of  a  store  on 
hisliands  and  alone  in  a  new  enterprise. 
Mr.  Stewart's  business  grew  rapidly  in  all 
directions,  but  its  founder  had  e.xecutive 
ability  sufficient  for  any  and  all  emergencies, 
and  in  time  his  house  became  one  of  the 
greatest  mercantile  establishments  of  mod- 
ern times,  and  the  name  of  Stewart  famous. 
Mr.  Stewart's  death  occurred  April  10, 
1876.  

JAMES  FENIMOKE  COOPER.  —  In 
speaking  of  this  noted  American  nov- 
elist, William  Ciillen  Bryant  said:  "  He 
wrote  for  mankind  at  large,  hence  it  is  that 
he  has  earned  a  fame  wider  than  any  Amer- 
ican author  of  modern  times.  The  crea- 
tions of  his  genius  shall  survive  through 
centuries  to  come,  and  only  perish  with  our 
language."  Another  eminent  writer  (Pres- 
cott)  said  of  Cooper:  "  In  his  productions 
every  American  must  take  an  honest  pride; 
for  surely  no  one  has  succeeded  like  Cooper 
in  the  portraiture  of  American  character,  or 
has  given  such  glowing  and  eminently  truih- 
ful  pictures  of  American  scenery." 

James  Feiiimore  Cooper  was  born  Sep- 


COMPEXDICM   OF    BlOGRAPin: 


59 


tember  15,  1789,  at  Burlington,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  a  son  of  Judg;e  William  Cooper. 
About  a  year  after  the  birth  of  our  subject 
the  family  removed  to  Otsego  county,  New 
York,  and  founded  the  town  called  "  Coop- 
erstown."  James  Fenimore  Cooper  spent 
his  childhood  there  and  in  1802  entered 
Yale  College,  and  four  years  later  became  a 
midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy.  In 
181 1  he  was  married,  quit  the  seafaring  life, 
and  began  devoting  more  or  less  time  to  lit- 
erary pursuits.  His  first  work  was  "Pre- 
caution," a  novel  published  in  18 19,  and 
three  years  later  he  produced  "The  Spy,  a 
Tale  of  Neutral  Ground,"  which  met  with 
great  favor  and  was  a  universal  success. 
This  was  followed  by  many  other  works, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  follow- 
ing: "The  Pioneers,"  "The  Pilot,"  "Last 
of  the  Mohicans,"  "The  Prairie, ""  The 
Red  Rover,"  "The  Manikins,"  "Home- 
ward Bound,"  "Home  as  Found,"  "History 
of  the  United  States  Navy,"  "The  Path- 
finder," "Wing  and  Wing,"  "Afloat  and 
Ashore,"  "The  Chain-Bearer,"  "Oak- 
Openings,"  etc.  J.  Fenimore  Cooper  died 
at  Cooperstown,  New  York,  September  14, 
18SI.  

MARSHALL  FIELD,  one  of  the  mer- 
chant princes  of  America,  ranks  among 
the  most  successful  business  men  of  the  cen- 
tury. He  was  born  in  1835  at  Conway, 
Massachusetts.  He  spent  his  early  life  on 
a  farm  and  secured  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools,  supplementing  this  with  a 
course  at  the  Conway  Academy.  His 
natural  bent  ran  in  the  channels  of  commer- 
cial life,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was 
given  a  position  in  a  store  at  Pittsfie'.d, 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Field  remained  there 
four  years  and  removed  to  Chicago  in  1856. 
He  began  his  career  in  Chicago  as  a  clerk 


in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  house  of  Cooley, 
Wadsworth  &  Company,  which  later  be- 
came Cooley,  Farwell  &  Company,  and  still 
later  John  V.  Farwell  &  Company.  He 
remained  with  them  four  years  and  exhibit- 
ed marked  ability,  in  recognition  of  which 
he  was  given  a  partnership.  In  1865  Mr. 
Field  and  L.  Z.  Leiter,  who  was  also  a 
member  of  the  firm,  withdrew  and  formed 
the  firm  of  Field,  Palmer  &  Leiter,  the 
third  partner  being  Potter  Palmer,  and  they 
continued  in  business  until  1867,  when  Mr. 
Palmer  retired  and  the  firm  became  Field, 
Leiter  &  Company.  They  ran  under  the 
latter  name  until  1881,  when  Mr.  Leiter  re- 
tired and  the  house  has  since  continued  un- 
der the  name  of  Marshall  Field  &  Company. 
The  phenomenal  success  accredited  to  the 
house  is  largely  due  to  the  marked  ability 
of  Mr.  Field,  the  house  had  become  one  of 
the  foremost  in  the  west,  with  an  annual 
sale  of  $8,000,000  in  1870.  The  total  loss 
of  the  firm  during  the  Chicago  fire  was 
$3,500,000  of  which  $2,500,000  was  re- 
covered through  the  insurance  companies. 
It  rapidly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  this 
and  to-day  the  annual  sales  amount  to  over 
$40,000,000.  Mr.  Field's  real  estate  hold- 
ings amounted  to  $10,000,000.  He  was 
one  of  the  heaviest  subscribers  to  the  Bap- 
tist University  fund  although  he  is  a  Presby- 
terian, and  gave  $1,000,000  for  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum — 
one  of  the  greatest  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  the  world. 

EDGAR  WILSON  NYE,  who  won  an  im- 
mense popularity  under  the  pen  name 
of  "  Bill  Nye,"  was  one  of  the  most  eccen- 
tric humorists  of  his  day.  He  was  born  Au- 
gust 25,  1850,  at  Shirley,  Piscataqua  coun- 
ty, Maine,  "at  a  very  early  age  "  as  he  ex- 
presses it.     He  took  an  academic  course  in 


60 


COMrEXDILM    OF    lUOCUAl'Hr. 


River  Falls,  Wisconsin,  from  whence,  after 
his  graduation,  he  removed  to  ^Wyoming 
Territory.  He  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1876.  He  began  when 
quite  young  tocontributc  humorous  sketches 
to  the  newspapers,  became  connected  with 
various  western  journals  and  achieved  a 
brilliant  success  as  a  humorist.  Mr.  Nye 
settled  later  in  New  York  City  where  he 
devoted  his  time  to  writing  funny  articles  for 
the  big  newspaper  syndicates.  He  wrote  for 
publication  in  book  form  the  following  : 
"Bill  Nye  and  the  Boomerang."  "The 
Forty  Liars,"  "Baled  Hay,"  "Bill  Nye's 
Blossom  Rock,"  "Remarks,"  etc.  His 
death  occurred  February  21,  1896,  at  Ashe- 
ville,  North  Carolina. 


THOM.\S  DE  WITT  TALMAGE,  one  of 
tl>e  must  celebrated  American  preach- 
ers, was  born  January  7,  1832,  and  was  the 
youngest  of  twelve  children.  He  made  his 
preliminary  studies  at  the  grammar  school 
in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  joined  the  church  and  entered 
the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and 
graduated  in  May,  1853.  The  exercises 
were  held  in  Nibio's  Garden  and  his  speech 
aroused  the  audience  to  a  high  pitch  of  en- 
thusiasm. At  the  close  of  his  college  duties 
he  imagined  himself  interested  in  the  law 
and  for  three  years  studied  law.  Dr.  Tal- 
mage  then  perceived  his  mistake  and  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  ministry  at  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  Just 
after  his  ordination  the  young  minister  re- 
ceived two  calls,  one  from  Piermont,  New 
York,  and  the  other  from  Belleville,  New 
Jersey.  Dr.  Talmage  accepted  the  latter 
and  for  three  years  filled  that  charge,  when 
he  was  called  to  Syracuse,  New  York.  Here 
it    was    that    his   sermons   first   drew  large 


crowds  of  people  to  his  church,  and  front 
thence  dates  his  popularity.  Afterward  he 
became  the  pastor  of  the  Second  Reformed 
Dutch  church,  of  Philadelphia,  remaining 
seven  years,  during  which  period  he  first 
entered  upon  the  lecture  platform  and  laid 
the  foundation  for  his  future  reputation.  At 
the  end  of  this  time  he  received  three  calls, 
one  from  Chicago,  one  from  San  Francisco, 
and  one  from  the  Central  Presbyterian 
church  of  Brooklyn,  which  latter  at  that 
time  consisted  of  only  nineteen  members 
with  a  congregation  of  about  thirty-five. 
This  church  offered  him  a  salary  of  seven 
thousand  dollars  and  he  accepted  the  call. 
He  soon  induced  the  trustees  to  sell  the  old 
church  and  build  a  new  one.  They  did  so 
and  erected  the  Brooklyn  Tabernacle,  but 
it  burned  down  shortly  after  it  was  finished. 
By  prompt  sympathy  and  general  liberality 
a  new  church  was  built  and  formally  opened 
in  February.  1874.  It  contained  seats  for 
four  thousand,  si.\  hundred  and  fifty,  but  if 
necessary  seven  thousand  could  be  accom- 
modated. In  October,  1878,  his  salary  was 
raised  from  seven  thousand  dollars  to  twelve 
thousand  dollars,  and  in  the  autumn  of  18S9 
the  second  tabernacle  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
A  third  tabernacle  was  built  and  it  was  for- 
mally dedicated  on  Easter  Sunday,  1891. 


JOHN  PHILIP  SOUSA,  conceded  as 
being  one  of  the  greatest  band  leaders 
in  the  world,  won  his  fame  while  leader  of 
the  United  States  Marine  Band  at  Washing- 
ton, District  of  Columbia.  He  was  not 
originally  a  band  player  but  was  a  violinist, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  conduc- 
tor of  an  opera  company,  a  profession  which 
he  followed  for  several  years,  until  he  was 
offered  the  leadership  of  the  Marine  Band 
at  Washington.  The  proposition  was  re- 
pugnant to  him  at  first   but  he  accepted  the 


coMrE\/)/c.)f  or  BiocRAPJir. 


offer  and  then  ensued  ten  years  of  brilliant 
success  with  that  organization.  When  he 
first  took  the  Marine  Band  he  began  to 
gather  the  national  airs  of  all  the  nations 
that  have  representatives  in  Washington, 
and  compiled  a  comprehensive  volume  in- 
cluding nearly  all  the  national  songs  of  the 
different  nations.  He  composed  a  number 
of  marches,  waltzes  and  two-steps,  promi- 
nent among  which  are  the  "Washington 
Post,"  "Directorate,"  "King  Cotton," 
"High  School  Cadets,"  "Belle  of  Chica- 
go," "Liberty  Bell  March,"  "Manhattan 
Beach,"  "On  Parade  March,"  "  Thunderer 
March,"  "Gladiator  March,"  "  El  Capitan 
March,"  etc.  He  became  a  very  extensive 
composer  of  this  class  of  music. 


JOHN  OUINCY  ADAMS,  sixth  president- 
of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Braintree,  Massachusetts,  July  ii,  1767, 
the  son  of  John  Adams.  At  the  age  of 
eleven  he  was  sent  to  school  at  Paris,  and 
two  years  later  to  Leyden,  where  he  entered 
that  great  university.  He  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1785,  and  graduated  from 
Harvard  in  1788.  He  then  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1791.  His 
practice  brought  no  income  the  first  two 
years,  but  he  won  distinction  in  literary 
fields,  and  was  appointed  minister  to  The 
Hague  in  1794.  He  married  in  1797,  and 
went  as  minister  to  Berlin  the  same  year, 
serving  until  1801,  when  Jefferson  became 
president.  He  was  elected  to  the  senate  in 
1803  by  the  Federalists,  but  was  condemned 
by  that  party  for  advocating  the  Embargo 
Act  and  other  Anti-Federalist  measures.  He 
was  appointed  as  professor  of  rhetoric  at 
Harvard  in  1805,  and  in  1809  was  sent  as 
minister  to  Russia.  He  assisted  in  negotiat- 
ing the  treaty  of  peace  with  England  in 
1814,  and  became  minister  to  that  power 


the  next  year.  He  served  during  Monroe's 
administration  two  terms  as  secretary  of 
state,  during  which  time  party  lines  were 
obliterated,  and  in  1824  four  candidates  for 
president  appeared,  all  of  whom  were  iden- 
tified to  some  extent  with  the  new  "  Demo- 
cratic" party.  Mr.  Adams  received  84  elec- 
toral votes,  Jackson  99,  Crawford  41,  and 
Clay  37.  As  no  candidate  had  a  majority 
of  all  votes,  the  election  went  to  the  house 
of  representatives,  which  elected  Mr.  Adams. 
As  Clay  had  thrown  his  influence  to  Mr. 
Adams,  Clay  became  secretary  of  state,  and 
this  caused  bitter  feeling  on  the  part  of  the 
Jackson  Democrats,  who  were  joined  by 
Mr.  Crawford  and  his  following,  and  op- 
posed every  measure  of  the  administration. 
In  the  election  of  1S28  Jackson  was  elected 
over  Mr.  Adams  by  a  great  majority. 

Mr.  Adams  entered  the  lower  house  of 
congress  in  1830,  elected  from  the  district 
in  which  he  was  born  and  continued  to  rep- 
resent it  for  seventeen  years.  He  was 
known  as  "  the  old  man  eloquent,"  nnd  his 
work  in  congress  was  independent  of  party. 
He  opposed  slavery  extension  and  insisted 
upon  presenting  to  congress,  one  at  a  time, 
the  hundreds  of  petitions  against  the  slave 
power.  One  of  these  petitions,  presented  in 
1842,  was  signed  by  forty-five  citizens  of 
Massachusetts,  and  prayed  congress  for  a 
peaceful  dissolution  of  the  Union.  His 
enemies  seized  upon  this  as  an  opportunity 
to  crush  their  powerful  foe,  and  in  a  caucus 
meeting  determined  upon  his  expulsion  from 
congress.  Finding  they  would  not  be  able 
to  command  enough  votes  for  this,  they  de- 
cided upon  a  course  that  would  bring  equal 
disgrace.  They  formulated  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  while  he  merited  expulsion, 
tlie  house  would,  in  great  mercy,  substitute 
its  severest  censure.  When  it  was  read  in  the 
house  the  old  man,  then  in  his  seventy-fifth 


62 


LOMI'EXDILM   OF    lilOGRAPUr 


year,  arose  and  demanded  that  the  first  para- 
graph of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
be  read  as  his  defense.  It  embraced  the 
famous  sentence,  "that  whenever  any  form 
of  government  becomes  destructive  to  those 
ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter  or 
abolish  it,  and  to  institute  new  government, 
etc.,  etc."  After  eleven  days  of  hard  fight- 
ing his  opponents  were  defeated.  On  Febru- 
ary 21,  1S48,  he  rose  to  address  the  speaker 
on  the  Oregon  question,  when  he  suddenly 
fell  from  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  He  died 
soon  after  in  the  rotunda  of  the  capitol, 
where  he  had  been  conveyed  by  his  col- 
leagues. 

SLS.\N  B.  ANTHONY  was  one  of  the 
most  famous  women  of  America.  She 
was  born  at  South  Adams,  Massachusetts, 
February  15,  1820,  the  daughter  of  a 
Quaker.  She  received  a  good  education 
and  became  a  school  teacher,  following  that 
profession  for  fifteen  years  in  New  York. 
Beginning  with  about  1852  she  became  the 
active  leader  of  the  woman's  rights  move- 
ment and  won  a  wide  reputation  for  her 
zeal  and  ability.  She  also  distinguished 
herself  for  her  zeal  and  eloquence  in  the 
temperance  and  anti-slavery  causes,  and 
became  a  conspicuous  figure  during  the  war. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  she  gave  most  of 
her  labors  to  the  cause  of  woman's  suffrage. 


PHILIP  D.  ARMOUR,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  mercantile 
history  of  America,  was  born  May  16,  1S32, 
on  a  farm  at  Stockbridge,  Madison  county, 
New  York,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  comtnon  schools  of  that  county.  He 
was  apprenticed  to  a  farmer  and  worked 
faithfully  and  well,  being  very  ambitious  and 
'Jesiring  to  start  out  for  himself.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  secured  a  release  from  his 


indentures  and  set  out  overland  for  the 
gold  fields  of  California.  After  a  great 
deal  of  hard  work  he  accumulated  a  little 
money  and  then  came  east  and  settled 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  He  went  into 
the  grain  receiving  and  warehouse  busi- 
ness and  was  fairly  successful,  and  later  on 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Plankin- 
ton  in  the  pork  packing  line,  the  style  of  the 
firm  being  Plankinton  &  Armour.  Mr.  Ar- 
mour made  his  first  great  "deal"  in  selling 
pork  "short"  on  the  New  York  market  in 
the  anticipation  of  the  fall  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, and  Mr.  Armour  is  said  to  have  made 
through  this  deal  a  million  dollars.  He  then 
established  packing  houses  in  Chicago  and 
Kansas  City,  and  in  1875  he  removed  to 
Chicago.  He  increased  his  business  by  add- 
ing to  it  the  shipment  of  dressed  beef  to 
the  European  markets,  and  many  other  lines 
of  trade  and  manufacturing,  and  it  rapidly 
assumed  vast  proportions,  employing  an 
army  of  men  in  different  lines  of  the  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Armour  successfully  conducted  a 
great  many  speculative  deals  in  pork  and 
grain  of  immense  proportions  and  also  erected 
many  large  warehouses  for  the  storage  of 
grain.  He  became  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  Chicago,  where  he  became 
closely  identified  with  all  enterprises  of  a 
public  nature,  but  his  fame  as  a  great  busi- 
ness man  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
He  founded  the  "Armour  Institute  "  at  Chi- 
cago and  also  contributed  largely  to  benevo- 
lent and  charitable  institutions. 


ROBERT  FULTON.— Although  Fulton 
is  best  known  as  the  inventor  of  the 
first  successful  steamboat,  yet  his  claims  to 
distinction  do  not  rest  alone  upon  that,  for 
he  was  an  inventor  along  other  lines,  a 
painter  and  an  author.  He  was  born  al 
Little   Britain,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsy! 


i 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


COMrEXDICM   Oi^    BIOGRAPIir. 


65 


vania,  in  1765,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  there  and  in  New  York  en- 
gaged in  miniature  painting  with  success 
both  from  a  pecuniary  and  artistic  point  of 
view.  With  the  results  of  his  labors  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  for  the  support  of  his  mother. 
He  went  to  London  and  studied  under  the 
great  painter,  Benjamin  West,  and  all 
through  life  retained  his  fondness  for  art 
and  gave  evidence  of  much  ability  in  that 
line.  While  in  England  he  was  brought  in 
contact  with  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater,  the 
father  of  the  English  canal  system;  Lord 
Stanhope,  an  eminent  mechanician,  and 
James  ^\'att,  the  inventor  of  the  steam  en- 
gine. Their  influence  turned  his  mind  to  its 
true  field  of  labor,  that  of  mechanical  in- 
vention. Machines  for  flax  spinning, 
marble  sawing,  rope  making,  and  for  remov- 
ing earth  from  excavations,  are  among  his 
earliest  ventures.  His  "Treatise  on  the 
Improvement  of  Canal  Navigation, "  issued 
in  1 796,  and  a  series  of  essays  on  canals 
were  soon  followed  by  an  English  patent 
for  canal  improvements.  In  1797  he  went 
to  Paris,  where  he  resided  until  1806,  and 
there  invented  a  submarine  torpedo  boat  for 
maritime  defense,  but  which  was  rejected 
by  the  governments  of  France,  England  and 
the  United  States.  In  1 803  he  offered  to  con- 
struct for  the  Emperor  Napoleon  a  steam- 
boat that  would  assist  in  carrying  out  the 
plan  of  invading  Great  Britain  then  medi- 
tated by  that  great  captain.  In  pursuance 
he  constructed  his  first  steamboat  on  the 
Seine,  but  it  did  not  prove  a  full  success 
and  the  idea  was  abandoned  by  the  French 
government.  By  the  aid  of  Livingston, 
then  United  States  minister  to  France, 
Fulton  purchased,  in  1806,  an  engine  which 
he  brought  to  this  country.  After  studying 
the  defects  of  his  own  and  other  attempts  in 


this  line  he  built  and  launched  in  1807  the 
Clermont,  the  first  successful  steamboat. 
This  craft  only  attained  a  speed  of  live 
miles  an  hour  while  going  up  North  river. 
His  first  patent  not  fully  covering  his  in- 
vention, Fulton  was  engaged  in  many  law 
suits  for  infringement.  He  constructed 
many  steamboats,  ferryboats,  etc.,  among 
these  being  the  United  States  steamer 
"  Fulton  the  First,"  built  in  18 14,  the  first 
war  steamer  ever  built.  This  craft  never 
attained  any  great  speed  owing  to  some  de- 
fects in  construction  and  accidentally  blew 
up  in  1829.  Fulton  died  in  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 21,   1815. 


SALMON  PORTLAND  CHASE,  sixth 
chief-justice  of  the  United  States,  and 
one  of  the  most  eminent  of  American  jurists, 
was  born  in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1808.  At  the  age  of  nine  he  was 
left  in  poverty  by  the  death  of  his  father, 
but  means  were  found  to  educate  him.  He 
was  sent  to  his  uncle,  a  bishop,  who  con- 
ducted an  academy  near  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  here  young  Chase  worked  on  the  farm 
and  attended  school.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  returned  to  his  native  state  and  entered 
Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1 826.  He  then  went  to  Washington, 
and  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  study- 
ing law  under  the  instruction  of  William 
Wirt.  He  was  licensed  to  practice  in  1S29, 
and  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  had  a 
hard  struggle  for  several  years  following. 
He  had  in  the  meantime  prepared  notes  on 
the  statutes  of  Ohio,  which,  when  published, 
brought  him  into  prominence  locally.  He 
was  soon  after  appointed  solicitor  of  the 
United  States  Bank.  In  1837  he  appeared 
as  counsel  for  a  fugitive  slave  woman,  Ma- 
tilda, and  sought  by  all  the  powers  of  his 
learning  and  eloquence  to  prevent  her  owner 


w 


COMPKyDJiM   OF    JiJOGJiA/'J/r. 


from  reclaiming  her.  He  acted  in  many 
other  cases,  and  devolved  the  trite  expres- 
sion, "Slavery  is  sectional,  freedom  is  na- 
tional. "  He  was  employed  to  defend  \'an 
ifandt  before  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States  in  1846,  which  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  cases  connected  with  the  great  strug- 
gle against  slavery.  By  this  time  Mr.  Chase 
had  become  the  recognized  leader  of  that 
element  known  as  "  free-soilers."  He  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate  in  1849, 
and  was  chosen  governor  of  Ohio  in  1855 
and  re-elected  in  1857.  He  was  chosen  to 
the  United  States  senate  from  Ohio  in  1861, 
but  was  made  secretary  of  the  treasury  by 
Lincoln  and  accepted.  He  inaugurated  a 
financial  system  to  replenish  the  exhausted 
treasury  and  meet  the  demands  of  the  great- 
est war  in  history  and  at  the  same  time  to 
revive  the  industries  of  the  country.  One 
of  the  measures  which  afterward  called  for 
his  judicial  attention  was  the  issuance  of 
currency  notes  which  were  made  a  legal 
tender  in  payment  of  debts.  When  this 
question  came  before  him  as  chief-justice 
of  the  United  States  he  reversed  his  former 
action  and  declared  the  measure  unconstitu- 
tional. The  national  banking  system,  by 
which  all  notes  issued  were  to  be  based  on 
funded  government  bonds  of  equal  or  greater 
amounts,  had  its  direct  origin  with  Mr.  Chase. 
Mr.  Chase  resigned  the  treasury  port- 
folio in  1864.  and  was  appointed  the  same 
year  as  chief-justice  of  the  United  States 
supreme  court.  The  great  questions  that 
came  up  before  him  at  this  crisis  in  the  life 
of  the  nation  were  no  less  than  those  which 
confronted  the  first  chief-justice  at  the  for- 
mation of  our  government.  Reconstruction, 
private,  state  and  national  interests,  the 
constitutionality  of  the  acts  of  congress 
passed  in  times  of  great  excitement,  the 
construction  and  interpretation  to  l)e  placed 


j  upon  the  several  amendments  to  the  national 
I  constitution, — these  were  among  the  vital 
questions  requiring  prompt  decision.  He 
received  a  paralytic  stroke  in  1870,  which 
impaired  his  health,  though  his  mental 
powers  were  not  affected.  He  continued  to 
preside  at  the  opening  terms  for  two  years 
following  and  died  May  7,  1873. 


HARRIET  ELIZABETH  BEECHER 
STOW'E,  a  celebrated  .\merican  writ- 
er, was  born  June  14,  1S12.  at  Litchfield, 
Connecticut.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Lyman 
Beecher  and  asister  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher, 
two  noted  divines;  was  carefully  educated, 
and  taught  school  for  several  years  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut.  In  1832  Miss  Beecher 
married  Professor  Stowe,  then  of  Lane  Semi- 
nary, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  afterwards  at 
Bowdoin  College  and  Andover  Seminary. 
Mrs.  Stowe  published  in  1S49  "The  May- 
flower, or  sketches  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Pilgrims."  and  in  185 1  commenced  in  the 
"National  Era  "of  Washington,  a  serial  story 
which  was  published  separately  in  1S52  under 
the  title  of  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin."  This 
book  attained  almost  unparalleled  success 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  and  within  ten  years 
it  had  been  translated  in  almost  every  lan- 
guage of  the  civilized  world.  Mrs.  Stowe  pub- 
lished in  1853  a  "KeytoUncleTom's  Cabin" 
in  which  the  data  that  she  used  was  publiiihed 
and  its  truthfulness  was  corroborated.  In 
1853  she  accompanied  her  husband  and 
brother  to  Europe,  and  on  her  return  pub- 
lished "Sunny  Memories  of  Foreign  Lands" 
in  1854.  Mrs.  Stowe  was  for  some  time 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  "Atlantic  Monthly  " 
and  the  "  Hearth  and  Home,"  for  which 
she  had  written  a  number  of  articles. 
Among  these,  also  published  separately,  are 
"  Dred,  a  tale  of  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp  " 
(later  published  under  the  title  of   "Nina 


COMPEXDli.^f   OF    BlOGRAPIir. 


67 


Gordon");  "TheMinister'sWooing;"  "The 
Pearl  of  Orr's  Island;"  "Agnes  of  Sorrento;" 
"Oldtown  Folks;"  "My  Wife  and  I;"  "Bible 
Heroines,"  and  ."A  Dog's  Mission."  Mrs. 
Stowe's  death  occurred  July  i,  1896,  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut. 


THOMAS  JONATHAN  JACKSON,  bet- 
ter known  as  "Stonewall"  Jackson, 
was  one  of  the  most  noted  of  the  Confeder- 
ate gene'-als  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  a 
soldier  by  nature,  an  incomparable  lieuten- 
ant, sure  to  execute  anj'  operation  entrusted 
to  him  with  marvellous  precision,  judgment 
and  courage,  and  all  his  individual  cam- 
paigns and  combats  bore  the  stamp  of  a 
masterly  capacity  for  war.  He  was  born 
January  21,  1824,  at  Clarksburg,  Harrison 
county.  West  Virginia.  He  was  early  in 
life  imbued  with  the  desire  to  be  a  soldier 
and  it  is  said  walked  from  the  mountains  of 
Virginia  to  Washington,  secured  the  aid  of 
his  congressman,,  and  was  appointed  cadet 
at  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 

1846.  Attached  to  the  army  as  brevet  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  the  First  Artillery,  his  first 
service  was  as  a  subaltern  with  Magruder's 
battery  of  light  artillery  in  the  Mexican  war. 
He  participated  at  the  reduction  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  was  noticed  for  gallantry  in  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Moline 
del  Rey,  Chapultepec,  and  the  capture  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  receiving  the  brevets  of 
captain  for  conduct  at  Contreras  and  Cher- 
ubusco  and  of  major  at  Chapultepec.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  been  advanced  by 
regular  promotion   to  be  first  lieutenant  in 

1847.  In  1852,  the  war  having  closed,  he 
resigned  and  became  professor  of  natural 
and  experimental  philosophy  and  artillery 
instructor  at  the  Virginia  State  Military 
Institute  at  Lexington,  Virginia,  where  he 


remained  until  Virginia  declared  for  seces- 
sion, he  becoming  chiefly  noted  for  intense 
religious  sentiment  coupled  with  personal 
eccentricities.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  he  was  made  colonel  and  placed  in 
command  of  a  force  sent  to  sieze  Harper's 
Ferry,  which  he  accomplished  May  3,  1861. 
Relieved  by  General  J.  E.  Johnston,  May 
23,  he  took  command  of  the  brigade  of 
Valley  Virginians,  whom  he  moulded  into 
that  brave  corps,  baptized  at  the  first 
Manassas,  and  ever  after  famous  as  the 
"  Stonewall  Brigade."  After  this  "Stone- 
wall "  Jackson  was  made  a  major-general, 
in  1861,  and  participated  until  his  death  in 
all  the  famous  campaigns  about  Richmond 
and  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  conspicuous  fig- 
ure in  the  memorable  battles  of  that  time. 
May  2,  1863,  at  Chancellorsville,  he  wa? 
wounded  severely  by  his  own  troops,  two 
balls  shattering  his  left  arm  and  another 
passing  through  the  palm  of  his  right  hand. 
The  left  arm  was  amputated,  but  pneumonia 
intervened,  and,  weakened  by  the  great  loss 
of  blood,  he  died  May  10,  1863.  The  more 
his  operations  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  in 
1862  are  studied  the  more  striking  must  the 
merits  of  this  great  soldier  appear. 


JOHN  GREENLEAF  WHITTIER.— 
Near  to  the  heart  of  the  people  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race  will  ever  lie  the  verses  of 
this,  the  "Quaker  Poet."  The  author  of 
"Barclay  of  Ury,"  "Maud  Muller"  and 
"Barbara  Frietchie,"  always  pure,  fervid 
and  direct,  will  be  remembered  when  many 
a  more  ambitious  writer  has  been  forgotten. 
John  G.  Whitticr  was  born  at  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,  December  7,  1807.  of 
Quaker  parentage.  He  had  but  a  common- 
school  education  and  passed  his  boyhood 
days  upon  a  farm.  In  early  life  he  learned 
the  trade    of    shoemaker.      -At    the   age    of 


COMriiXDlLM   OF    JilOG/iA/'/ir 


eighteen  he  began  to  write  verses  for  the 
Haverhill  *  Gazette."  He  spent  two  years 
after  that  at  the  Haverhill  academy,  after 
which,  in  1829,  he  became  editor  of  the 
"American  Manufacturer,"  at  Boston.  In 
1830  he  succeeded  George  D.  Prentice  as 
editor  of  the  "New  England  Weekly  Re- 
view." but  the  following  year  returned  to 
Haverhill  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1832 
and  in  1S36  he  edited  the  "  Gazette."  In 
1835  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature.serving  two  years.  In  1 836  he  became 
secretary  of  the  Anti-slavery  Society  of  Phil- 
adelphia. In  1838  and  1839  he  edited  the 
"  Pennsylvania  Freeman."  but  in  the  latter 
year  the  office  was  sacked  and  burned  by  a 
mob.  In  1840  Whittier  settled  at  Ames- 
bury,  Massachusetts.  In  1847  he  became 
corresponding  editor  of  the  "  National  Era," 
an  anti-slavery  paper  published  at  Washing- 
ton, and  contributed  to  its  columns  many  of 
his  anti-slavery  and  other  favorite  lyrics. 
Mr.  Whittier  lived  for  many  years  in  retire- 
ment of  Quaker  simplicity,  publishing  several 
volumes  of  poetry  which  have  raised  him  to 
a  high  place  among  American  authors  and 
brought  to  him  the  love  and  admiration  of 
his  countrymen.  In  the  electoral  colleges 
of  1860  and  1864  Whittier  was  a  member. 
Much  of  his  time  after  18/6  was  spent  at 
Oak  Knoll,  Danvers,  Massachusetts,  but 
still  retained  his  residence  at  Amesbury. 
He  never  married.  His  death  occurred  Sep- 
tember 7.  1892. 

The  more  prominent  prose  writings  of 
John  C.  Whittier  are  as  follows:  "Legends 
of  New  England."  "Justice  and  Expediency, 
or  Slavery  Considered  with  a  View  to  Its  Abo- 
htion."  "The  Stranger  in  Lowell."  "Super- 
naturalism  in  New  England."  "  Leaves  from 
Margaret  Smith's  Journal."  "Old  Portraits 
and  Modern  Sketches"  and  "  Literary 
Sketches." 


DAVID  DIXON  PORTER,  illustrious  as 
admiral  of  the  United  States  navy,  and 
famous  as  one  of  the  most  able  naval  offi- 
cers of  America,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
June  8,  1S14.  His  father  was  also  a  naval 
officer  of  distinction,  who  left  the  service  of 
the  United  States  to  become  commander  of 
the  naval  forces  of  Mexico  during  the  war 
between  that  country  and  Spain,  and 
through  this  fact  David  Di.xon  Porter  was 
appointed  a  midshipman  in  the  ^exican 
navy.  Two  years  later  David  D.  Porter 
joined  the  United  States  navy  as  midship- 
man, rose  in  rank  and  eighteen  years  later 
as  a  lieutenant  he  is  found  actively  engaged 
in  all  the  operations  of  our  navy  along  the 
east  coast  of  Mexico.  When  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  Porter,  then  a  commander.  w;is 
dispatched  in  the  Powhattan  to  the  relief  of 
Fort  Pickens,  Florida.  This  duty  accom- 
plished, he  fitted  out  a  mortar  flotilla  for 
the  reduction  of  the  forts  guarding  the  ap- 
proaches to  New  Orleans,  which  it  was  con- 
sidered of  vital  importance  for  the  govern- 
ment to  get  possession  of.  After  the  fall  of 
New  Orieans  the  mortar  flotilla  was  actively 
engaged  at  Vicksburg,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1862  Porter  was  made  a  rear-admiral  and 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  naval  forct-s 
on  the  western  rivers  above  New  Orleans. 
The  ability  of  the  man  was  now  con- 
spicuously manifested,  not  only  in  the  bat- 
tles in  which  he  was  engaged,  but  also  in 
the  creation  of  a  formidable  fleet  out  of 
river  steamboats,  which  he  covered  with 
such  plating  as  they  would  bear.  In  1864 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Atlantic  coast  to 
command  the  naval  forces  destined  to  oper- 
ate against  the  defences  of  Wilmington. 
North  Carolina,  and  on  Jan.  15.  1865.  the 
fall  of  Fort  Fisher  was  hailed  by  the  country 
as  a  glorious  termination  of  his  arduous  war 
service.      In  18C6  he  was  made  vice-admiral 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BlOGRAPin: 


and  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Naval 
Academy.  On  the  death  of  Farragut,  in 
1S70,  he  succeeded  that  able  man  as  ad- 
miral of  the  navy.  His  death  occurred  at 
Washington,  February  13,  1891. 


NATHANIEL  GREENE  was  one  of  the 
best  known  of  the  distinguished  gen- 
erals who  led  the  Continental  soldiery 
against  the  hosts  of  Great  Britain  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  the  son 
of  Quaker  parents,  and  was  born  at  War- 
wick, Rhode  Island,  May  27,  1742.  In 
youth  he  acquired  a  good  education,  chiefly 
by  his  own  efforts,  as  he  was  a  tireless 
reader.  In  1770  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  of  his  native  state.  The 
news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  stirred 
his  blood,  and  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  government  of  the  colonies,  receiving 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general  and  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  from  Rhode  Island. 
He  led  them  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge, 
and  for  thus  violating  the  tenets  of  their 
faith,  he  was  cast  out  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers.  He  soon  won  the  es- 
teem of  General  Washington.      In  August, 

1776,  Congress  promoted  Greene  to  the 
rank  cf  major-general,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Trenton  and  Princeton  he  led  a  division. 
At  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  September  11, 

1777,  he  greatly  distinguished  himself,  pro- 
tecting the  retreat  of  the  Continentals  by 
his  firm  stand.  At  the  battle  of  German- 
town,  October  4,  the  same  year,  he  com- 
manded the  left  wing  of  the  army  with 
credit.  In  March,  1778,  he  reluctantly  ac- 
cepted the  office  of  quartermaster-general, 
but  only  with  the  understanding  that  his 
rank  in  the  army  would  not  be  affected  and 
that  in  action  he  should  retain  his  command. 
On  the  bloody  field  of  Monmouth,  June  28, 

1778,  he  commanded  the  right  wing,  as  he 


did  at  the  battle  of  Tiverton  Heights.  He 
was  in  command  of  the  army  in  1780,  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Washington,  and  was 
president  of  the  court-martial  that  tried  and 
condemned  Major  Andre.  After  General 
Gates'  defeat  at  Camden,  North  Carolina,  in 
the  summer  of  1780,  General  Greene  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  southern  army. 
He  sent  out  a  force  under  General  Morgan 
who  defeated  General  Tarleton  at  Cowpens, 
January  17,  1781.  On  joining  his  lieuten- 
ant, in  February,  he  found  himself  out  num- 
bered by  the  British  and  retreated  in  good 
order  to  Virginia,  but  being  reinforced  re- 
turned to  North  Carolina  where  he  fought 
the  battle  of  Guilford,  and  a  few  days  later 
compelled  the  retreat  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 
The  British  were  followed  by  Greene  part 
of  the  way,  when  the  American  army 
marched  into  South  Carolina.  After  vary- 
ing success  he  fought  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  September  8,  1781.  Forthelatter 
battle  and  its  glorious  consequences,  which 
virtually  closed  the  war  in  the  Caroiinas, 
Greene  received  a  medal  from  Congress  and 
many  valuable  grants  of  land  from  the 
colonies  of  North  and  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia.  On  the  return  of  peace,  after  a 
year  spent  in  Rhode  Island,  General  Greene 
took  up  his  residence  on  his  estate  near 
Savannah,  Georgia,  where  he  died  June  19, 
1786. 

EDGAR  ALLEN  POE.— Among  the 
many  great  literary  men  whom  this 
country  has  produced,  there  is  perhaps  no 
name  more  widely  known  than  that  of  Ed- 
gar Allen  Poe.  He  was  born  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  February  19,  1809.  His 
parents  were  David  and  Elizabeth  (Arnold) 
Poe,  both  actors,  the  mother  said  to  have 
been  the  natural  daughter  of  Benedict  Ar- 
nold.    The  parents  died  while   Edgar  was 


coMPi:.\i)iL'M  OF  mocRAPnr. 


still  a  child  and  he  was  adopted  by  John 
Allen,  a  wealthy  and  influential  resident  of 
Richmond,  Nirjjinia.  Edgar  was  sent  to 
school  at  Stoke,  Newington,  England, 
where  he  remained  until  he  wac  thirteen 
years  old;  was  prepared  fur  coll'-ge  by  pri- 
vate tutors,  and  in  1826  entered  the  Virginia 
University  at  Charlottesville.  He  made 
rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  and  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  scholarship,  but  was  ex- 
pelled within  a  year  for  gambling,  after 
which  f<jr  several  years  he  resided  with  his 
benefactor  at  Richmond.  He  then  went  to 
Baltimore,  and  in  1829  publislied  a  71 -page 
pamphlet  called  "Al  Aaraaf,  Tamerlane 
and  Minor  Poems,"  which,  however,  at- 
tracted no  attention  and  contained  nothing 
of  particular  merit.  In  1830  he  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  but  was 
expelled  about  a  year  later  for  irregulari- 
ties. Returning  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Allen 
he  remained  for  some  time,  and  finally 
quarrelled  with  his  benefactor  and  enlisted 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  U.  S.  army,  but 
remained  only  a  short  time.  Soon  after 
this,  in  1833.  Poe  won  several  prizes  for 
literary  work,  and  as  a  result  secured  the 
position  of  editor  of  tohe  "Southern  Liter- 
ary Messenger,"  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Here  he  married  his  cousin,  Virginia 
Clemm,  who  clung  to  him  with  fond  devo- 
tion through  all  the  many  trials  that  came 
to  them  until  her  death  in  January.  1848. 
Poe  remained  with  the  "Messenger"  for 
several  years,  writing  meanwhile  many 
tales,  reviews,  essays  and  poems.  He  aft- 
erward earned  a  precarious  living  by  his 
pen  in  New  York  for  a  time;  in  1839  be- 
came editor  of  "Burton's  Gentleman's 
Magazine  '  ;  in  1840  to  1842  was  editor  of 
"  Graham's  Magazine,"  and  drifted  around 
from  one  place  to  another,  returning  to 
New    York    in    I'Sja.       In    1845    his    best 


!  known  production,  "The  Raven. "appeared 
in  the  "Whig  Review, "  and  gained  him  a 
reputation  which  is  now  almost  world-wide. 
He  then  acted  as  editor  and  contributor  on 
;   various  magazines  and  periodicals  until   the 
■  death  of   his  faithful  wife   in  1848.      In  the 
j  summer  of  1849  he  was  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried to  a  lady  of    fortune  in  Richmond.  Vir- 
ginia, and    the    day    set    for   the   wedding, 
i  He  started   for  New  York  to  make  prepara- 
'  tions   for   the   event,  but.    it  is  said,  began 
drinking,    was   attacked    with    dilirium    tre- 
mens in   Baltimore  and  was  removed  to  a 
hospital,  where  he  died,  October  7,   1849. 
I  The  works  of  Edgar  Allen  Poe  have  been 
I  repeatedly  published  since  his  death,   both 
i  in    Europe  and  America,  and  have  attained 
an  immense  popularity. 


HORATIO  GATES,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent figures  in  the  American  war  for 
Independence,  was  not  a  native  of  the  col- 
onies but  was  born  in  England  in  1728.  In 
early  life  he  entered  the  British  army  and 
attained  the  rank  of  major.  At  the  capture 
of  Martinico  he  was  aide  to  General  Monk- 
ton  aiid  after  the  peace  of  Aix  la  Chapelle. 
in  1748,  he  was  among  the  first  troops  that 
landed  at  Halifax.  He  was  with  Braddock 
at  his  defeat  in  1755.  and  was  there  severe- 
ly wounded.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war  Gates  purchased  an 
estate  in  Virginia,  and,  resigning  from  the 
British  army,  settled  down  to  life  as  a 
planter.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
colonies  and  was  made  adjutant-general  of 
the  Continental  forces  with  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general.  He  accompanied  Wash- 
ington when  he  assumed  the  command  ol 
the  army.  In  June,  1776,  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  army  of  Canada, 
but  was  superseded  in  May  of  the  following 


COMPICXniLM   OF    Bloc,  RAP  JIT. 


year  by  General  Schuyler.  In  August, 
1777,  however,  the  command  of  that  army 
was  restored  to  General  Gates  and  Septem- 
ber 19  he  fought  the  battle  of  Bemis 
Heights.  October  7,  the  same  'year,  he 
won  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  or  Saratoga, 
and  October  17  received  the  surrender  of 
General  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  the  pivotal 
point  of  the  war.  This  gave  him  a  brilliant 
reputation.  June  13,  17S0,  General  Gates 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
southern  military  division,  and  August  16  of 
that  year  suffered  defeat  at  the  hands  of 
Lord  Cornwallis,  at  Camden,  North  Car- 
olina. Ill  December  following  he  was 
superseded  in  the  command  by  General 
Natiianiel  Greene. 

On  the  signing  of  the  peace  treaty  Gen- 
eral Gates  retired  to  his  plantation  in 
Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  where  he  lived 
until  1790,  when,  emancipating  all  his 
slaves,  he  removed  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  resided   until  his  death,  April   10,   1806. 


LYiMAN  J.  GAGE.— When  President  Mc- 
Kinley  selected  Lyman  J.  Gage  as  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury  he  chose  one  of  the 
most  eminent  financiers  of  the  century.  Mr. 
Gage  was  born  June  28,  1836,  at  De  Ruy- 
ter,  Madison  county,  New  York,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  He  went  to  Rome,  New 
York,  with  his  parents  when  he  was  ten 
years  old,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  Rome  Academy.  Mr.  Gage  gradu- 
ated from  the  same,  and  his  first  position 
was  that  of  a  clerk  in  the  post  office.  When 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  detailed 
as  mail  agent  on  the  Rome  &  Watertown 
R.  R.  until  the  postmaster-general  appointed 
regular  agents  for  the  route.  In  1854,  when 
he  was  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he  entered 
the  Oneida  Central  Bank  at  Rome  as  a 
junior  clerk  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  dol- 


lars per  year.  Being  unable  at  the  end  of 
one  year  and  a  half's  service  to  obtain  an 
increase  in  salary  he  determined  to  seek  a 
wider  field  of  labor.  Mr.  Gage  set  out  in 
the  fall  of  1855  and  arrived  in  Chicago, 
Illinois,  on  October  3,  and  soon  obtained  a 
situation  in  Nathan  Cobb's  lumber  yard  and 
planing  mill.  He  remained  there  three  years 
as  a  bookkeeper,  teamster,  etc.,  and  left  on 
account  of  change  in  the  management.  But 
not  being  able  to  find  anything  else  to  do  he 
accepted  the  position  of  night  watchman  in 
the  place  for  a  period  of  six  weeks.  He 
then  became  a  bookkeeper  for  the  Mer- 
chants Saving,  Loan  and  Trust  Company  at 
a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  per  year. 
He  rapidly  advanced  in  the  service  of  this 
company  and  in  1 868  he  was  made  cashier. 
Mr.  Gage  was  next  offered  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  and  ac- 
cepted the  offer.  He  became  the  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago  Jan- 
uary 24,  1 89 1,  and  in  1897  he  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  treasury.  His  ability  as  a 
financier  and  the  prominent  part  he  took  in 
the  discussion  of  financial  affairs  while  presi- 
dent of  the  great  Chicago  bank  gave  him  a 
national  reputation. 


ANDREW^  JACKSON,  the  seventh  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was  .born 
at  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  Union  county, 
North  Carolina,  March  15,  1767.  His 
parents  were  Scotch-Irish,  natives  of  Carr- 
ickfergus,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1665 
and  settled  on  Twelve-Mile  creek,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  Catawba.  His  father,  who 
was  a  poor  farm  laborer,  died  shortly  be- 
fore Andrew's  birth,  when  the  mother  re- 
moved to  Waxhaw,  where  some  relatives 
lived.  Andrew's  education  was  very  limited, 
he  showing  no  aptitude  for  study.  In  1780 
when  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  and    his 


72 


COM/'BXDJL.U   OF    lilOGIiA/'//!'. 


brother  Robert  volunteered  to  serve  in  the 
American  partisan  troops  under  General 
Sumter,  and  witnessed  the  dek-at  at  Hang- 
ing Rock.  The  (ollowmg  year  the  boys 
were  both  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy 
and  endured  brutal  treatment  from  the 
British  officers  while  confined  at  Camden. 
They  both  took  the  small  pox,  when  the 
mother  procured  their  exchange  but  Robert 
died  shortly  after.  The  mother  died  in 
Charleston  of  ship  fever,  the  same  year. 

Young  Jackson,  now  in  destitute  cir- 
cumstances, worked  for  about  six  months  in 
a  saddler's  shop,  and  then  turned  school 
master,  although  but  little  fitted  for  the 
position.  He  now  began  to  think  of  a  pro- 
fession and  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina, 
entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  but  from  all 
accounts  gave  but  little  attention  to  his  i 
books,  being  one  of  the  most  roistering,  i 
rollicking  fellows  in  that  town,  indulging  in 
many  of  the  vices  of  his  time.  In  1786  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  in  1788  re- 
moved to  Nashville,  then  in  North  Carolina, 
with  the  appointment  of  public  prosecutor, 
then  an  office  of  little  honor  or  emolument, 
but  retjuiring  much  nerve,  for  which  young 
Jackson  was  already  noted.  Two  years 
later,  when  Tennessee  became  a  territory 
he  was  appointed  by  Washington  to  the 
position  of  United  States  attorney  for  that 
district.  In  1791  he  married  Mrs.  Rachel 
Robards,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Don- 
elson,  who  was  supposed  at  the  time  to 
have  been  divorced  from  her  former  hus- 
band that  year  by  act  of  legislature  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  but  two  years  later,  on  finding  that 
this  divorce  was  not  legal,  and  a  new  bill  of 
separation  being  granted  by  the  courts  of 
Kentucky,  they  were  remarried  in  1793. 
This  was  used  as  a  handle  by  his  oppo- 
nents in  the  political  campaign  afterwards. 
Jackson  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  as  United 


States  attorney  and  obtained  much  influence. 
He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1796,  when  Tennessee 
became  a  state  and  was  its  first  represent- 
ative in  congress.  In  1797  he  was  chosen 
United  States  senator,  but  resigned  the  fol- 
lowing year  to  accept  a  seat  on  the  supreme 
court  of  Tennessee  which  he  held  until 
1804.  He  was  elected  major-general  of 
the  militia  of  that  state  in  1801.  In  1804, 
being  unsuccessful  in  obtaining  the  govern- 
orship of  Louisiana,  the  new  territory,  he 
retired  from  public  life  to  the  Hermitage, 
his  plantation.  On  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812  he  tendered 
his  services  to  the  government  and  went  to 
New  Orleans  with  the  Tennessee  troops  in 
January,  1S13.  In  March  of  that  year  he 
was  ordered  to  disband  his  troops,  but  later 
marched  against  the  Cherokee  Indians,  de- 
feating them  at  Talladega,  Emuckfaw 
and  Tallapoosa.  Having  now  a  national 
reputation,  he  was  appointed  major-general 
in  the  United  States  army  and  was  sent 
against  the  British  in  Florida.  He  con- 
ducted the  defence  of  Mobile  and  seized 
Pensacola.  He  then  went  with  his  troops 
to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  where  he  gained 
the  famous  victory  of  January  8,  1815.  In 
1817-18  he  conducted  a  war  against  the 
Seminoles,  and  in  1821  was  made  governor 
of  the  new  territory  of  Florida.  In  1823 
he  was  elected  United  States  senator,  but 
in  1824  was  the  contestant  with  J.  y.  Adams 
for  the  presidency.  Four  years  later  he 
was  elected  president,  and  served  two  terms. 
In  1832  he  took  vigorous  action  against  the 
nullifiers  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  next 
year  removed  the  public  money  from  the 
United  States  bank.  During  his  second 
term  the  national  debt  was  extinguished.  At 
the  close  of  his  administration  he  retired  to 
the  Hermitage,  where  he  died  June  8,  1S45 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY. 


ANDREW  CARNEGIE.the  largest  manu- 
facturer of  pig-iron,  steel  rails  and 
coke  in  the  world,  well  deserves  a  place 
among  America's  celebrated  men.  He  was 
born  November  25,  1835,  at  Dunfermline, 
Scotland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
with  his  father  in  1845,  settling  in  Pittsburg. 
Two  years  later  Mr.  Carnegie  began  his 
business  career  by  attending  a  small  station- 
ary engine.  This  work  did  not  suit  him  and 
he  became  a  telegraph  messenger  with  the 
Atlantic  and  Ohio  Co.,  and  later  he  became 
an  operator,  and  %vas  one  of  the  first  to  read 
telegraphic  signals  by  sound.  Mr.  Carnegie 
was  afterward  sent  to  the  Pittsburg  office 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.,  as  clerk 
to  the  superintendent  and  manager  of  the 
telegraph  lines.  While  in  this  position  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  WoodrufI,  the 
inventor  of  the  sleeping-car.  Mr.  Carnegie 
immediately  became  interested  and  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  company  for  its  con- 
struction after  the  railroad  had  adopted  it, 
and  the  success  of  this  venture  gave  him  the 
nucleus  of  his  wealth.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  superintendency  of  the  Pittsburg 
division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and 
about  this  time  was  one  of  the  syndicate 
that  purchased  the  Storey  farm,  on  Oil  Creek 
which  cost  forty  thousand  dollars  and  in  one 
year  it  yielded  over  one  million  dollars  in 
cash  dividends.  Mr.  Carnegie  later  was  as- 
sociated with  others  in  establishing  a  rolling- 
mill,  and  from  this  has  grown  the  most  ex- 
tensive and  complete  system  of  iron  and 
steel  industries  ever  controlled  by  one  indi- 
vidual, embracing  the  Edgar  Thomson 
Steel  Works;  Pittsburg  Bessemer  Steel 
Works;  Lucy  Furnaces;  Union  Iron  Mills; 
Union  Mill;  Keystone  Bridge  Works;  Hart- 
man  Steel  Works;  Frick  Coke  Co.;  Scotia 
Ore  Mines.  Besides  directing  his  immense 
iron  industries  he  owned  eighteen  English 


newspapers  which  he  ran  in  the  interest  oi 
the  Radicals.  He  has  also  devoted  large 
sums  of  money  to  benevolent  and  educational 
purposes.  In  1879  he  erected  commodious 
swimming  baths  for  the  people  of  Dunferm- 
line, Scotland,  and  in  the  following  year 
gave  forty  thousand  dollars  for  a  free  library. 
Mr.  Carnegie  gave  fifty  thousand  dollars  to 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  1884 
to  found  what  is  now  called  ' '  Carnegie  Lab- 
oratory,"  and  in  1S85  gave  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  to  Pittsburg  for  a  public 
library.  He  also  gave  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  a  music  hall  and  library 
in  Allegheny  City  in  18S6,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land, for  a  free  library.  He  also  established 
free  libraries  at  Braddock,  Pennsylvania, 
and  other  places  for  the  benefit  of  his  em- 
ployes. He  also  published  the  following 
works,  "An  American  Four-in-hand  in 
Britain;"  "Round  the  World;"  "Trium- 
phant Democracy;  or  Fifty  Years'  March  of 
the  Republic." 


GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  -the  "Rock  of 
Chickamauga,"  one  of  the  best  known 
commanders  during  the  late  Civil  war,  was 
born  in  Southampton  county,  Virginia,  July 
31,  1 8 16,  his  parents  being  of  Welsh  and 
French  origin  respectively.  In  1836  young 
Thomas  was  appointed  a  cadet  at  the  Mili- 
tary Academy,  at  West  Point,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1840,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  office  of  second  lieutenant  in  the  Third 
Artillery.  Shortly  after,  with  his  company, 
he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  served  for  two 
years  against  the  Seminole  Indians.  In 
1 84 1  he  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for 
gallant  conduct.  He  remained  in  garrison 
in  the  south  and  southwest  until  1845,  at 
which  date  with  the  regiment  he  joined  the 
army  under  General  Taylor,  and  participat- 


74 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BJOGRAPHr. 


ed  -  •'  -  -Iclciisc  of  Fort  Brown,  thestorm- 
ini;  of  Miiiit,erey  and  the  battle  of  Buena 
Visls  After  the  latter  eve.it  he  remained 
in  garrison,  now  brevetted  major,  until  the 
close  of  the  Mexican  war.  After  a  year 
spent  in  Florida,  Captain  Thomas  was  or- 
dered to  West  Point,  where  he  ser\'ed  as  in- 
structor until  1854.  He  then  was  trans- 
ferred to  California.  In  May.  1S55,  Thom- 
as was  appointed  major  of  the  Second  Cav- 
alry, with  whom  he  spent  five  years  in  Te.xas. 
Although  a  southern  man,  and  surrounded 
by  brother  officers  who  all  were  afterwards 
f.n  the  Confederate  service.  Major  Thomas 
never  swerved  from  his  allegiance  to  the 
government.  A.  S.  Johnston  was  the  col- 
onel of  the  regiment,  R.  E.  Lee  the  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and  W.  J.  Hardee,  senior  ma- 
jor, while  among  the  younger  officers  were 
Hood,  Fitz  Hugh  Lee.  Van  Dorn  and  Kirby 
Smith.  When  these  officers  left  the  regi- 
ment to  take  up  arms  for  the  Confederate 
cause  he  remained  with  it.  and  April  17th, 
1861,  crossed  the  Potomac  into  his  native 
state,  at  its  head.  After  taking  an  active  part 
in  the  opening  scenes  of  the  war  on  the  Poto- 
mac and  Shenandoah,  in  August,  1861,  he 
was  promoted  to  be  brigadier-general  and 
transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
January  19-20,  1862,  Thomas  defeated 
Crittenden  at  Mill  Springs,  and  this  brought 
him  into  notice  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  fame.  He  continued  in  command  of  his 
division  until  September  20,  1862,  except 
during  the  Corinth  campaign  when  he  com- 
manded the  right  wing  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  He  was  in  command  of  the 
latter  at  the  battle  of  Perryville.  also.  Octo- 
ber 8,  1 862. 

On  the  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland into  corps,  January  y,  1863,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Fourteenth,  and  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 


amauga,  after  the  retreat  of  Rosecrans, 
firmly  held  his  own  against  the  hosts  of  Gen- 
eral Bragg.  A  history  of  his  services  from 
that  on  would  be  a  history  of  the  war  in  the 
southwest.  On  September  27,  1S64,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  was  given  command  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  after  organizing  his  army,  de- 
feated General  Hood  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, December  15  and  16.  1864.  Much 
complaint  was  made  before  this  on  account 
of  what  they  termed  Thomas'  slowness,  and 
he  was  about  to  be  superseded  because  he 
would  not  strike  until  he  got  ready,  but 
when  the  blow  was  struck  General  Grant 
was  the  first  to  place  on  record  this  vindica- 
tion of  Thomas  judgment.  He  received  a 
vote  of  thanks  from  Congress,  and  from  the 
legislature  of  Tennessee  a  gold  medal.  Af- 
!  ter  the  close  of  the  war  General  Thomas 
had  command  of  several  of  the  military  di- 
visions, and  died  at  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia, March  28,  1870. 


GEORGE  BANCROFT,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  American  historians,  was  a 
nativeof  Massachusetts,  born  at  Worcester, 
October  3,  1800.  and  a  son  of  Aaron 
Bancroft.  D.  D.  The  father.  Aaron  Ban- 
croft, was  born  at  Reading.  Massachusetts. 
November  10.  1755.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1778,  became  a  minister,  and  for 
half  a  century  was  rated  as  one  of  the  ablest 
preachers  in  New  England.  He  was  also  a 
prolific  writer  and  published  a  number  of 
works  among  which  was  "  Life  of  George 
Washington."  Aaron  Bancroft  died  .August 
19.  1839. 

The  subject  of  our  present  biography. 
George  Bancroft,  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
181 7.  and  the  following  year  entered  the 
University  of  Gottingen.  where  he  studied 
history  and  philology  under  the  most  emi- 
nent teachers,  and  in  1S20  received  the  de- 


COMPEXDIU.M   OF   BIOGRAPJir. 


ffree  of  doctor  of  philosophy  at  Gottingen. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  pubHshed  a  volume 
cf  poems,  and  later  a  translation  of  Heeren's 
"Reflections  on  the  Politics  of  Ancient 
Greece."  In  1834  he  produced  the  first 
volume  of  his  "  History  of  the  United 
States,"  this  being  followed  by  other  vol- 
umes at  different  intervals  later.  This  was 
bis  greatest  work  and  ranks  as  the  highest 
authority,  taking  its  place  among  the  great- 
est of  American  productions. 

George  Bancroft  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  navy  by  President  Polk  in   1S45,  but 
resigned  in  1846  and  became  minister  pleni- 
potentiary to  England.     In  1849  he  retired 
from  public  life  and  took  up  his  residence  at  | 
Washington,    D.  C.     In  1867   he  was  ap-  | 
pointed  United  States  minister  to  the  court  of  . 
Berlin  and  negotiated  the  treat\by  which  Ger- 
mans coming  to  the  United  States  were  re- 
leased from  their  allegiance  to  the  govern- 
ment of  their  native  land.     In  1871  he  was 
minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  German  em-  | 
pire  and  served  until  1874.     The  death  of 
George  Bancroft  occurred  January  17,  1891. 


GEORGE  GORDON  MEADE,  a  fa- 
mous Union  general,  was  born  at 
Cadiz,  Spain,  December  30,  181 5,  his  father 
being  United  States  naval  agent  at  that 
port.  After  receiving  a  good  education  he 
entered  the  West  Point  Military  Academy 
in  1 83 1.  From  here  he  was  graduated 
June  30,  1835,  and  received  the  rank  of 
second  lieutenant  of  artillerj'.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  Seminole  war,  but  resigned 
from  the  army  in  October,  1836.  He  en- 
tered upon  the  profession  of  civil  engineer, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years,  part  of 
the  time  in  thesers^ice  of  the  government  in 
making  surveys  of  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  His  report  and  results  of  some 
experiments   made  by  him   in  this    service 


gained  Meade  much  credit.  He  also  was 
employed  in  surveying  the  boundary  line  of 
Texas  and  the  northeastern  boundary  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
In  1842  he  was  reappointed  in  the  army  to 
the  position  of  second  lieutenant  of  engineers. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  served  with  dis- 
tinction on  the  staff  of  General  Taylor  in 
the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma 
and  the  storming  of  Monterey.  He  received 
his  brevet  of  first  lieutenant  for  the  latter 
action.  In  1851  he  was  made  full  first 
lieutenant  in  his  corps;  a  captain  in  1856. 
and  major  soon  after.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  with  Mexico  he  was  employed  in  light- 
house construction  and  in  geodetic  survej's 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  in 
which  he  gained  great  reputation.  In 
August,  1 861,  he  was  made  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
second  brigade  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves, 
a  division  of  the  First  Corps  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  In  the  campaign  of  1862, 
under  McClellan,  Meade  took  an  active 
part,  being  present  at  the  battles  of  Mechan- 
icsville,  Gaines'  Mill  and  Glendale,  in  the 
latter  of  which  he  was  severely  wounded. 
On  rejoining  his  command  he  was  given  a 
division  and  distinguished  himself  at  its  head 
in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antie- 
tam.  During  the  latter,  on  the  wounding 
of  General  Hooker,  Meade  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  corps  and  was  himself 
slightly  wounded.  For  servi  ces  he  was 
promoted,  November,  1862,  to  the  rank 
of  major-general  of  volunteers.  On  the 
recovery  of  General  Hooker  General  Meade 
returned  to  his  division  and  in  December, 
1862,  at  Fredericksburg,  led  an  attack 
which  penetrated  Lee's  right  line  and  swept 
to  his  rear.  Being  outnumbered  and  un- 
supported, he  finally  was  driven  back.  The 
same   month    Meade   was   assigned  to  the 


COMPEXDIL.M   OF   BIOG/iAPJ/r. 


command  of  thd  Fifth  Corps,  and  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  in  May,  1863.  his  sagacity  and 
ability  so  struck  General  Hooker  that  when 
the  latter  asked  to  be  relieved  of  the  com- 
mand, in  June  of  the  same  year,  he  nomi- 
nated Meade  as  his  successor.  June  28, 
1863,  President  Lincoln  commissioned  Gen- 
eral Meade  commander-in-chief  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  then  scattered  and  moving 
hastily  through  Pennsylvania  to  the  great 
and  decisive  battlefield  at  Gettysburg,  at 
which  he  was  in  full  command.  With  the 
victory  on  those  July  days  the  name  of 
Meade  will  ever  be  associated.  From  that 
time  until  the  close  of  the  war  he  com- 
manded the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In 
1864  General  Grant,  being  placed  at  the 
head  of  all  the  armies,  took  up  his  quarters 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  From  that 
time  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appo- 
mato.x  Meade's  ability  shone  conspicuously, 
and  his  tact  in  the  delicate  position  in  lead- 
ing his  army  under  the  eye  of  his  superior 
officer  commanded  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  General  Grant.  For  services  Meade  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and 
on  the  close  of  hostilities,  in  July,  1865, 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  military 
division  of  the  Atlantic,  with  headquarters 
at  Philadelphia.  This  post  he  held,  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  period  on  detached 
duty  in  Georgia,  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  November  6,  1872. 


DAVID  CROCKETT  was  a  noted  hunter 
and  scout,  and  also  one  of  the  earliest 
of  American  humorists.  He  was  born  Au- 
gust 17,  1786,  in  Tennessee,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  locality, 
serving  as  representative  in  congress  from 
1827  until  1831.  He  attracted  consider- 
able notice  while  a  member  of  congress  and 
was  closely  associated   with  General  Jack- 


son, of  whom  he  was  a  personal  friend.  He 
went  to  Texas  and  enlisted  in  the  Texan 
army  at  the  time  of  the  revolt  of  Texas 
against  Mexico  and  gained  a  wide  reputa- 
tion as  a  scout.  He  was  one  of  the  famous 
one  hundred  and  forty  men  under  Colonel 
\V.  B.  Travis  who  were  besieged  in  Fort 
Alamo,  near  San  Antonio,  Texas,  by  Gen- 
eral Santa  Anna  with  some  five  thousand 
Mexicans  on  February  23,  1836.  The  fort 
was  defended  for  ten  days,  frequent  assaults 
being  repelled  with  great  slaughter,  over 
one  thousand  Mexicans  being  killed  or 
wounded,  while  not  a  man  in  the  fort  was 
injured.  Finally,  on  March  6,  three  as- 
saults were  made,  and  in  the  hand-to-hand 
fight  that  followed  the  last,  the  Texans  were 
wofully  outnumbered  and  overpowered. 
They  fought  desperately  with  clubbed  mus- 
kets till  only  six  were  left  alive,  including 
W.  B.  Travis,  David  Crockett  and  James 
Bowie.  These  surrendered  under  promise 
of  protection;  but  when  they  were  brought 
before  Santa  Anna  he  ordered  them  all  to 
be  cut  to  pieces. 


HENRY  WATTERSON,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  history  of 
American  journalism,  was  born  at  W'ash- 
ington.  District  of  Columbia,  February  16, 
1840.  His  boyhood  days  were  mostly  spent 
in  the  city  of  his  birth,  where  his  father, 
Harvey  M.  Watterson,  was  editor  of  the 
"Union,"  a  well  known  journal. 

Owing  to  a  weakness  of  the  eyes,  which 
interfered  with  a  systematic  course  of  study, 
young  Watterson  was  educated  almost  en- 
tirely at  home.  A  successful  college  career 
was  out  of  the  question,  but  he  acquired  a 
good  knowledge  of  music,  literature  and  art 
from  private  tutors,  but  the  most  valuable 
part  of  the  training  he  received  was  bv  as- 
sociating with  his  father  and  the  throng  c  t 


COMPEXniUM   OF   BIOGRAPJir, 


77 


public  men  whom  he  met  in  Washington 
in  the  stirring  days  immediatelj'  preceding 
the  Civil  war.  He  began  his  journalistic 
career  at  an  early  age  as  dramatic  and 
musical  critic,  and  in  1858,  became  editor 
of  the  "Democratic  Review"  and  at  the 
same  time  contributed  to  the  "States," 
a  journal  of  liberal  opinions  published  in 
Washington.  In  this  he  remained  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  the 
"States,"  opposing  the  administration,  was 
suppressed,  and  young  Watterson  removed 
to  Tennessee.  He  ne.xt  appears  as  editor 
of  the  Nashville  "Republican  Banner,"  the 
most  influential  paper  in  the  state  at  that 
time.  After  the  occupation  of  Nashville  by 
the  Federal  troops,  Watterson  served  as  a 
volunteer  staff  officer  in  the  Confederate 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  with  the 
exception  of  a  year  spent  in  editing  the 
Chattanooga  "Rebel."  On  the  close  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Nashville  and  re- 
sumed his  connection  with  the  "Banner." 
After  a  trip  to  Europe  he  assumed  control 
of  the  Louisville  "Journal,"  which  he  soon 
combined  with  the  "Courier"  and  the 
"Democrat"  of  that  place,  founding  the 
well-known  "Courier-Journal,"  the  first 
number  of  which  appeared  November  8, 
1 868.  Mr.  Watterson  also  represented  his 
district  in  congress  for  several  years. 


PATRICK  SARSFIELD  GILMORE, 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  widely 
known  bandmasters  and  musicians  of  the 
last  half  century  in  America,  was  born  in 
Ballygar,  Ireland,  on  Christmas  day,  1829. 
He  attended  a  public  school  until  appren- 
ticed to  a  wholesale  merchant  at  Athlone, 
of  the  brass  band  of  which  town  he  soon 
became  a  member.  His  passion  for  music 
conflicting  with  the  duties  of  a  mercantile 
life,  his  position  as  clerk  was  exchanged  for 


that  of  musical  instructor  to  the  young  sons 
of  his  employer.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
sailed  for  America  and  two  days  alter  his 
arrival  in  Boston  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
band  instrument  department  of  a  prominent 
music  house.  In  the  interests  of  the  pub- 
lications of  this  house  he  organized  a  minstrel 
company  known  as  "Ordvvay's  Eolians," 
with  which  he  first  achieved  success  as  a 
cornet  soloist.  Later  on  he  was  called  the 
best  E-flat  cornetist  in  the  United  States. 
He  became  leader,  successively',  of  the  Suf- 
folk, Boston  Brigade  and  Salem  bands. 
During  his  connection  with  the  latter  he 
inaugurated  the  famous  Fourth  of  July  con- 
certs on  Boston  Common,  since  adopted  as 
a  regular  programme  for  the  celebration  of 
Independence  Day.  In  1858  Mr.  Gilmore 
founded  the  organization  famous  thereafter 
as  Gilmore's  Band.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  this  band  was  attached  to  the 
Twenty-Fourth  ,  Massachusetts  Infantry. 
Later,  when  the  economical  policy  of  dis- 
pensing with  music  had  proved  a  mistake, 
Gilmore  was  entrusted  with  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  state  military  bands,  and  upon  his 
arrival  at  New  Orleans  with  his  own  band 
was  made  bandmaster-general  by  General 
Banks.  On  the  inauguration  of  Governor 
Hahn,  later  on,  in  Lafayette  square,  New 
Orleans,  ten  thousand  children,  mostly  of 
Confederate  parents,  rose  to  the  baton  of 
Gilmore  and,  accompanied  by  six  hundred 
instruments,  thirty-six  guns  and  the  united 
fire  of  three  regiments  of  infantry,  sang  the 
Star-Spangled  Banner,  America  and  other 
patriotic  Union  airs.  In  June,  1867,  Mr. 
Gilmore  conceived  a  national  musical  festi- 
val, which  was  denounced  as  a  chimeric&l 
undertaking,  but  he  succeeded  and  June  15. 
1869,  stepped  upon  the  stage  of  the  Boston 
Colosseum,  a  vast  structure  erected  for  the 
occasion,  and  in  the  presence  of  over  fifty 


COM r i:\Di CM  OF  liioGiiArin: 


thousand  people  lifted  his  baton  over  an 
orchestra  of  one  thousand  and  a  chorus  of 
ten  thousand.  On  the  17th  of  June,  1872, 
he  opened  a  still  greater  festival  in  Boston, 
when,  in  addition  to  an  orchestra  of  two 
thousand  and  a  chorus  of  twenty  thousand, 
were  present  the  Band  of  the  Grenadier 
Guards,  of  London,  of  the  Garde  Repub- 
licaine,  of  Paris,  of  Kaiser  Franz,  of  Berlin, 
and  one  from  Dublin,  Ireland,  together  with 
Johann  Strauss,  Franz  Abt  and  many  other 
soloists,  vocal  and  instrumental.  Gilmore's 
death  occurred  September  24,  1S92. 


M.\KTIN  VAX  BUREN  was  the  eighth 
president  of  the  United  States,  1837 
to  1 84 1.  He  was  of  Dutch  extraction,  and 
his  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  He  was 
born  December  5,  1782,  at  Kinderhook, 
New  York.  Mr.  Van  Buren  took  up  the 
study  of  law  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  took 
an  active  part  in  political  matters  before  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  He  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  1803  at  his  native 
town,  and  in  1809  he  removed  to  Hudson, 
Columbia  county,  New  York,  where  he 
spent  seven  years  gaining  strength  and  wis- 
dom from  his  contentions  at  the  bar  with 
some  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  profession. 
Mr.  Van  Buren  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate,  and  from  1815  until  18 19  he  was  at- 
torney-general of  the  state.  He  was  re- 
elected to  the  senate  in  18 16,  and  in  1818 
he  was  one  of  the  famous  clique  of  politi- 
cians known  as  the  "Albany  regency." 
Mr.  Van  Buren  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention for  the  revision  of  the  state  consti- 
tution, in  182 1.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate  and 
served  his  term  in  a  manner  that  caused  his 
re-election  to  that  body  in  1827,  but  re- 
signed the  following  year    as  he  had  been 


elected  governor  of  New  York.  .Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  as 
secretary  of  state  in  March,  iS29,but  resigned 
in  1831,  and  during  the  recess  of  congress 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  England. 
The  senate,  however,  when  it  convened  in 
December  refused  to  ratify  the  appointment. 
In  May,  1832,  he  was  nominated  by  the 
Democrats  as  their  candidate  for  vice-presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  he  was  elected  in  the  following  Novem- 
ber. He  received  the  nomination  to  suc- 
ceed President  Jackson  in  1836,  as  the 
Democratic  candidate,  and  in  the  electoral 
college  he  received  one  hundred  and  seventy 
votes  out  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-three, 
and  was  inaugurated  March  4,'  1837.  His 
administration  was  begun  at  a  time  of  great 
business  depression, and  unparalled  financial 
distress,  which  caused  the  suspension  of 
specie  payments  by  the  banks.  Nearly 
every  bank  in  the  country  was  forced  to 
suspend  specie  payment,  and  no  less  tha:i 
two  hundred  and  lifty-four  business  houses 
failed  in  New  York  in  one  week.  The 
President  urged  the  adoption  of  the  inde- 
pendent treasury  idea,  which  passed  through 
the  senate  twice  but  each  time  it  was  de- 
feated in  the  house.  However  the  measure 
ultimately  became  a  law  near  the  close  of 
President  Van  Buren's  term  of  office.  An- 
other important  measure  that  was  passed 
was  the  pre-emption  law  that  gave  the  act- 
ual settlers  preference  in  the  purchase  of 
public  lands.  The  question  of  slaver>'  had 
begun  to  assume  great  preponderance  dur- 
ing this  administration,  and  a  great  conflict 
was  tided  over  by  the  passage  of  a  resolu- 
tion that  prohibited  petitions  or  papers  that 
in  any  way  related  to  slavery  to  be  acted 
upon.  In  the  Democratic  convention  of 
1840  President  Van  Buren  secured  the 
nomination  for    re-election    on    that    ticket 


COAfrEXDIl'M   OF    BIOGRArnV 


79 


without  opposition,  but  in  the  election  he 
only  received  the  votes  of  seven  states,  his 
opponent,  W.  H.  Harrison,  being  elected 
president.  In  1848  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
the  candidate  of  the  "  Free-Soilers, "  but 
was  unsuccessful.  After  this  he  retired 
from  public  life  and  spent  the  feinainder  of 
his  life  on  his  estate  at  Kinderhook,  where 
he  died  July  24,  1862. 


W INFIELD  SCOTT,  a  distinguished 
American  general,  was  born  June  13, 
17S6,  near  Petersburg,  Dinwiddie  county, 
Virginia,  and  was  educated  at  the  William 
and  Mary  College.  He  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1S08  he  accepted 
an  appointment  as  captain  of  light  artillerj', 
and  was  ordered  to  Xew  Orleans.     In  June, 

181 2,  he  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  on  application  was  sent  to  the 
frontier,  and  reported  to  General  Smyth, 
near  Buffalo.  He  was  made  adjutant-gen- 
eral with  the  rank  of  a    colonel,  in  March, 

18 1 3,  and  the  same  month  attained  the  colo- 
nelcy of  his  regiment.  He  participated  in 
the  principal  battles  of  the  war  and  was 
wounded  many  times,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  voted  a  gold  medal  by  con- 
gress for  his  services.  He  was  a  writer  of 
considerable  merit  on  military  topics,  and 
he  gave  to  the  military  science,  "General 
Regulations  of  the  Army  "  and  "  System  of 
Infantry  and  Rifle  Practice."  He  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
and  at  the  beginning  of  the  Mexican  war  he 
was  appointed  to  take  the  command  of  the 
army.  Gen.  Scott  immediately  assembled 
his  troops  at  Lobos  Island  from  which  he 
moved  by  transports  to  Vera  Cruz,  which 
he  took  March  29,  1847,  and  rapidly  fol- 
lov-'ed  up  his  first  success.  He  fought  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  Jalapa,  both  of 
which    he   won,  and    proceeded    to   Pueblo 


where  he  was  preceded  by  Worth's  division 
which  had  taken  the  town  and  waited  for  the 
coming  of  Scott.  The  army  was  forced  to 
wait  here  for  supplies,  and  August  7th, 
General  Scott  started  on  his  victorious 
march  to  the  city  of  Me.xico  with  ten  thou- 
sand, seven  hundred  and  thirtj'-eight  men. 
The  battles  of  Contreras,  Cherubusco  and 
San  Antonio  were  fought  August  19-20, 
and  on  the  24th  an  armistice  was  agreed 
upon,  but  as  the  commissioners  could  not 
agree  on  the  terms  of  settlement,  the  fight- 
ing was  renewed  at  Molino  Del  Rey,  and 
the  Heights  of  Chapultepec  were  carried 
by  the  victorious  army  of  General  Scott. 
He  gave  the  enemy  no  respite,  however, 
and  vigorously  followed  up  his  advantages. 
On  September  14,  he  entered  the  City  of 
Mexico  and  dictated  the  terms  of  surrender 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  Mexican  Republic. 
General  Scott  was  offered  the  presidency  of 
the  Mexican  Republic,  but  declined.  Con- 
gress extended  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
ordered  a  gold  medal  be  struck  in  honor  of 
his  generalship  and  bravery.  He  was  can- 
didate for  the  presidency  on  the  Whig  plat- 
form but  was  defeated.  He  was  honored  by 
having  the  title  of .  lieutenant-general  con- 
ferred upon  him  in  1855.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Civil  war  he  was  too  infirm  to  take  charge 
of  the  army,  but  did  signal  service  in  be- 
half of  the  government.  He  retired  from 
the  service  November  i,  1861,  and  in  1864 
he  published  his  "Autobiography."  Gen- 
eral Scott  died  at  West  Point,  May  29,  1866. 


EDWARD  EVERETT  HALE  for  many 
years  occupied  a  high  place  among  the 
most  honored  of  America's  citizens.  As 
a  preacher  he  ranks  among  the  foremost 
in  the  New  England  states,  but  to  the  gen- 
eral public  he  is  best  known  through  his 
writings.      Born  in  Boston,   Mass.,  April  3, 


80 


co.vrEXDiiM  or  nioGRAPnr. 


1822,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  most 
prominent  New  England  families,  he  enjoyed 
in  his  youth  many  of  the  advantages  denied 
the  majority  of  boys.  He  received  his  pre- 
paratory schooling  at  the  Boston  Latin 
School,  after  which  he  finished  his  studies  at 
Harvard  where  he  was  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1839.  Having  studied  theology 
at  home,  Mr.  Hale  embraced  the  ministry 
and  in  1846  became  pastor  of  a  Unitarian 
■rhurch  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  a  post 
which  he  occupied  about  ten  years.  He 
then,  in  1856,  became  pastor  of  the  South 
Congregational  church  in  Boston,  over  which 
he  presided  many  years. 

Mr.  Hale  also  found  time  to  write  a 
great  many  literary  works  of  a  high  class. 
.\mong  many  other  well-known  productions 
•>f  his  are  "  The  Kosary,"  "  Margaret  Per- 
:ival  in  America."  "Sketches  of  Christian 
iistory,"  "Kansas  and  Nebraska,"  "  Let- 
.ers  on  Irish  Emigration,"  "  Ninety  Days' 
Worth  of  Europe,"  "  If,  Yes,  and  Perhaps," 
"Ingham  Papers,"  "  Reformation,"  "  Level 
Best  and  Other  Stories, "  '  •  Ups  and  Downs, " 
"Christmas  Eve  and  Christinas  Day."  "  In 
His  Name,  '  "Our  New  Crusade,"  "Work- 
ingmen's  Homes,"  "  Boys'  Heroes,"  etc., 
etc.,  besides  many  others  which  might  be 
mentioned.  One  of  his  works,  "  In  His 
Name,"  has  earned  itself  enduring  fame  by 
the  good  deeds  it  has  called  forth.  The 
numerous  associations  known  as  '  'The  King's 
Daughters,"  which  has  accomplished  much 
good,  owe  their  existence  to  the  story  men- 
tioned. 

DAVID  GLASCOE  FAKKAGUT  stands 
pre-eminent  as  one  of  the  greatest  na- 
val ofVicers  of  the  world.  He  was  born  at 
Campbell's  Station.  East  Tennessee.  July 
5.  1801,  and  entered  the  navy  of  the  United 
St..l.-s  MS  a  inidslnpinan.       H.'  ha.l  tin-  trood 


fortune  to  serve  under  Captain  David  Por- 
ter, who  commanded  the  "  Essex."  and  by 
whom  he  was  taught  the  ideas  of  devotion 
to  duty  from  which  he  never  swer\'ed  dur- 
ing all  his  career.  In  1823  Mr.  Farragut 
took  part  in  a  severe  fight,  the  result  of 
which  was  the  suppression  of  piracy  in  the 
West  Indies.  He  then  entered  upon  the 
regular  duties  of  his  profession  which  was 
only  broken  into  by  a  years  residence  with 
Charles  Folsom,  our  consul  at  Tunis,  who 
was  afterwards  a  distinguished  professor  at 
Harvard.  Mr.  Farragut  was  one  of  the  best 
linguists  in  the  navy.  He  had  risen  through 
the  different  grades  of  the  service  until  the 
war  of  1861-65  found  him  a  captain  resid- 
ing at  Norfolk,  Virginia.  He  removed  with 
his  family  to  Hastings,  on  the  Hudson,  and 
hastened  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Federal 
government,  and  as  the  capture  of  New 
Orleans  had  been  resolved  upon,  Farragut 
was  chosen  to  command  the  expedition. 
His  force  consisted  of  the  West  Gulf  block- 
ading squadron  and  Porters  mortar  flotilla. 
In  January,  1862,  he  hoisted  his  pennant  at 
the  mizzen  peak  of  the  "Hartford"  at 
Hampton  roads,  set  sail  from  thence  on  the 
3rd  of  February  and  reached  Ship  Island  on 
the  20th  of  the  same  month.  A  council  of 
war  was  held  on  the  20th  of  .\pril.  in  which 
it  was  decided  that  whatever  was  to  be  done 
must  be  done  quickly.  The  signal  was  made 
from  the  flagship  and  accordingly  the  fleet 
weighed  anchor  at  1:55  on  the  morning  of 
April  24th.  and  at  3:30  the  whole  force  was 
underway.  The  history  of  this  brilliant  strug- 
gleiswell  known. andthe  glory  ofit  made  Far- 
ragut a  hero  and  also  made  him  rear  admir- 
al. In  the  summer  of  1862  he  ran  the  batteries 
at  Vicksburg.  and  on  March  14.  1863.  he 
passed  through  the  fearful  and  destructive 
fire  from  Port  Hud.son,  and  opened  up  com- 
munication  with    Flag-officer  Porter,   wha 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


CO.^fPEXDIUM   OF    BIOGRArnr. 


8P 


had  control  of  the  upper  Mississippi.  On 
May  24th  he  commenced  active  operations 
against  that  fort  in  conjunction  with  the  army 
and  it  fell  on  July  9th.  Mr.  Farragut  filled 
the  measure  of  his  fame  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1864.  by  his  great  victory,  the  capture 
of  Mobile  Bay  and  the  destruction  of  the 
Confederate  fleet,  including  the  formidable 
ram  Tennessee.  For  this  victory  the  rank 
of  admiral  was  given  to  Mr.  Farragut.  He 
died  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  Au- 
gust 4,  1870.     

GEORGE  W.  CHILDS,  a  philanthropist 
whose  remarkable  personality  stood 
for  the  best  and  highest  type  of  American 
citizenship,  and  whose  whole  life  was  an 
object  lesson  in  noble  living,  was  born  in 
1829  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  of  humble 
parents,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  unremit- 
ting toil.  He  was  a  self-made  man  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  and  gained  his 
great  wealth  by  his  own  efforts.  He  was  a 
man  of  very  great  influence,  and  this,  in 
conjunction  with  his  wealth,  would  have 
been,  in  the  hands  of  other  men,  a  means  of 
getting  them  political  preferment,  but  Mr. 
Childs  steadily  declined  any  suggestions  that 
would  bring  him  to  figure  prominently  in 
public  affairs.  He  did  not  choose  to  found 
a  financial  dynasty,  but  devoted  all  his 
powers  to  the  helping  of  others,  with  the 
most  enlightened  beneficence  and  broadest 
sympathy.  Mr.  Childs  once  remarked  that 
his  greatest  pleasure  in  life  was  in  doing 
good  to  others.  He  always  despised  mean- 
ness, and  one  of  his  objects  of  life  was  to 
prove  that  a  man  could  be  liberal  and  suc- 
cessful at  the  same  time.  Upon  these  lines 
Mr.  Childs  made  a  name  for  himself  as  the 
director  of  one  of  the  representative  news- 
papers of  America,  "The  Philadelphia  Pub- 
lic   Ledger,"  which    was   owned  jointly  by 


himself  and  the  Dre.xel  estate,  and  which  he 
edited  for  thirty  years.  He  acquired  con- 
trol of  the  paper  at  a  time  when  it  was  be- 
ing published  at  a  heavy  loss,  set  it  upon  a 
firm  basis  of  prosperity,  and  he  made  it 
more  than  a  money-making  machine — he 
made  it  respected  as  an  e.xponent  of  the 
best  side  of  journalism,  and  it  stands  as  a 
monument  to  his  sound  judgment  and  up- 
right business  principles.  Mr.  Childs'  char- 
itable repute  brought  him  many  applications 
for  assistance,  and  he  never  refused  to  help 
any  one  that  was  deserving  of  aid;  and  not 
only  did  he  help  those  who  asked,  but  he 
would  by  careful  inquiry  find  those  who 
needed  aid  but  were  too  proud  to  solicit  it. 
He  was  a  considerable  employer  of  labor 
and  his  liberality  was  almost  unparalleled. 
The  death  of  this  great  and  good  man  oc- 
curred February  3d,  1894. 


PATRICK  HENRY  won  his  way  to  un- 
dying fame  in  the  annals  of  the  early 
history  of  the  United  States  by  introducing 
into  the  house  of  burgesses  his  famous  reso- 
lution against  the  Stamp  Act,  which  he  car- 
ried through,  afj;er  a  stormy  debate,  by  a 
majority  of  one.  At  this  time  he  exclaimed 
"  Caesar  had  his  Brutus,  Charles  I  his  Crom- 
well and  George  HI  "  (here  he  was  inter- 
rupted by  cries  of  "  treason  ")  "  may  profit 
by  their  example.  If  this  be  treason  make 
the  most  of  it." 

Patrick  Henry  was  born  at  Studley, 
Hanover  county,  Virginia,  May  29,  1736, 
and  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Henry,  a 
magistrate  and  school  teacher  of  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  and  a  nephew  of  Robertson,  the 
historian.  He  received  his  education  from 
his  father,  and  was  married  at  the  age  of 
eighteen.  He  was  twice  bankrupted  before 
he  had  reached  his  twenty-fourth  year,  when 
after  six  weeks  of  study  he  was  admitted  to 


CoMJ'EXDirM    OF    Ji/OG HA /'//}-. 


the  bar.  He  worked  for  three  years  with- 
out a  case  and  finally  was  applauded  for  his 
plea  lor  the  f>eoples  rights  and  gained  im- 
mense popularity.  After  his  famous  Stamp 
Act  resolution  he  was  the  leader  of  the  pa- 
triots in  Virginia.  In  1769  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  general  courts  and  speed- 
ily won  a  fortune  by  his  distinguished  ability 
as  a  speaker.  He  was  the  first  speaker  of 
the  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia  in 
1774.  He  was  for  a  time  a  colonel  of 
militia  in  1775.  and  from  1776  to  1779  and 
1781  to  i7S6he  was  governor  of  Virginia. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  retired  from  pub- 
lic life  and  was  tendered  and  declined  a 
number  of  important  political  offices,  and  in 
March,  17S9,  he  was  elected  state  senator 
but  aid  not  take  his  seat  on  account  of  his 
death  which  occurred  at  Red  Hill,  Charlotte 
county,  Virginia,  June  6,   1799. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD,  an  American 
general  and  traitor  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  is  one  of  the  noted  characters  in 
American  history.  He  was  born  in  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut,  January  3,  1740.  He 
ran  away  and  enlisted  in"  the  army  when 
young,  but  deserted  in  a  short  time.  He 
then  became  a  merchant  at  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  but  failed.  In  1775  he  was 
commissioned  colonel  in  the  Massachusetts 
militia,  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  was 
placed  in  command  of  one  thousand  men 
(or  the  invasion  of  Canada.  He  marched 
his  army  through  the  forests  of  Maine  and 
joined  General  Montgomery  before  Quebec. 
Their  combined  forces  attacked  that  city  on 
December  31,  1775,  and  Montgomery  was 
killed,  and  Arnold,  severely  wounded,  was 
compelled  to  retreat  and  endure  a  rigorous 
winter  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  where  they 
were  at  the  mercy  of  the  Canadian  troops 
had  they  cared  to  attack  them.     On  his  re- 


turn he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
:  general.     He  was  given  command  of  a  small 
flotilla  on  Lake  Champlain,  with  which  he 
encountered  an  immense  force,  and  though 
defeated,  performed   many  deeds  of  valor. 
He  resented  the  action  of  congress  in  pro- 
moting a  number  of  his  fellow  officers  and 
neglecting  himself.      In    1777  he  was  made 
j  major-general,  and  under  General  Gates  at 
i  Bemis  Heights  fought  valiantly.      For  some 
1  reason   General  Gates   found  fault  with  his 
I  conduct  and  ordered  him  under  arrest,  and 
j  he  was  kept  in  his  tent   until  the  battle  of 
1  Stillwater   was    waxing  hot,   when   Arnold 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  the  front  of 
his  old  troop,  gave  command  to  charge,  and 
I  rode  like  a  mad   man   into  the  thickest  of 
I  the  fight  and  was   not  overtaken  by  Gates' 
courier  until  he  had  routed   the  enemy  and 
fell  wounded.      Upon  his  recovery  he  was 
made  general,  and  was  placed  in  command 
at  Philadelphia.      Here  he  married,  and  his 
acts  of  rapacity  soon  resulted  in  a  court - 
martial.      He    was   sentenced   to  be   repri- 
manded   by    the    commander-in-chief,    and 
though    Washington    performed    this    duty 
with  utmost  delicacy  and  consideration,  it 
was  never  forgiven.     Arnold  obtained  com- 
mand at  West  Point,  the   most   important 
post  held  by  the  Americans,   in    1780,  and 
immediately  offered  to  surrender  it  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  British  commander  at  New 
York.       Major    Andre  was  sent  to  arrange 
details  with  .■\rnold,  but  on  his  return  trip 
,  to  New  York  he  w.as  captured  by  .Americans, 
the  plot  was  detected,  and  Andre  suffered 
j  the    death   penalty  as  a  spy.      Arnold    es- 
caped, and  was  paid  about  $40,000  by  the 
British  for  his  treason  and  was  made  briga- 
I  dier-general.      He  afterward  commanded  an 
expedition  that  plundered  a  portion  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  another  that  burned   New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  and  captured  Fort  Trum- 


COMPEXniLM   OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


85 


bull,  the  commandant  of  which  Arnold  mur- 
dered with  the  sword  he  had  just  surren- 
dered. He  passed  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
in  England,  universally  despised,  and  died 
in  London  June  14,  1801. 


ROBERT  G.  INGERSOLL,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  orators  that  America  has 
produced,  also  a  lawyer  of  considerable 
merit,  won  most  of  his  fame  as  a  lecturer. 
Mr.  Ingersoll  was  born  Aupust  24,  1833, 
at  Drydeii,  Gates  count}-,  New  York,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  went  west  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  for 
a  short  time  he  attended  an  academy  in 
Tennessee,  and  also  taught  school  in  that 
state.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  in  the 
southern  part  of  Illinois  in  1854.  Colonel 
Ingersoll's  principal  fame  was  made  in 
the  lecture  room  by  his  lectures  in  which  he 
ridiculed  religious  faith  and  creeds  and  criti- 
cised the  Bible  and  the  Christian  religion. 
He  was  the  orator  of  the  day  in  the  Decora- 
tion Day  celebration  in  the  city  of  New  York 
in  1882  and  his  oration  was  widelj'  com- 
mended. He  first  attracted  political  notice 
in  the  convention  at  Cincinnati  in  1876  by 
his  brilliant  eulogy  on  James  G.  Blaine.  He 
practiced  law  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  later  located  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  He  published  the  follow- 
ing: "The  Gods  and  other  Lectures;"  "The 
Ghosts;"  "Some  Mistakes  of  Moses;" 
"What  Shall  I  Do  To  Be  Saved;"  "Inter- 
views on  Talmage  and  Presbyterian  Cate- 
chism ;"  The  "North  American  Review 
Controversy;"  "Prose  Poems;"  "  A  Vision 
of  War;"  etc. 


JOSEPH  ECCLESTON  JOHNSTON, 
a  noted  general  in  the  Confederate  army, 
was  born  in  Prince  Edward  county.  \'irginia, 
in  1S07.      He  graduated   from  West  Point 


and  entered  the  army  in  1829.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  his  chief  service  was  garrison 
duty.  He  saw  active  service,  however,  in 
the  Seminole  war  in  Florida,  part  of  the 
time  as  a  staff  officer  of  General  Scott.  He 
resigned  his  commission  in  1837,  but  re- 
turned to  the  army  a  year  later,  and  was 
brevetted  captain  for  gallant  services  in 
Florida.  He  was  made  first  lieutenant  of 
topographical  engineers,  and  was  engaged 
in  river  and  harbor  improvements  and  also 
in  the  survey  of  the  Te.xas  boundary  and 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  United 
States  until  the  beginning  of  the  war 
with  Mexico.  He  was  at  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  was 
wounded  while  reconnoitering  the  enemy's 
position,  after  which  he  was  brevetted  major 
and  colonel.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  about 
the  city  of  Me.xico,  and  was  again  wounded 
in  the  final  assault  upon  that  city.  After 
the  Mexican  war  closed  he  returned  to  duty 
as  captain  of  topographical  engineers,  but 
in  1855  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
cavalry  and  did  frontier  duty,  and  was  ap- 
pointed inspector-general  of  the  expedition 
to  Utah.  In  i860  he  was  appointed  quar- 
termaster-general with  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  At  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  in 
1 86 1  he  resigned  his  commission  and  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  major-general  of 
the  Confederate  army.  He  held  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  later  fought  General  Patterson 
about  Winchester.  At  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  he  declined  command  in  favor  of  Beau- 
regard, and  acted  under  that  general's  direc- 
tions. He  commanded  the  Confederates  in 
the  famous  Peninsular  campaign,  and  was 
severely  wounded  at  Fair  Oaks  and  was 
succeeded  in  command  by  General  Lee. 
Upon  his  recovery  he  was  made  lieutenant- 
general  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
southwestern  department.      He    attempted 


co.u/'iix/i/r.u  OF  liiOGHArur. 


to  raise  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  and  was 
finally  defeated  at  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
Haviufj  been  made  a  general  he  succeeded 
General  Bragg  in  command  of  the  army  of 
Tennessee  and  was  ordered  to  check  General 
Sherman's  advance  upon  Atlanta.  Not 
daring  to  risk  a  battle  with  the  overwhelm- 
ing forces  of  Sherman,  he  slowly  retreated 
toward  Atlanta,  and  was  relieved  of  com- 
mand by  President  Davis  and  succeeded  by 
General  Hood.  Hood  utterly  destroyed  his 
own  army  by  three  furious  attacks  upon 
Sherman.  Johnston  was  restored  to  com- 
mand in  the  Carolinas,  and  again  faced 
Sherman,  but  was  defeated  in  several  en- 
gagements and  continued  a  slow  retreat 
toward  Richmond.  Hearing  of  Lee's  sur- 
render, he  communicated  with  General 
Sherman,  and  finally  surrendered  his  army 
at  Durham,  North  Carolina,  April  26,  1865. 
General  Johnston  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  forty-si.xth  congress  and  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  railroad  commis- 
sioner in  1885.     His  death  occurred  March 


SAMUEL  LANGHORNE  CLEMENS, 
known  throughout  the  civilized  world 
as  "Makk  Tw.mn,  "  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  greatest  humorists  America  has  pro- 
duced. He  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
Missouri,  November  30,  1835.  Hespenthis 
boyhood  days  in  his  native  state  and  many 
of  his  earlier  experiences  are  related  in  vari- 
ous forms  in  his  later  writings.  One  of  his 
early  acquaintances,  Capt.  Isaiah  Sellers, 
at  an  early  day  furnished  river  news  for  the 
New  Orleans  "  Picayune,"  using  the  nom- 
dc-plume  of  "Mark  Twain."  Sellers  died 
in  1863  and  Clemens  took  up  his  ttom-de- 
plumc  and  made  it  famous  throughout  the 
world  by  his  literary  work.  In  1862  Mr. 
Clemens  became  a  journalist   at   \'irginia. 


Nevada,  and  afterward  followed  the  same  pro- 
fession at  San  Francisco  and  Buffalo,  New 
York.  He  accumulated  a  fortune  from  the 
sale  of  his  many  publications,  but  in  later 
years  engaged  in  business  enterprises,  partic- 
ularly the  manufacture  of  a  typesetting  ma- 
chine, which  dissipated  his  fortune  and  re- 
!  duced  him  almost  to  poverty,  but  with  resolute 
heart  he  at  once  again  took  up  his  pen  and 
engaged  in  literary  work  in  the  effort  to 
I  regain  his  lost  ground.  Among  the  best 
I  known  ofhis  works  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: "The  Jumping  Frog, "  "  Tom  Saw- 
yer," "  Roughing  it,"  "  Innocents  Abroad," 
"Huckleberry  Finn,"  "Gilded  Age," 
"Prince  and  Pauper."  "Million  Pound 
Bank  Note,"  "A  Yankee  in  King  Arthur's 
Court,"  etc. 

CHRISTOPHER  CARSON.  better 
known  as  "Kit  Cakson;  '  was  an  Amer- 
ican trapper  and  scout  who  gained  a  wide 
reputation  for  his  frontier  work.  He  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  born  December  24th, 
1809.  He  grew  to  manhood  there,  devel- 
oping a  natural  inclination  for  adventure  in 
the  pioneer  experiences  in  his  native  state. 
When  yet  a  young  man  he  became  quite 
well  known  on  the  frontier.  He  served  as 
a  guide  to  Gen.  Fremont  in  his  Rocky 
Mountain  explorations  and  enlisted  in  the 
army.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  service  in  both  the  Mexican  war  and 
the  great  Civil  war,  and  in  the  latter  received 
a  brevet  of  brigadier-general  for  meritorious 
service.  His  death  occurred  May  23, 
186S.  

JOHN  SHERMAN.— Statesman,  politi- 
cian, cabinet  officer  and  senator,  the  name 
of  the  gentleman  who  heads  this  sketch  is  al- 
most a  household  word  throughout  this 
country.      Identified  with  some  of  the  most 


COMPEXDILM    OF    BIOGRAPHY 


87 


important  measures  adopted  by  our  Govern- 
ment since  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  he  may 
well  be  called  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his 
day. 

John  Sherman  was  born  at  Lancaster, 
Fairfield  countj%  Ohio,  May  loth,  1S23, 
the  son  of  Charles  R.  Sherman,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  and  judge  of  the  supreme  court 
of  Ohio  and  who  died  in  1 829.  The  subject 
of  this  article  received  an  academic  educa- 
tion and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1844. 
In  the  Whig  conventions  of  1844  and  1848 
he  sat  as  a  delegate.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  National  house  of  representatives, 
from  1S55  to  1S61.  In  i860  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  same  position  but  was  chosen 
United  States  senator  before  he  took  his 
seat  in  the  lower  house.  He  was  re-elected 
senator  in  1866  and  1872  and  was  long 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  finance  and 
on  agriculture.  He  took  a  prominent  part 
in  debates  on  finance  and  on  the  conduct  of 
the  war,  and  was  one  of  the  authors  of  the 
reconstruction  measures  in  1S66  and  1867, 
and  was  appointed  secretary-  of  the  treas- 
ury March  7th,   1S77. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  re-elected  United  States 
senator  from  Ohio  January  i8th,  1881,  and  j 
again  in  1886  and  1892,  during  which  time 
he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  both 
in  the  senate  and  in  the  country.  He  was 
several  times  the  favorite  of  his  state  for  the 
nomination  for  president. 

On  the  formation  of  his  cabinet  in  March, 
1897.  President  McKinley  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  secretary  of  state  to  Mr.  Sherman, 
which  was  accepted. 


WILLI.AM  HENRY  H.ARRISON,  ninth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Charles  county,  Virginia,  February 
9i     1773.    the  son   of    Governor    Benjamin 


Harrison.  He  took  a  course  in  Hampden- 
Sidney  College  with  a  view  to  the  practice 
of  medicine,  and  then  went  to  Philadelphia 
to  study  under  Dr.  Rush,  but  in  1791  he 
entered  the  army,  and  obtained  the  commis- 
sion of  ensign,  was  soon  promoted  to  the 
lieutenancy,  and  was  with  General  Wayne 
in  his  war  against  the  Indians.  For  his 
valuable  service  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  captain  and  given  command  of  Fort 
Washington,  now  Cincinnati.  He  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  the  Northwest  Territory 
in  I79i",  and  in  1799  became  its  representa- 
tive in  congress.  In  iSoi  he  was  appointed 
governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  and  held  the 
position  for  twelve  years,  during  which  time 
he  negotiated  important  treaties  with  the  In- 
dians, causing  them  to  relinquish  millions  of 
acres  of  land,  and  also  won  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  in  181 1.  He  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  change  in  the  law  which  did  not 
permit  purchase  of  public  lands  in  less  tracts 
than  four  thousand  acres,  reducing  the  limit 
to  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He 
became  major-general  of  Kentucky  militia 
and  brigadier-general  in  the  United  States 
army  in  18 12,  and  won  great  renown  in 
the  defense  of  Fort  Meigs,  and  his  victory 
over  the  British  and  Indians  under  Proctor 
and  Tecumseh  at  the  Thames  river,  October 
5.  1813. 

In  1 8 16  General  Harrison  was  elected  to 
congress  from  Ohio,  and  during  the  canvass 
was  accused  of  corrupt  methods  in  regard  to 
the  commissariat  of  the  army.  He  demanded 
an  investigation  after  the  election  and  was 
exonerated.  In  18 19  he  was  elected  to 
the  Ohio  state  senate,  and  in  1824  he  gave 
his  vote  as  a  presidential  elector  to  Henry 
Clay.  He  became  a  member  of  the  United 
States  senate  the  same  year.  During  the 
last  year  of  Adams'  administration  he  was 
sent  as  minister  to  Colombia,    but  was  re- 


COMrEXDIl  M   OF   HUH, HAP HV 


called  by  President  Jackson  the  following  ] 
year.  He  then  retired  to  his  estate  at  North  I 
Bend,  Ohio, a  few  miles  below  Cincinnati.  In  \ 
1836  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  presidency, 
but  as  there  were  three  other  candidates 
the  votes  were  divided,  he  receiving  seventy- 
three  electoral  votes,  a  majority  going  to 
Mr.  Van  Buren,  the  Democratic  candidate. 
Four  years  later  General  Harrison  was  again 
nominated  by  the  Whigs,  and  elected  by  a 
tremendous  majority.  The  campaign  was 
noted  for  its  novel  features,  many  of  which 
have  found  a  permanent  place  in  subsequent 
campaigns.  Those  peculiar  to  that  cam- 
paign, however,  were  the  "  log-cabin  "  and 
"  hard  cider"  watchwords,  which  produced 
great  enthusiasm  among  his  followers.  One 
month  after  his  inauguration  he  died  from 
an  attack  of  pleurisy,  April  4,  1841. 


which  he  made  one  of  the  leaders  of  thought 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States. 
He  wielded  a  forceful  pen  and  fearlessly 
attacked  whatever  was  corrupt  and  unworthy 
in  politics,  state  or  national.  The  same 
year,  1867.  Mr.  Dana  organized  the  New 
York  "Sun  "  Company. 

During  the  troublous  days  of  the  war, 
when  the  fate  of  the  Nation  depended  upon 
the  armies  in  the  field,  Mr.  Dana  accepted 
the  arduous  and  responsible  position  of 
assistant  secretary  of  war.  and  held  the 
position  during  the  greater  part  of  1863 
and  1864.      He  died  October  17,  1897. 


CHARLES  A.  DANA,  the  well-known 
and  widely-read  journalist  of  New  York 
City,  a  native  of  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire, 
was  born  August  8,  18 19.  He  received 
the  elements  of  a  good  education  in  his 
youth  and  studied  for  two  years  at  Harvard 
University.  Owing  to  some  disease  of  the 
eyes  he  was  unable  to  complete  his  course  j 
and  graduate,  but  was  granted  the  degree  of  ] 
A.  M.  notwithstanding.  For  some  time  he 
was  editor  of  the  "  Harbinger,"  and  was  a 
regular  contributor  to  the  Boston  "  Chrono- 
type."  In  1847  he  became  connected  with 
the  New  York  "  Tribune, "and  continued  on 
the  staff  of  that  journal  until  1858.  In  the 
latter  year  he  edited  and  compiled  "The 
Household  Book  of  Poetry,"  and  later,  in 
connection  with  George  Ripley,  edited  the 
"New  American  Cyclopaedia." 

Mr.  Dana,  on  severing  his  connection 
with  the  "Tribune"  in  1867,  became  editor 
of  the  New  York  "Sun,"  a  paper  with 
which  he  was  identified  for  many  years,  and 


AS.\  GRAY  was  recognized  throughout  the 
Scientific  world  as  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  eminent  of  botanists.  He  was 
born  at  Paris,  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
November  18,  18 10.  He  received  his  medi- 
cal degree  at  the  Fairfield  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  in  Herkimer  county. 
New  York,  and  studied  botany  with  the  late 
Professor  Torrey,  of  New  York.  He  was 
appointed  botanist  to  the  Wilkes  expedition 
in  1834,  but  declined  the  offer  and  became 
professor  of  natural  history  in  Harvard  Uni- 
versity in  1842.  He  retired  from  the  active 
duties  of  this  post  in  1873,  and  in  1874  he 
was  the  regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institu- 
tion at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 
Dr.  Gray  wrote  several  books  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  many  sciences  of  which  he  was 
master.  In  1836  he  published  his  "  Ele- 
ments of  Botany,"  "Manual  of  Botany"  in 
1848;  the  unfinished  "Flora  of  North 
America,"  by  himself  and  Dr.  Torrey,  the 
publication  of  which  commenced  in  1838. 
There  is  another  of  his  unfinished  works 
called  "Genera  Boreali-Americana,"  pub- 
lished in  1848,  and  the  "Botany  of  the 
United  States  Pacific  E.xploring  Expedition 
in  1S54."     He  wrote  many  elaborate  papers 


COMPEXDirM   OF    BIOGRAPlir. 


89 


on  the  botany  of  the  west  and  southwest 
that  were  published  in  the  Smithsonian  Con- 
tributions, Memoirs,  etc.,  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  of  which  in- 
stitution he  was  president  for  ten  years. 
Me  was  also  the  author  of  many  of  the 
government  reports.  "  How  Plants  Grow," 
"Lessons  in  Botany,"  "  Structural  and  Sys- 
tematic Botany,"  are  also  works  from  his 
leady  pen. 

Dr.  Gray  published  in  1861  his  "Free 
Examination  of  Darwin's  Treatise  "  and  his 
"  Darwiniana,"  in  1876.  Mr.  Gray  was 
elected  July  29,  1878,  to  a  membership  in 
the  Institute  of  France,  Academy  of  Sciences. 
His  death  occurred  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  30,   1889. 


WILLIAM  MAXWELL  EVARTS  was 
one  of  the  greatest  leaders  of  the 
American  bar.  He  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  February  6,  1818,  and  grad- 
uated from  Yale  College  in  1837.  He  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  which  he  practiced  in 
the  city  of  New  York  and  won  great  renown 
as  an  orator  and  advocate.  He  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  which  he  joined 
soon  after  its  organization.  He  was  the 
leading  counsel  employed  for  the  defense  of 
■-.esident  Johnson  in  his  trial  for  impeach- 
..^ent  before  the  senate  in  April  and  May  of 
1868. 

In  July,  1868,  Mr.  Evarts  was  appointed 
attorney-general  of  the  United  States,  and 
served  until  March  4,  1869.  He  was  one 
of  the  three  lawyers  who  were  selected  by 
President  Grant  in  1871  to  defend  the  inter- 
ests of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  be- 
fore the  tribunal  of  arbitration  which  met 
at  Geneva  in  Switzerland  to  settle  the  con- 
troversy over  the  "  Alabama  Claims." 

He  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  advo- 
cates in  the  United  States,  and  many  of  his 


public  addresses  have  been  preserved  and 
published.  He  was  appointed  secretary  of 
state  March  7,  1877,  by  President  Hayes, 
and  served  during  the  Hayes  administration. 
He  was  elected  senator  from  the  state  of 
New  York  January  21,  1885,  and  at  once 
took  rank  among  the  ablest  statesmen  in 
Congress,  and  the  prominent  part  he  took 
in  the  discussion  of  public  questions  gave 
him  a  national  reputation. 


JOHN  WANAMAKER.— The  life  of  this 
<J  great  merchant  demonstrates  the  fact 
that  the  great  secret  of  rising  from  the  ranks 
is,  to-day,  as  in  the  past  ages,  not  so  much  the 
ability  to  make  money,  as  to  save  it,  or  in 
other  words,  the  ability  to  live  well  within 
one's  income.  Mr.  Wanamaker  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  in  1838.  He  started  out  in 
life  working  in  a  brickyard  for  a  mere  pit- 
tance, and  left  that  position  to  work  in  a 
book  store  as  a  clerk,  where  he  earned 
the  sum  of  $5.00  per  month,  and  later  on 
was  in  the  employ  of  a  clothier  where  he 
received  twenty-five  cents  a  week  more. 
He  was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  at  that 
time,  but  was  a  "  money -getter  "  by  instinct, 
and  laid  by  a  small  sum  for  a  possible  rainy 
day.  By  strict  attention  to  business,  com- 
bined with  natural  ability,  he  was  promoted 
many  times,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he 
had  saved  $2,000.  After  several  months 
vacation  in  the  south,  he  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia and  became  a  master  brick  mason, 
but  this  was  too  tiresome  to  the  young  man, 
and  he  opened  up  the  "  Oak  Hall  "  clothing 
store  in  April,  1861,  at  Philadelphia.  The 
capital  of  the  firm  was  rather  limited,  but 
finally,  after  many  discouragements,  they 
laid  the  foundations  of  one  of  the  largest 
business  houses  in  the  world.  The  estab- 
lishment covers  at  the  present  writing  sorr" 
fourteen  acres  of  floor  space,  and   furnishes 


w 


co.\//'E\/)/r.\/  or  JuoGRAi'in: 


employment  for  five  thousand  persons.  Mr. 
Wanamaker  was  also  a  great  church  worker, 
and  built  a  church  that  cost  him  $60,000, 
and  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  had  a  membership  of  over 
three  thousand  children.  He  steadily  re- 
fused to  run  for  mayor  or  congress  and  the 
only  public  office  that  he  ever  held  was  that 
of  postmaster-general,  under  the  Harrison 
administration,  and  here  he  exhibited  his 
extraordinary  aptitude  for  comprehending 
the  details  of  public  business. 


DAVID  BENNETT  HILL,  a  Demo- 
cratic politician  who  gained  a  na- 
tional reputation,  was  born  August  29, 
1843,  at  Havana,  New  York.  He  was 
educated  at  the  academy  of  his  native  town, 
and  removed  to  Elmira,  New  York,  in  1862, 
v\here  he  studied  law.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1864,  in  which  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  attorney.  Mr.  Hill  soon  gained 
a  considerable  practice,  becoming  prominent 
in  his  profession.  He  developed  a  taste  for 
politics  in  which  he  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  different  campaigns  and  became 
the  recognized  leader  of  the  local  Democ- 
racy. In  1870  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  assembly  and  was  re-elected  in  1872. 
While  a  member  of  this  assembly  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  after- 
ward governor  of  the  state,  who  appointed 
Mr.  Hill,  W.  M.  Evarts  and  Judge  Hand 
as  a  committee  to  provide  a  uniform  charter 
for  the  different  cities  of  tlve  state.  The 
pressure  of  professional  engagements  com- 
pelled him  to  decline  to  serve.  In  1877 
Mr.  Hill  was  made  chairman  of  the  Demo- 
cratic state  convention  at  Albany,  his  elec- 
tion being  due  to  the  Tilden  wing  of  the 
party,  anu  he  hc'l  the  :;ame  position  again 
in  1 88 1.  He  served  one  term  as  alderman 
.n  Elmira,  at  the  expiration  of  which  term, 


in  1882,  be  was  elected  mayor  of  Elmira, 
and  in  September  of  the  same  year  was 
nominated  for  lieutenant-governor  on  the 
Democratic  state  ticket.  He  was  success- 
ful in  the  campaign  and  two  years  later, 
when  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  to  the 
presidency,  Mr.  Hill  succeeded  to  the  gov- 
ernorship for  the  unexpired  term.  In  1885 
he  was  elected  governor  for  a  full  term  of 
three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  was  re- 
elected, his  term  expiring  in  1891,  in  which 
year  he  was  elected  United  States  senator. 
In  the  senate  he  became  a  conspicuous 
figure  and  gained  a  national  reputation. 


ALLEN  G.  THUR.MAN.—"  The  noblest 
Roman  of  them  all "  was  the  title  by 
which  Mr.  Thurman  was  called  by  his  com- 
patriots of  the  Democracy.  He  was  the 
greatest  leader  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
his  day  and  held  the  esteem  of  all  the 
people,  regardless  of  their  political  creeds. 
Mr.  Thurman  was  born  November  13,  1813, 
at  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  where  he  remained 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  six  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Ohio.  He  received  an 
academic  education  and  after  graduating, 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835,  and  achieved  a  brilliant 
success  in  that  line.  In  political  life  he  was 
very  successful,  and  his  first  office  was  that 
of  representative  of  the  state  of  Ohio  in  the 
twenty-ninth  congress.  He  was  elected 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio  in  1851, 
and  was  chief  justice  of  the  same  from  1854 
to  1856.  In  1867  he  was  the  choice  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  his  state  for  governor, 
and  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
in  1869  to  succeed  Benjamin  F.  Wade, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in 
18/4.  He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  th<; 
senate,  until  the  expiration  of  his  service  i  1 
1881.      Mr.  Thurman   was  also    one  of  the 


COMPEXDILM   OF    BIOGRAPJIT. 


91 


principal  presidental  possibilities  in  the 
Democratic  convention  held  at  St.  Louis  in 
1876.  In  1888  he  was  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  vice-president  on  the  ticket 
with  Grover  Cleveland,  but  was  defeated. 
Allen  Cranberry  Thurman  died  December 
12,  1S95,  ^t  Columbus,  Ohio. 


CHARLES  FARRAR  BROWNE,  better 
known  as  "  Artemus  Ward,"  was  born 
April  26,  1834,  in  the  village  of  Waterford, 
Maine.  He  was  thirteen  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  about  a  year 
later  he  was  apprenticed  to  John  M.  Rix, 
who  published  the  "Coos  County  Dem- 
ocrat "  at  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire.  Mr. 
Browne  remained  with  him  one  year,  when, 
hearing  that  his  brother  Cyrus  was  starting 
a  paper  at  Norway,  Maine,  he  left  Mr.  Rix 
and  determined  to  get  work  on  the  new 
paper.  He  worked  for  his  brother  until  the 
failure  of  the  newspaper,  and  then  went  to 
Augusta,  Maine,  where  he  remained  a  few 
weeks  and  then  removed  to  Skowhegan, 
and  secured  a  position  on  the  "Clarion." 
But  either  the  climate  or  the  work  was  not 
satisfactory  to  him,  for  one  night  he  silently 
left  the  town  and  astonished  his  good  mother 
by  appearing  unexpectedly  at  home.  Mr. 
Browne  then  received  some  letters  of  recom- 
mendation to  Messrs.  Snow  and  Wilder,  of 
Boston,  at  whose  office  Mrs.  Partington's 
(B.  P.  Shillaber)  "  Carpet  Bag  "was  printed, 
and  he  was  engaged  and  remained  there  for 
three  years.  He  then  traveled  westward  in 
search  of  employment  and  got  as  far  as  Tif- 
fin, Ohio,  where  he  found  employment  in  the 
office  of  the  "Advertiser,"  and  remained 
there  some  months  when  he  proceeded  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  became  one  of  the 
staff  of  the  "Commercial,"  which  position 
he  held  until  1857.  Mr.  Browne  next  went 
V.I  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and   became  the  local 


editor  of  the  "Plain  Dealer,"  and  it  was  in 
the  columns  of  this  paper  that  he  published 
his  first  articles  and  signed  them  "Artemus 
Ward. "  In  1 860  he  went  to  New  York  and 
became  the  editor  of  "  Vanity  Fair,"  but 
the  idea  of  lecturing  here  seized  him,  and  he 
was  fully  determined  to  make  the  trial. 
Mr.  Browne  brought  out  his  lecture,  "Babes 
in  the  Woods  "at  Clinton  Hall,  December 
23,  1861,  and  in  1862  he  published  his  first 
book  entitled,  "Artemus  Ward;  His  Book." 
He  attained  great  fame  as  a  lecturer  and  his 
lectures  were  not  confined  to  America,  for 
he  went  to  England  in  1866,  and  became 
exceedingly  popular,  both  as  a  lecturer  and 
a  contributor  to  "Punch."  Mr.  Browne 
lectured  for  the  last  time  January  23,  1867. 
He  died  in  Southampton,  England,  March 
6,    1867. 

THURLOW  WEED,  a  noted  journalist 
and  politician,  was  bora  in  Cairo,  New 
York.  November  15,  1797.  He  learned  the 
printer's  trade  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
and  worked  at  this  calling  for  several  years 
in  various  villages  in  centra!  New  York.  He 
served  as  quartermaster-sergeant  during  the 
war  of  1812.  In  18 18  he  established  the 
"Agriculturist,"  at  Norwich,  New  York, 
and  became  editor  of  the  "Anti-Masonic 
Enquirer,"  at  Rochester,  in  1826.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
and  re-elected  in  1830,  when  he  located  in 
Albany.  New  York,  and  there  started  the 
"  Evening  Journal,"  and  conducted  it  in  op- 
position to  the  Jackson  administration  and 
the  nullification  doctrines  of  Calhoun.  Hj 
became  an  adroit  party  manager,  and  was 
instrumental  in  promoting  the  nominations 
of  Harrison,  Taylor  and  Scott  for  the  pres- 
idency. In  1856  and  in  i860  he  threw  his 
support  to  W.  H.  Seward,  but  when  defeat- 
ed in  his  object,  he  gave  cordial  support  to 


COMPENDIUM   OF   JiJOGRAPHr. 


l-rciiioi,t  anil  l-iiicoln.  Mr.  Lincoln  pre- 
vr'lut'  upon  him  lo  visit  the  various  capitals 
of  Europe,  where  he  proved  a  valuable  aid 
tc  the  administration  in  moulding  the  opin- 
ions of  the  statesmen  of  that  continent 
favorable  to  the  cause  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Weed's  connection  with  the  "Even- 
ing Journal  "  was  severed  in  1862,  when  he 
settled  in  New  York,  and  for  a  time  edited 
the  "  Commercial  Advertiser."  In  1868  he 
retired  from  active  life.  His  "  Letters  from 
Europe  and  the  West  Indies,"  published  in 
1866,  together  with  some  interesting  "  Rem- 
iniscences," published  in  the  "Atlantic 
Monthly."  in  1870.  an  autobiography,  and 
portions  of  an  extensive  correspondence  will 
be  of  great  value  to  writers  of  the  political 
history  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Weed 
died  in  New  York,  November  22,   1882. 


W!LLI.\M  COLLINS  WHITNEY, 
one  of  the  prominent  Democratic 
politicians  of  the  country  and  e.x -secretary  of 
the  navy,  was  born  July  5th,  1841,  at  Con- 
way, Massachusetts,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  Williston  Seminary,  East  Hamp- 
ton, Massachusetts.  Later  he  attended 
Yale  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1863. 
and  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School,  which 
he  left  in  18O4.  Beginning  practice  in  New 
York  city,  he  soon  gained  a  reputation  as 
an  able  lawyer.  He  made  his  first  appear- 
ance in  public  affairs  in  1871,  when  he  was 
active  in  organizing  a  young  men's  Demo- 
cratic club.  In  1872  he  was  the  recognized 
leader  of  the  county  Democracy  and  in  1875 
was  appointed  corporation  counsel  for  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  resigned  the  office, 
1882,  to  attend  to  personal  interests  and  on 
March  5,  1885,  he  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  navy  by  President  Cleveland.  Under 
his  administration  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  rapidly  rose  in  rank  among  the  navies 


of  the  world.  When  he  retired  from  office 
in  1889.  the  vessels  of  the  United  States 
navy  designed  and  contracted  for  by  him 
were  five  double-turreted  monitors,  two 
new  armor-clads,  the  dynamite  cruiser  "Ve- 
suvius.''  and  live  unarmored  steel  and  iron 
cruisers. 

Mr.  Whitney  was  the  leader  of  the 
Cleveland  forces  in  the  national  Democratic 
convention   of   1892. 


EDWIN  FORREST,  the  first  and  great- 
est American  tragedian,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  in  1806.  His  father  was  a 
tradesman,  and  some  accounts  state  that  he 
had  marked  out  a  mercantile  career  for  his 
son,  Edwin,  while  others  claim  that  he  had 
intended  him  for  the  ministry.  His  wonder- 
ful memory,  his  powers  of  mimicry  and  his 
strong  musical  voice,  however,  attracted  at- 
tention before  he  was  eleven  years  old,  and 
at  that  age  he  made  his  first  appearance  on 
the  stage.  The  costume  in  which  heappeared 
was  so  ridiculous  that  he  left  the  stage  in  a 
tit  of  anger  amid  a  roar  of  laughter  from 
the  audience.  This  did  not  discourage  him. 
however,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  after 
some  preliminary  training  in  elocution,  he 
appeared  again,  this  time  as  Young  Norvel, 
and  gave  indications  of  future  greatness. 
Up  to  1S26  he  played  entirely  with  strolling 
companies  through  the  south  and  west,  but 
at  that  time  he  obtained  an  engagement  at 
the  Bowery  Theater  in  New  York.  From 
that  time  his  fortune  was  made.  His  man- 
ager paid  him  $40  per  night,  and  it  is  stated 
that  he  loaned  Forrest  to  other  houses  from 
time  to  time  at  $200  per  night.  His  great 
successes  were  \irginius,  Damon,  Othello. 
Coriolanus,  William  Tell,  Spartacus  and 
Lear.  He  made  his  first  appearance  in 
London  in  1836,  and  his  success  was  un- 
questioned from  the  start.      In  1845,  on  b  > 


COMPEXDIi'M   OF    B/OG/iAP//)'. 


second  appearance  in  London,  he  became 
involved  in  a  bitter  rivalry  with  the  great 
English  actor.  Macread}',  who  had  visited- 
America  two  years  before.  The  result  was 
that  Forrest  was  hissed  from  the  stage,  and 
it  was  charged  that  Macreadj-  had  instigated 
the  plot.  Forrest's  resentment  was  so  bitter 
that  he  himself  openly  hissed  Macready 
from  his  bo.K  a  few  nights  later.  In  1 848 
Macready  again  visited  America  at  a  time 
when  American  admiration  and  enthusiasm 
for  Forrest  had  reached  its  height.  Macready 
undertook  to  play  at  Astor  Place  Opera 
House  in  May,  1 849,  but  was  hooted  off  the 
stage.  A  few  nights  later  Macready  made  a 
second  attempt  to  play  at  the  same  house, 
this  time  under  police  protection.  The  house 
was  filled  with  Macready 's  friends,  but  the  vio- 
olence  of  the  mob  outside  stopped  the  play, 
and  the  actor  barely  escaped  with  his  life. 
Upon  reading  the  riot  act  the  police  and 
troops  were  assaulted  with  stones.  The 
troops  replied,  first  with  blank  cartridges, 
and  then  a  volley  of  lead  dispersed  the 
mob,  leaving  thirty  men  dead  or  seriously 
wounded. 

After  this  incident  Forrest's  popularity 
waned,  until  in  1855  he  retired  from  the 
stage.  He  re-appeared  in  i860,  however, 
and  probably  the  most  remunerative  period 
of  his  life  was  between  that  date  and  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war.  His  last  appearance 
on  the  stage  was  at  the  Globe  Theatre, 
Boston,  in  Richelieu,  in  April,  1S72,  his 
death   occurring  December  1 2  of  that  year. 


NOAH  PORTER,  D.  D..  LL.  D..  was 
one  of  the  most  noted  educators,  au- 
thors and  scientific  writers  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  born  December  14,  181 1, 
at  Farmington,  Connecticut,  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1S31,  and  was  master  of 
Hopkins  Grammar  School  at  New  Haven  in 


1831-33.  During  1833-35  he  was  a  tutor 
at  Yale,  and  at  the  same  time  was  pursuing 
his  theological  studies,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  New  Mil- 
ford,  Connecticut,  in  April,  1836.  Dr. 
Porter  removed  to  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1843,  ^nd  was  chosen  professor  of 
metaphysics  and  moral  philosophy  at  Yale 
in  1846.  He  spent  a  year  in  Germany  in 
the  study  of  modern  metaphysics  in  1853- 
54,  and  in  1871  he  was  elected  president  of 
Yale  College.  He  resigned  the  presidency 
in  18S5,  but  still  remained  professor  of  met- 
aphysics and  moral  philosophy.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  number  of  works,  among 
which  are  the  following:  "Historical  Es- 
say," written  in  commemorationof  the  200th 
aniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  of 
Farmington;  •'  Educational  System  of  the 
Jesuits  Compared;"  "The  Human  Intel- 
lect," with  an  introduction  upon  psychology 
and  the  soul;  "  Books  and  Reading;" 
"American  Colleges  and  the  American  Pub- 
lic;" "  Elementsof  Intellectual  Philosophy;" 
"The  Science  of  Nature  versus  the  Science 
of  Man;"  "Science  and  Sentiment;"  "Ele- 
ments of  Moral  Science."  Dr.  Porter  was 
the  principal  editor  of  the  revised  edition  of 
Webster's  Dictionary  in  1864,  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  religious  reviews  and 
periodicals.  Dr.  Porter's  death  occurred 
March  4,  1892,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 


JOHN  TYLER,  tenth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Charles  City 
county,  Virginia,  March  29,  1790,  and  was 
the  son  of  Judge  John  Tyler,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  his  day. 

When  but  twelve  years  of  age  young 
John  Tyler  entered  William  and  Mary  Col- 
lege, graduating  from  there  in  1806.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1809,  when  but  nineteen  years 


co.yi'E.snnM  oi-  juocuAi-iir. 


of  age.  On  attaining  his  majority  in  1811 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature, and  for  five  years  held  that  position 
by  the  almost  unanimous  vole  of  his  county. 
He  was  elected  to  congress  in  18 16.  and 
ser\'ed  in  that  body  for  four  years,  after 
which  for  two  years  he  represented  his  dis- 
trict again  in  the  legislature  of  the  state. 
While  in  congress,  he  opposed  the  United 
States  bank,  the  protective  policy  and  in- 
ternal improvements  by  the  United  States 
government.  1825  saw  Mr.  Tyler  governor 
of  Virginia,  but  in  1827  he  was  chosen 
membei  of  the  United  States  senate,  and 
held  that  office  for  nine  years.  He  therein 
opposed  the  administration  of  Adams  and 
the  tariff  bill  of  1828,  sympathized  with  the 
nullif-ers  of  South  Carolina  and  was  the 
only  senator  who  voted  against  the  Force 
bill  lor  the  suppression  of  that  state's  insip- 
ient  rebellion.  He  resigned  his  position  as 
senator  on  account  of  a  disagreement  with 
the  legislature  of  his  state  in  relation  to  his 
censuring  President  Jackson.  He  retired  to 
Williamsburg,  Virginia,  but  being  regarded 
as  a  martyr  by  the  Whigs,  whom,  hereto- 
fore, he  had  always  opposed,  was  supported 
by  many  of  that  party  for  the  vice- presi- 
dency in  1836.  He  sat  in  the  Virginia  leg- 
islature as  a  Whig  in  1839-40,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  of  that  party  in 
i8;9.  This  national  convention  nominated 
him  for  the  second  place  on  the  ticket  with 
General  William  H.  H.  Harrison,  and  he 
was  elected  vice-president  in  November, 
1 840.  President  Harrison  dying  one  month 
after  his  inauguration,  he  was  succeeded  by 
John  Tyler.  He  retained  the  cabinet  chosen 
by  his  predecessor,  and  for  a  time  moved  in 
harmony  with  the  Whig  party.  He  finally 
instructed  the  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
Thomas  Ewing,  to  submit  to  congress  a  bill 
for  the  incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the 


United  States,  which  was  passed  by  con- 
I  gress,  but  vetoed  by  the  president  on  ac- 
I  count  of  some  amendments  he  considered 
i  unconstitutional,  p'or  this  and  other  meas- 
ures he  was  accused  of  treachery  to  his 
party,  and  deserted  by  his  whole  cabinet, 
except  Daniel  Webs'  er.  Things  grew  worse 
until  he  was  abandoned  by  the  Whig  party 
formally,  when  Mr.  Webster  resigned.  He 
was  nominated  at  Baltimore,  in  May,  1844, 
at  the  Democratic  convention,  as  their  pres- 
i  idential  candidate,  but  withdrew  from  the 
canvass,  as  he  saw  he  had  not  succeed- 
ed in  gaining  the  confidence  of  his  old 
party.  He  then  retired  from  politics  until 
February,  1861,  when  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  abortive  peace  congress,  which 
met  in  Washington.  He  shortly  after  re- 
nounced his  allegiance  to  the  United  States 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Confeder- 
ate congress.  He  died  at  Richmond,  Janu- 
ary 17.   1862. 

Mr.  Tyler  married,  in  18 13,  Miss  Letitia 
Christian,  who  died  in  1842  at  Washington. 
June  26.  1844,  he  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage, with  Miss  Julia  Gardner,  of  New  York. 


COLLIS  POTTER  HUNTINGTON, 
one  of  the  great  men  of  his  time  and 
who  has  left  his  impress  upon  the  history  of 
our  national  development,  was  born  October 
22,  1821,  at  Harwinton,  Connecticut. 
He  received  a  common-school  education 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  his  spirit  of  get- 
ting along  in  the  world  mastered  his  educa- 
tional propensities  and  his  father's  objcc- 
j  tions  and  he  left  school.  He  went  to  Cali- 
!  fornia  in  the  early  days  and  had  opportunities 
which  he  handled  masterfully.  Others  had 
the  same  opportunities  but  they  did  not  have 
his  brains  nor  his  energy,  and  it  was  he  who 
overcame  obstacles  and  reaped  the  reward 
of    his   genius.      TranscontiiuMital     railways 


COMT'EXniLWr   OF    JUOGRAPUr 


95 


were  inevitable,  but  the  realization  of  this 
masterful  achievement  would  have  been  de- 
layed to  a  much  later  daj'  if  there  had  been 
no  Huntington.  He  associated  himself  with 
Messrs.  Mark  Hopkins,  Leland  Stanford, 
and  Charles  Crocker,  and  they  furnished  the 
money  necessary  for  a  survey  across  the 
Sierra  Nevadas,  secured  a  charter  for  the 
road,  and  raised,  with  the  government's  aid, 
money  enough  to  construct  and  equip  that 
railway,  which  at  the  time  of  its  completion 
was  a  marvel  of  engineering  and  one  of  the 
wonders  of  the  world,  ^fr.  Huntington  be- 
came president  of  the  Southern  Pacific  rail- 
road, vice-president  of  the  Central  Pacific; 
trustee  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Telegraph 
Company,  and  a  director  of  the  Occidental 
and  Oriental  Steamship  Compan\-,  besides 
being  identified  with  many  other  business 
enterprises  of  vast  importance. 


j  brevet  major-general"  for  gallant  conduct 
j  during  the  engagement.  General  Custer 
I  was  in  command  of  a  cavalry  division  in  the 
pursuit  of  Lee's  army  in  1865,  and  fought 
at  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  Five  Forks, 
where  he  was  made  brevet  brigadier-general ; 
Sailors  Creek  and  Appomattox,  where  he 
gained  additional  honors  and  was  made 
brevet  major-general,  and  was  given  the 
command  of  the  cavalry  in  the  military 
division  of  the  southwest  and  Gulf,  in  1865. 
After  the  establishment  of  peace  he  went 
west  on  frontier  duty  and  performed  gallant 
and  valuable  service  in  the  troubles  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  killed  in  the  massacre  on 
the  Little  Big  Horn  river.  South  Dakota, 
June  25,   1876. 


GEORGE  A.  CUSTER,  a  famous  In- 
dian fighter,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1840. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1861,  an- 
served  in  the  Civil  war;  was  at  Bull  Run  id 
1861,  and  was  in  the  Peninsular  campaign, 
being  one  of  General  McClellan's  aides-de, 
camp.  He  fought  in  the  battles  of  South 
Mountain  and  Antietam  in  1863,  and  was 
with  General  Stoneman  on  his  famous 
cavalry  raid.  He  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  and  was  there  made  brevet- 
major.  In  1863  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers.  General  Custer  was 
in  many  skirmishes  in  central  Virginia  in 
1863-64,  and  was  present  at  the  following 
battles  of  the  Richmond  campaign:  Wil- 
derness,Todd'sTavern,  Yellow  Tavern,  where 
hewasbrevetted lieutenant-colonel;  Meadow 
Bridge,  Haw's  Shop,  Cold  Harbor,  Trevil- 
lian  Station.  In  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
1 864-65  he  was  brevetted  colonel  at  Opequan 
Creek,  and  at   Cedar  Creek   he   was    made 


DANIEL  WOLSEY  VOORHEES,  cel- 
brated  as  "  The  Tall  Sycamore  of  the 
Wabash,"  was  born  September  26,  1827, 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio.  When  he  was  two 
months  old  his  parents  removed  to  Fount- 
ain county,  Indiana.  He  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  farm,  engaged  in  all  the  arduous  work 
pertaining  to  rural  life.  In  1845  he  entered 
the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  now  the  De 
Pauw,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1849. 
He  took  up  the  study  of  law  at  Crawfords- 
ville,  and  in  1S51  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Covington,  Fountain  county, 
Indiana.  He  became  a  law  partner  of 
United  States  Senator  Hannegan,  of  Indi- 
ana, in  1852,  and  in  1856  he  was  an  unsuc- 
cessful candidate  for  congress.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana.  He  was  United  States 
district  attorney  for  Indiana  from  1857  until 
1 86 1,  and  he  had  during  this  period  been 
elected  to  congress,  in  i860.  Mr.  Voorhees 
was  re-elected  to  congress  in  1 862  and  1 864, 
but  he  was  unsuccessful  in  the  election  of 
1866.     However,  he  was  returned  to  con- 


coMPHxnii'M  OF  imHiiiAPiir. 


gfress  in  1868,  where  he  remained  until  1874, 
having  been  re-elected  twice.  In  1877  he 
was  appointed  United  States  senator  from 
Indiana  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  O.  P.  Morton,  and  at  the  end  of  the  term 
was  elected  for  the  ensuing  term,  being  re- 
elected in  1885  and  in  1891  to  the  same  of- 
fice. He  served  with  distinction  on  many 
of  the  committees,  and  took  a  very  prom- 
inent part  in  the  discussion  of  all  the  im- 
portant legislation  of  his  time.  His  death 
occurred  in  August,  189  . 


ALEXANDER  GRAHAM  BELL,  fa- 
mous as  one  of  the  inventors  of  the  tele- 
phone, was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
March  3rd.  1847.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  high  school  and  later  he 
attended  the  university,  and  was  specially 
trained  to  follow  his  grandfather's  profes- 
sion, that  of  removing  impediments  of 
speech.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1872.  and  introduced  into  this  country 
his  father's  invention  of  visible  speech  in  the 
institutions  for  deaf-mutes.  Later  he  was 
appointed  professor  of  vocal  physiology  in 
the  Boston  University.  He  worked  for 
many  years  during  his  leisure  hours  on  his 
telephonic  discovery,  and  finally  perfected 
it  and  exhibited  it  publicly,  before  it  had 
reached  the  high  state  of  perfection  to  which 
he  brought  it.  His  first  exhibition  of  it  was 
at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  that  was  held 
in  Philadelphia  in  1S76.  Its  success  is  now 
established  throughout  the  civilized  world. 
In  1882  Prof.  Bell  received  a  diploma  and 
the  decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  from 
the  Academy  of  Sciences  of  France. 


WIM.IAM  HICKLING  PKESCOTT, 
the  justly  celebrated  historian  and 
author,  was  a  native  of  Salem,  Massachu- 
setts, and  was  born  May  4,  1796.      He  was 


the  son  of  Judge  William  Prescott  and  the 
grandson  of  the  hero  of  Bunker  Hill.  Colonel 
William  Prescott. 

Our  subject  in  1808  removed  with  the 
family  to  Boston,  in  the  schools  of  which 
city  he  received  his  early  education.  He 
entered  Harvard  College  as  a  sophomore  in 
181 1,  having  been  prepared  at  the  private 
classical  college  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  S.  J.  Gardi- 
jner.  The  following  year  he  received  an  in- 
ury  in  his  left  eye  which  made  study 
through  life  a  matter  of  difficulty.  He 
graduated  in  18 14  with  high  honors  in  the 
classics  and  belle  lettres.  He  spent  several 
months  on  the  Azores  Islands,  and  later 
visited  England,  France  and  Italy,  return- 
ing home  in  1817.  In  June,  1818.  he 
founded  a  social  and  literary  club  at  Boston 
for  which  he  edited  "The  Club  Room,"  a 
periodical  doomed  to  but  a  short  life.  May 
4.  1820,  he  married  Miss  Susan  Amory. 
He  devoted  several  years  after  that  event  to 
a  thorough  study  of  ancient  and  modern 
history  and  literature.  As  the  fruits  of  his 
labors  he  published  several  well  written 
essays  upon  French  and  Italian  poetry  and 
romance  in  the  "  North  American  Review." 
January  19,  1826,  he  decided  to  take  up  his 
first  great  historical  work,  the  "  History  of 
the  Reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella."  To 
this  he  gave  the  labor  of  ten  years,  publish- 
ing the  same  December  25,  1837.  Although 
placed  at  the  head  of  all  American  authors, 
so  diffident  was  Prescott  of  his  literary  merit 
that  although  he  had  four  copies  of  this 
work  printed  for  his  own  convenience,  he 
hesitated  a  long  time  before  giving  it  to  the 
public,  and  it  was  only  by  the  solicitation  of 
friends,  especially  of  that  talented  Spanish 
scholar,  George  Ticknor.  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  do  so.  Soon  the  volumes  were 
translated  into  French,  Italian,  Dutch  and 
German,     ami     the    work     was     recognized 


COMrEXniLM   OF    BIOCRAPUr 


97 


throughout  the  world  as  one  of  the  most 
meritorious  of  historical  compositions.  In 
1843  he  published  the  "Conquest  of  Mexi- 
co," and  in  1S47  the  "Conquest  of  Peru." 
Two  years  later  there  came  from  his  pen  a 
volume  of  "  Biographical  and  Critical  Mis- 
cellanies." Going  abroad  in  the  summer  of 
1850,  he  was  received  with  great  distinction 
in  the  literary  circles  of  London,  Edinburgh, 
Paris,  Antwerp  and  Brussels.  Oxford  Uni- 
versity conferred  the  degree  of  D.  C.  L. 
upon  him.  In  1855  he  issued  two  volumes 
of  his  "History  of  the  Reign  of  Philip  the 
Second,"  and  a  third  in  1858.  In  the 
meantime  he  edited  Robertson's  "Charles 
the  Fifth,"  adding  a  history  of  the  life  of 
that  monarch  after  his  abdication.  Death 
cut  short  his  work  on  the  remaining  volumes 
Oi  "  Philip  the  Second,"  coming  to  him  at 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  May  28,  1859. 


OLIVER  HAZARD  PERRY,  a  noted 
American  commodore,  was  born  in 
South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  August  23, 
1785.  He  saw  his  first  service  as  a  mid- 
shipman in  the  United  States  navy  in  April, 
1799.  He  cruised  with  his  father,  Captain 
Christopher  Raymond  Perry,  in  the  West  In- 
dies for  about  two  years.  In  1804  he  was 
in  the  war  against  Tripoli,  and  was  made 
lieutenant  in  1S07.  At  the  opening  of  hostili- 
ties with  Great  Britain  in  1812  he  was  given 
command  of  a  fleet  of  gunboats  on  the  At- 
lantic coast.  At  his  request  he  was  trans- 
ferred, a  year  later,  to  Lake  Ontario,  where 
he  served  under  Commodore  Chauncey,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  attack  on  Fort 
George.  He  was  ordered  to  fit  out  a  squad- 
ron on  Lake  Erie,  which  he  did,  building 
most  of  his  vessels  from  the  forests  along 
the  shore,  and  by  the  summer  of  1 8 1  3  he  had 
a  fleet  of  nine  vessels  at  Presque  Isle,  now 
-Erie,    Pennsylvania       September    loth    he 


attacked  and  captured  the  British  fleet  near 
Put-in-Bay,  thus  clearing  the  lake  of  hostile 
ships.  His  famous  dispatch  is  part  of  his 
fame,  "  We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they 
are  ours."  He  co-operated  with  Gen.  Har- 
rison, and  the  success  of  the  campaign  in 
the  northwest  was  largely  due  to  his  victory. 
The  next  year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Po- 
tomac, and  assisted  in  the  defense  of  Balti- 
more. After  the  war  he  was  in  constant 
service  with  the  various  squadrons  in  cruising 
in  all  parts  of  the  world.  He  died  of  yellow 
fever  on  the  Island  of  Trinidad,  August  23, 
1 8 19.  His  remains  were  conveyed  to  New- 
port, and  buried  there,  and  an  imposing 
obelisk  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island.  A  bronze  statue 
was  also  erected  in  his  honor,  the  unveiling 
taking  place  in  1885. 


JOHN  PAUL  JONES,  though  a  native 
of  Scotland,  was  one  of  America's  most 
noted  fighters  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  born  July  6,  1747.  His  father  was 
a  gardener,  but  the  young  man  soon  be- 
came interested  in  a  seafaring  life  and  at 
the  age  of  twelve  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
sea  captain  engaged  in  the  American  trade. 
His  first  voyage  landed  him  in  Virginia, 
where  he  had  a  brother  who  had  settled 
there  several  years  prior.  The  failure  of 
the  captain  released  young  Jones  from  his 
apprenticeship  bonds,  and  he  was  engaged 
as  third  mate  of  a  vessel  engaged  in  the 
slave  trade.  He  abandoned  this  trade  after 
a  few  years,  from  his  own  sense  of  disgrace. 
He  took  passage  from  Jamaica  for  Scotland 
in  1768,  and  on  the  voyage  both  the  captain 
and  the  mate  died  and  he  was  compelled  to 
take  command  of  the  vessel  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  voyage.  He  soon  after 
became  master  of  the  vessel.  He  returned 
to  Virginia  about  1773  to  settle  up  the  estate 


cn.\/r/:.\/)/i  wf  of  biograpii^- 


oi  his  brother,  and  at  this  time  added  the 
name  ••Jones,"  having  previously  been 
known  as  John  Paul.  He  settled  down  in 
Vir{(iiiia,  but  when  the  war  broke  out  in 
1775  ''c  offered  his  services  to  congress  and 
was  ap|x>inted  senior  lieutenant  of  the  flag- 
ship ••Alfred,"  on  which  he  hoisted  the 
American  flag  with  his  own  hands,  the  first 
vessel  that  had  ever  carried  a  flag  of  the 
new  nation.  He  was  afterward  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  ••Alfred,"  and  later 
of  the  ••  Providence,"  in  each  of  which  ves- 
sels he  did  good  service,  as  also  in  the 
••  Ranger,  '  to  tiie  command  of  which  he 
was  later  appointed.  The  fight  that  made 
him  famous,  however,  was  that  in  which  he 
captured  the  "  Scrapis,  '  off  the  coast  of 
Scotland.  He  was  then  in  command  of  the 
'•Bon  Homme  Richard,"  which  had  been 
fitted  out  for  him  by  the  French  government 
and  named  by  Jones  in  honor  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  or  •'Good  Man  Richard,"  Frank- 
lin being  author  of  the  publication  known 
as  ••  Poor  Richard's  Almanac."  The  fight 
between  the  •'  Richard"  and  the  "Serapis" 
lasted  three  hours,  all  of  which  time  the 
vessels  were  at  close  range,  and  most  of  the 
time  in  actual  contact.  Jones'  vessel  was 
on  fire  several  times,  and  early  in  the  en- 
gagement tsvo  of  his  gunsbiirsted,  rendering 
the  battery  useless.  Also  an  envious  oflicer 
of  the  Alliance,  one  of  Jones'  own  fleet, 
opened  fire  upon  the  ■•  Richard  "  at  a  crit- 
ical time,  completely  disabling  the  vessel. 
Jones  continued  the  fight,  in  spite  of  coun- 
sels to  surrender,  and  after  dark  the  •'Ser- 
apis" struck  her  colors,  and  was  hastily 
boarded  by  Jones  and  his  crew,  while  the 
••Ivichard"  sank,  bows  first,  after  the 
wounded  had  been  taken  on  board  the  ' 
••Serapis."  Most  of  the  other  vessels  of 
the  fleet  of  which  the  ••Serapis"  was  con- 
voy, surrendered,  and  were  taken  with  the 


"Serapis"  to  France,  where  Jones  was 
received  with  greatest  honors,  and  the  king 
presented  him  with  an  elegant  sword  and 
the  cross  of  the  Order  of  Military  Merit. 
Congress  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
made  him  commander  of  a  new  ship,  the 
"America,"  but  the  vessel  was  afterward 
given  to  France  and  Jones  never  saw  active 
sea  service  again.  He  came  to  America  again, 
in  17S7,  after  the  close  of  the  war.  and  was 
voted  a  gold  medal  by  congress.  He  went  to 
Russia  and  was  appointed  rear-admiral  and 
rendered  service  of  value  against  the  Turks, 
but  on  account  of  personal  enmity  of  the  fav- 
orites of  the  emperor  he  was  retired  on  a  pen- 
sion. Failing  to  collect  this,  he  returned  to 
France,  where  he  died.  July  18,  1792. 


THOMAS  MOKAN.  the  well-known 
painter  of  Rocky  Mountain  scenery, 
was  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  in  1837. 
He  came  to  America  when  a  child,  and 
showing  artistic  tastes,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  wood  engraver  in  Philadelphia.  Three 
years  later  he  began  landscape  painting,  and 
his  stj'le  soon  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  genius. 
His  first  works  were  water-colors,  and 
though  without  an  instructor  he  began  the 
use  of  oils,  he  soon  found  it  necessary  to 
visit  Europe,  where  he  gave  particular  at- 
tention to  the  works  of  Turner.  He  joined 
the  Yellowstone  Park  exploring  expedition 
and  visited  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  1871 
and  again  in  1873.  making  numerous 
sketches  of  the  scenery.  The  most  note- 
worthy results  were  his  '  •  Grand  Canon  of 
the  Yellowstone."  and  ••  The  Chasm  of  the 
Colorado."  which  were  purchased  by  con- 
gress at  $10,000  each,  the  first  of  which  is 
undoubtedly  the  finest  landscape  painting 
produced  in  this  country.  Mr.  Moran  h.is 
subordinated  art  to  nature,  and  the  subjects 
he  has  chosen  leave  little  ground   for   fault 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPlir. 


101 


finding  on  that  account.  "The  Mountain 
of  the  Holy  Cross,"  "The  Groves  Were 
God's  First  Temples,"  "  The  Cliffs  of  Green 
River,"  '•  The  Children  of  the  Mountain," 
"  The  Ripening  of  the  Leaf,"  and  others 
have  given  him  additional  fame,  and  while 
they  do  not  equal  in  grandeur  the  first 
mentioned,  in  many  respects  from  an  artis- 
tic standpoint  they  are  superior. 


L ELAND  STANFORD  was  one  of  the 
greatest  men  of  the  Pacific  coast  and 
also  had  a  national  reputation.  He  was 
born  March  9.  1S24,  in  Albany  county,  New 
York,  and  passed  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  attended  the  local 
schools  of  the  county  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  began  the  study  of  law.  He 
entered  the  law  office  of  Wheaton,  Doolittle 
and  Hadley,  at  Albany,  in  1845,  and  a  few 
years  later  he  moved  to  Port  Washington, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  practiced  law  four 
years  with  moderate  success.  In  1S52  Mr. 
Stanford  determined  to  push  further  west, 
and,  accordingly  went  to  California,  where 
three  of  his  brothers  were  established  in 
business  in  the  mining  towns.  The\-  took 
Leland  into  partnership,  giving  him  charge 
of  a  branch  store  at  Michigan  Bluff,  in 
Placer  county.  There  he  developed  great 
business  ability  and  four  years  later  started 
a  mercantile  house  of  his  own  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, which  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
substantial  houses  on  the  coast.  On  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  inter- 
ested himself  in  politics,  and  in  i860  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  the 
autumn  of  1861  he  was  elected,  by  an  im- 
mense majority,  governor  of  California. 
Prior  to  his  election  as  governor  he  had 
been  chosen  president  of  the  newly-orga- 
n!2ed   Central  Pacific    Railroad    Company, 


and  after  leaving  the  executive  chair  he  de- 
voted all  of  his  time  to  the  construction  of 
the  Pacific  end  of  the  transcontinental  rail- 
way. May  10,  1869,  Mr.  Stanford  drove 
the  last  spike  of  the  Central  Pacific  road, 
thus  completing  the  route  across  the  conti- 
nent. He  was  also  president  of  the  Occi- 
dental and  Oriental  Steamship  Company. 
He  had  but  one  son,  who  died  of  typhoid 
fever,  and  as  a  monument  to  his  child  he 
founded  the  university  which  bears  his  son's 
name,  Leland  Stanford,  Junior,  University. 
Mr.  Stanford  gave  to  this  university  eighty- 
three  thousand  acres  of  land,  the  estimated 
value  of  which  is  $8,000,000,  and  the  entire 
endowment  is  $20,000,000.  In  18S5  Mr. 
Stanford  was  elected  United  States  senator 
as  a  Republican,  to  succeed  J.  T.  Farley,  a 
Democrat,  and  was  re-elected  in  1891.  His 
death  occurred  June  20,  1894,  at  Palo  Alto, 
California. 


STEPHEN  DECATUR,  a  famous  com- 
modore in  the  United  States  navy,  was 
born  in  Maryland  in  1779.  He  entered  the 
naval  service  in  1798.  In  1804,  when  the 
American  vessel  Philadelphia  had  been  run 
aground  and  captured  in  the  harbor  of  Trip- 
oli, Decatur,  at  the  head  of  a  few  men, 
boarded  her  and  burned  her  in  the  face  of 
the  guns  from  the  city  defenses.  For  this 
daring  deed  he  was  made  captain.  He  was 
given  command  of  the  frigate  United  States 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1S12,  and 
in  October  of  that  year  he  captured  the 
British  frigate  Macedonian,  and  was  re- 
warded with  a  gold  medal  by  congress.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  he  was  sent  as  com- 
mander of  a  fleet  of  ten  vessels  to  chastise 
the  dey  of  Algiers,  who  was  preying  upon 
.American  commerce  with  impunity  and  de- 
manding tribute  and  ransom  for  the  release 
of  American    citizens    captured.      Decatur 


102 


COMrEXDILM   OF    lUOGIiAl'nr 


captured  a  number  of  Algerian  vessels,  and 
compelled  the  dey  to  sue  for  peace.  He 
was  noted  for  his  daring  and  intrepidity, 
and  his  coolness  in  the  face  of  danger,  and 
helped  to  bring  the  United  States  navy  into 
favor  with  the  people  and  congress  as  a 
means  of  defense  and  offense  in  time  of 
war.  He  was  killed  in  a  duel  by  Commo- 
dore Barron,  March  12,  1820. 


JAMES  KNOX  POLK,  the  eleventh 
president  of  the  United  States,  1845  to 
1849,  was  born  November  2,  1795,  in  Meck- 
lenburg county.  North  Carolina,  and  was 
the  eldest  child  of  a  family  of  si.x  sons.  He 
removed  with  his  father  to  the  Valley  of  the 
Duck  River,  in  Tennessee,  in  1806.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  became 
very  proficient  in  the  lower  branches  of 
education,  and  supplemented  this  with 
a  course  in  the  Murfreesboro  Academy, 
which  he  entered  in  18 13  and  in  the  autumn 
of  181  5  he  became  a  student  in  the  sopho- 
more class  of  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, at  Chapel  Hill,  and  was  graduated  in 
1818.  He  then  spent  a  short  time  in  re- 
cuperating his  health  and  then  proceeded  to 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Feli.x  Grundy. 
After  the  completion  of  his  law  studies  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  removed  to 
Columbia,  Maury  county,  Tennessee,  and 
started  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Mr.  Polk  was  a  Jeffersonian  "  Re- 
publican "  and  in  1823  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Tennessee.  He  was  a  strict 
constructionist  and  did  not  believe  that  the 
general  government  had  the  power  to  carry 
on  internal  improvements  in  the  states,  but 
deemed  it  important  that  it  should  have  that 
power,  and  wanted  the  constitution  amended 
to  that  effect.  But  later  on  he  became 
alarmed  lest  the  general  government   might 


become  strong  enough  to  abolish  slavery 
and  therefore  gave  his  whole  support  to  the 
"  State's  Rights"  movement, and  endeavored 
to  check  the  centralization  of  power  in  the 
general  government.  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen 
a  member  of  congress  in  1825,  and  held  that 
office  until  1839.  He  then  withdrew,  as  he 
was  the  successful  gubernatorial  candidate 
of  his  state.  He  had  become  a  man  of 
great  influence  in  the  house,  and,  as  the 
leader  of  the  Jackson  party  in  that  body, 
weilded  great  influence  in  the  election  of 
General  Jackson  to  the  presidency.  He 
sustained  the  president  in  all  his  measures 
and  still  remained  in  the  house  after  Gen- 
eral Jackson  had  been  succeeded  by  Martin 
Van  Buren.  He  was  speaker  of  the  house 
during  five  sessions  of  congress.  He  was 
elected  governor  of  Tennessee  by  a  large 
majority  and  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nash- 
ville, October  4,  1S39.  He  was  a  candidate 
for  re-election  but  was  defeated  by  Governor 
Jones,  the  Whig  candidate.  In  1844  the 
most  prominent  question  in  the  election  was 
the  annexation  of  Te.xas,  and  as  Mr.  Polk 
was  the  avowed  champion  of  this  cause  he 
was  nominated  for  president  by  the  pro- 
slavery  wing  of  the  democratic  party,  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  was  inaug- 
urated March  4,  1845.  President  Polk 
formed  a  very  able  cabinet,  consisting  of 
James  Buchanan,  Robert  J.  Walker,  Will- 
iam L.  Marcy,  George  liancroft.  Cave  John- 
son, and  John  Y.  Mason.  The  dispute  re- 
garding the  Oregon  boundary  was  settled 
during  his  term  of  office  and  a  new  dejiart- 
ment  was  added  to  the  list  of  cabinet  po- 
sitions, that  of  the  Interior.  The  low  tariff 
bill  of  1846  was  carried  and  the  financial 
system  of  the  country  was  reorganized.  It 
was  also  during  President  Polk's  term  that 
the  Mexican  war  was  successfully  conducted, 
which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of  Califor- 


COMrEXDIL'M   OF    BIOGRAPIir. 


108 


nia  and  New  Mexico.  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
the  presidency  March  4,  1849,  after  having 
declined  a  re-nomination,  and  was  succeeded 
by  General  Zachary  Taylor,  the  hero  of  the 
Mexican  war.  Mr.  Polk  retired  to  private 
life,  to  his  home  in  Nashville,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-four  on  June  9,   1849. 


ANN.\  DICKINSON  (Anna  Elizabeth 
Dickinson),  a  noted  lecturer  and  pub- 
lic speaker,  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  Oc- 
tober 28,  1842.  Her  parents  were  Quakers, 
and  she  was  educated  at  the  Friends'  free 
schools  in  her  native  city.  She  early  man- 
ifested an  inclination  toward  elocution  and 
public  speaking,  and  when,  at  the  age  of  18, 
she  found  an  opportunity  to  appear  before 
a  national  assemblage  for  the  discussion  of 
woman's  rights,  she  at  once  established  her 
reputation  as  a  public  speaker.  From  i860 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  during  the  ex- 
citing period  of  reconstruction,  she  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  and  influential  speakers 
before  the  American  public,  and  her  popu- 
larit}'  was  unequaled  by  that  of  any  of  her 
sex.  A  few  weeks  after  the  defeat  and 
death  of  Colonel  Baker  at  Ball's  Bluff,  Anna 
Dickinson,  lecturing  in  New  York,  made 
the  remarkable  assertion,  "  Not  the  incom- 
petency of  Colonel  Baker,  but  the  treacher}' 
of  General  McClellan  caused  the  disaster  at 
Ball's  Bluff."  She  was  hissed  and  hooted 
ofi  the  stage.  A  year  later,  at  the  same 
hall  and  with  much  the  same  class  of  audi- 
tors, she  repeated  the  identical  words,  and 
the  applause  was  so  great  and  so  long  con- 
tinued that  it  was  impossible  to  go  on  with 
her  lecture  for  more  than  half  an  hour.  The 
change  of  sentiment  had  been  wrought  by 
the  reverses  and  dismissal  of  McClellan  and 
his  ambition  to  succeed  Mr.  Lincoln  as  presi- 
dent. 

Ten  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Anna 


Dickinson  was  not  beard  of  on  the  lec- 
ture platform,  and  about  that  time  she  made 
an  attempt  to  enter  the  dramatic  profession, 
but  after  appearing  a  number  of  times  in  dif- 
ferent plays  she   was  pronounced   a  failure. 


ROBERT  J.  BURDETTE.— Some  per- 
sonal characteristics  of  Mr.  Burdette 
were  quaintly  given  by  himself  in  the  follow- 
ing words:  ••  Politics.'  Republican  after 
the  strictest  sect.  Religion  .'  Baptist.  Per- 
sonal appearance  .'  Below  medium  height, 
and  weigh  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
pounds,  no  shillings  and  no  pence.  Rich  } 
Not  enough  to  own  a  yacht.  Favorite  read- 
ing.' Poetry  and  history — know  Longfellow 
by  heart,  almost.  Write  for  magizines .' 
Have  mo.-e  '  declined  with  thanks  '  letters 
than  would  fill  a  trunk.  Never  able  to  get 
into  a  magazine  with  a  line.  Care  about  it.' 
Mad  as  thunder.  Think  about  starting  a 
magazine  and  rejecting  everbody's  articles 
except  my  own."  Mr.  Burdette  was  born 
at  Greensborough,  Pennsylvania,  in  1844. 
He  served  through  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
under  General  Banks  "on  an  excursion 
ticket"  as  he  felicitously  described  it,  "good 
both  ways,  conquering  in  one  direction  and 
running  in  the  other,  pay  going  on  just  the 
same."  He  entered  into  journalism  by  the 
gateway  of  New  York  correspondence  for 
the  "Peoria  Transcript,"  and  in  1S74  went 
on  the  "Burlington  Hawkeye  "  of  which  he 
became  the  managing  editor,  and  the  work 
that  he  did  on  this  paper  made  both  him- 
self and  the  paper  famous  in  the  world  of 
humor.  Mr.  Burdette  married  in  1870, 
and  his  wife,  whom  he  called  "  Her  Little 
Serene  Highness,"  was  to  him  a  guiding 
light  until  the  day  of  her  death,  and  it  was 
probably  the  unconscious  pathos  with  which 
he  described  her  in  his  work  that  broke  the 
barriers  that  had  kept  him  out  of  the  maga- 


l»l 


co.\/p/-:\/)/r.y/  of  jiiocfiArnr. 


zines  and  secured  him  the  acceptance  of  his 
"Confessions"  by  Lippincott  some  years 
ago,  and  brought  him  substantial  fame  and 
recognition  in  the  literary  world. 

WILLIAM  DLAN  HOWELLS.  one 
of  the  leading  novelists  of  the  present 
century  and  author  of  a  number  of  works 
that  gained  for  him  a  place  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  was  born  March  i,  1837,  at 
Martinsville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  At 
the  age  of  three  years  he  accompanied  his 
father,  who  was  a  printer,  to  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  printer's  trade. 
Later  he  was  engaged  on  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  "Cincinnati  Gazette  "  and  the  "  Ohio 
State  Journal."  During  1861-65  he  was 
the  United  States  consul  at  Venice,  and 
from  1 87 1  to  1S78  he  was  the  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  "Atlantic  Monthly."  As  a 
writer  he  became  one  of  the  most  fertile 
and  readable  of  authors  and  a  pleasing  poet. 
In  18S5  he  became  connected  with  "  Har- 
per's Magazine. "  Mr.  Howells  was  author 
of  the  list  of  books  that  we  give  below: 
"Venetian  Life,"  "  Italian  Journeys, "  "No 
Love  Lost,"  "  Suburban  Sketches,"  "Their 
Wedding  Journey,"  "A  Chance  Acquaint- 
ance," "A  Foregone  Conclusion,"  "Dr. 
Breen's  Practice,"  "A  Modern  Instance," 
"The  Rise  of  Silas  Lapham,"  "Tuscan 
Cities,"  "Indian  Summer,"  besides  many 
others.  He  also  wrote  the  "  Poem  of  Two 
Friends,"  with  J.  J.  Piatt  in  i860,  and 
some  minor  dramas:  "The  Drawing 
Room  Car,"  "The  Sleeping  Car,"  etc., 
that  are  full  of  exqusite  humor  and  elegant 
dialogue. 

JAMES  RUSSELL  LOWELL  was  a  son 
of  the  Rev.  Charles  Lowell,  and  was  born 
at  Catnbridge,  Massachusetts,  February  22, 
1819.      He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 


1838  as  class  poet,  and  went  to  Harvard 
Law  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1840,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Boston,  but  soon  gave  his  un- 
divided attention  to  literary  labors.  Mr. 
Lowell  printed,  in  1841,  a  small  volume  of 
poems  entitled  "  A  Year's  Life,"  edited  with 
Robert  Carter;  in  1843,  "  The  Pioneer, "  a 
literary  and  critical  magazine  (monthly),  and 
in  1848  another  book  of  poems,  that  con- 
tained several  directed  against  slavery.  He 
published  in  1844  a  volume  of  "Poems" 
and  in  1845  "Conversations  on  Some 
of  the  Old  Poets,"  "The  Vision  of  Sir 
Launfal,"  "A  Fable  for  Critics, "  and  "The 
Bigelow  Papers,"  the  latter  satirical  es- 
says in  dialect  poetry  directed  against 
slavery  and  the  war  with  Mexico.  In 
1851-52  he  traveled  in  Europe  and  re- 
sided in  Italy  for  a  considerable  time,  and 
delivered  in  1854-55  a  course  of  lectures  on 
the  British  poets,  before  the  Lowell  Insti- 
tute, Boston.  Mr.  Lowell  succeeded  Long- 
fellow in  January,  1855,  as  professor  of 
modern  languages  and  literature  at  Harvard 
College,  and  spent  another  year  in  Em  ope 
qualifying  himself  for  that  post.  He  edited 
the  "  Atlantic  Monthly  "  from  1857  to  1862, 
and  the  "North  American  Review  '  from 
1863  until  1872.  From  1864  to  1870  he 
published  the  following  works:  "  Fireside 
Travels,"  "Under  the  Willows,"  "The 
Commemoration  Ode,"  in  honor  of  the 
alumni  of  Harvard  who  had  fallen  in  the 
Civil  war;  "The  Cathedral,"  two  volumes 
of  essays;  "Among  My  Books"  and  "  My 
Study  Windows,"  and  in  1867  he  published 
a  new  series  of  the  "  Bigelow  Papers."  He 
traveled  extensively  in  Europe  in  1872-74, 
and  received  in  person  the  degree  of  I).  C. 
L.  at  Oxford  and  that  of  LL.  D.  at  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  England.  He 
was  also  interested  in  political  life  and  held 


COMPEXDILM   OF    BIOGRAP IIT. 


105 


many  important  offices.  He  was  United 
States  minister  to  Spain  in  1877  and  was 
also  minister  to  England  in  1880-85.  On 
January  2,  1884,  he  was  elected  lord  rector 
of  St.  Andrew  University  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, but  soon  after  he  resigned  the  same. 
Mr.  Lowell's  works  enjoy  great  popularity 
in  the  United  States  and  England.  He 
died  .August  12,  1S91. 


JOSEPH  HENRY,  one  of  America's 
greatest  scientists,  was  born  at  Albany, 
New  York,  December  17,  1797.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  city 
and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy, 
where  he  became  a  professor  of  mathemat- 
ics in  1826.  In  1827  he  commenced  a 
course  of  investigation,  which  he  continued 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  results  pro- 
duced had  great  effect  on  the  scientific  world. 
The  first  success  was  achieved  by  producing 
the  electric  magnet,  and  he  next  proved  the 
possibility  of  exciting  magnetic  energy  at  a 
distance,  and  it  was  the  invention  of  Pro- 
fessor Henry's  intensity  magnet  that  first 
made  the  invention  of  electric  telegraph  a 
possibility.  He  made  a  statement  regarding 
the  practicability  of  applying  the  intensity 
magnet  to  telegraphic  uses,  in  his  article  to 
the  '  '.American  Journal  of  Science  "  in  1 83 1 . 
During  the  same  jear  he  produced  the  first 
mechanical  contrivance  ever  invented  for 
maintaining  continuous  motion  by  means  of 
electro-magnetism,  and  he  also  contrived  a 
machine  by  which  signals  could  be  made  at 
a  distance  by  the  use  of  his  electro-magnet, 
the  signals  being  produced  by  a  lever  strik- 
ing on  a  bell.  Some  of  his  electro-magnets 
were  of  great  power,  one  carried  over  a  ton 
and  another  not  less  than  three  thousand  six 
hundred  pounds.  In  1832  he  discovered 
tliat  secondary  currents  could  be  produced 
■-  ^  long  conductor  by  the  induction  of  the 


primary  current  upon  itself,  and  also  in  the 
same  year  he  produced  a  spark  by  means  of 
a  purely  magnetic  induction.  Professor 
Henry  was  elected,  in  1832,  professor  of  nat- 
ural philosophy  in  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  in  his  earliest  lectures  at  Princeton, 
demonstrated  the  feasibility  of  the  electric 
telegraph.  He  visited  Europe  in  1837,  and 
while  there  he  had  an  interview  with  Pro- 
fessor Wheatstone,  the  inventor  of  the 
needle  magnetic  telegraph.  In  1846  he  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution, being  the  first  incumbent  in  that  office, 
which  he  held  until  his  death.  Professor 
Henry  was  elected  president  of  the  Ameri- 
can Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science,  in  1849,  and  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences.  He  was  made  chair- 
man of  the  lighthouse  board  of  the  United 
States  in  1871  and  held  that  position  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  laws  from 
Union  College  in  1829,  and  from  Harvard 
University  in  185  i,  and  his  death  occurred 
May  13,  1878.  Among  his  numerous  works 
may  be  mentioned  the  following:  "Contri- 
butions to  Electricity  and  Magnetism," 
"American  Philosophic  Trans, "  and  many 
articles  in  the  "American  Journal  of 
Science,"  the  journal  of  the  Franklin  Insti- 
tute; the  proceedings  of  the  American  As- 
sociation for  the  Advancement  of  Science, 
and  in  the  annual  reports  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution  from  its  foundation. 


FRANKLIN    BUCHANAN,   the    famous 
rear-admiral  of   the    Confederate   navy 
I  during  the  rebellion,  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland.       He  became    a    United    States 
midshipman    in    18 15    and    was    promoted 
I  through   the  various  grades  of  the  service 
and  became  a  captain  in  1855.      Mr.  Buch- 
j  anan  resigned  his  captaincy  in  order  to  join 


106 


coMi'F.xDirM  ('/•'  luoGiiArnr. 


the  Confederate  service  in  i86i  and  later  he 
asked  to  be  reinstated,  but  his  request  was 
refused  and  he  then  entered  into  the  service 
of  the  Confederate  government.  He  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  frigate  '•  Merri- 
mac  "  after  she  had  been  fitted  up  as  an  iron- 
clad, and  had  command  of  her  at  the  time 
of  the  battle  of  Hampton  Roids.  It  was 
be  who  had  command  when  the  "  Merri- 
mac"  sunk  the  two  wooden  frigates,  "Con- 
gress" and  "Cumberland."  and  was  also 
in  command  during  part  of  the  historical 
battle  of  the  '•  Merrimac  "  and  the  "Moni- 
tor," where  he  was  wounded  and  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Catesby 
Jones.  He  was  created  rear-admiral  in  the 
Confederate  service  and  commanded  the 
Confederate  fleet  in  Mobile  bay,  which  was 
defeated  by  Admiral  Farragut.  August  5. 
1864.  Mr.  Buchanan  was  in  command  of 
the  "Tennessee."  an  ironclad,  and  during 
the  engagement  he  lost  one  of  his  legs  and 
was  taken  prisoner  in  the  end  by  the  Union 
fleet.  After  the  war  he  settled  in  Talbot 
county,  Maryland,  where  he  died  May  1 1 . 
1874-  

RICHARD  PARKS  BLAND,  a  celebrated 
American  statesman,  frequently  called 
"the  father  of  the  house."  because  of  his 
many  years  of  service  in  the  lower  house 
of  congress,  was  born  August  19,  1835, 
near  Hartford,  Kentucky,  where  he  received 
a  plain  academic  education.  He  moved, 
in  1855,  to  Missouri,  from  whence  he  went 
overland  to  California,  afterward  locating  in 
Virginia  City,  now  in  the  state  of  Nevada, 
but  then  part  of  the  territory  of  Utah. 
While  there  he  practiced  law,  dabbled  in 
mines  and  mining  in  Nevada  and  California 
for  several  years,  and  served  for  a  time  as 
treasurer  of  Carson  county,  Nevada.  Mr. 
Bland  returned  to  Missouri  in    1865,  where 


he  engaged  in  the  practice  ot  law  at  Rolla, 
'  Missouri,  and  in  1869  removed  to  Lebanon, 
Missouri.  He  began  his  congressional  career 
in  1873,  when  he  was  elected  as  a  Demo- 
crat to  the  forty-third  congress,  and  he  was 
regularly  re-elected  to  every  congress  after 
that  time  up  to  the  fifty-fourth,  when  he  was 
defeated  for  re-election,  but  was  returned 
to  the  fifty-fifth  congress  as  a  Silver  Demo- 
crat. During  all  his  protracted  service, 
while  Mr.  Bland  was  alwajs  steadfast  in  his 
support  of  democratic  measures,  yet  he  won 
his  special  renown  as  the  great  advocate  cf 
1  silver,  being  strongly  in  favor  of  the  free 
and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver,  and  on  ac- 
count of  his  pronounced  views  was  one  of 
the  candidates  for  the  presidential  nomina- 
tion of  the  Democratic  party  at  Chicago  in 
1 S96.  

FANNY  DAVENPORT  (F.  L.  G.  Daven- 
port) was  of  British  birth,  but  she  be- 
longs to  the  American  stage.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  the  famous  actor,  E.  L.  Daven- 
port, and  was  born  in  London  in  1S50. 
She  first  went  on  the  stage  as  a  child  at  the 
'  Howard  Athenaum,  Boston,  and  her  entire 
life  was  spent  upon  the  stage.  She  played 
children's  parts  at  Burton's  old  theater  in 
Chambers  street,  and  then,  in  1862,  appeared 
as  the  King  of  Spain  in  "  Faint  Heart  Never 
Won  Fair  Lady. "  Here  she  attracted  the 
notice  of  Augustin  Daly,  the  noted  mana- 
ger, then  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  theater,  who 
offered  her  a  six  weeks'  engagement  with 
her  father  in  "London  Assurance."  She 
afterwards  appeared  at  the  same  house  in  a 
variety  of  characters,  and  her  versatility 
was  favorably  noticed  by  the  critics.  After 
the  burning  of  the  old  Fifth  .Avenue,  the 
present  theater  of  that  name  was  built  at 
Twenty-eighth  street,  and  here  Miss  Daven- 
port appeared  in  a  play  written  for  her  by 


coMP j:\ni LM  (>/■•  juoGRAi'in: 


107 


Mr.  Daly.  She  scored  a  great  success. 
She  then  starred  in  this  play  throufjhout  the 
country,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Edwin  F. 
Price,  an  actor  of  her  company,  in  iSSo. 
In  1882  she  went  to  Paris  and  purchased 
the  right  to  produce  in  America  Sardou's 
great  emotional  play,  "Fedora."  It  was 
put  on  at  the  Fourteenth  Street  theater  in 
New  York,  and  in  it  she  won  popular  favor 
and  became  one  of  the  most  famous  actresses 
of  her  time. 


HORACE  BRIGHAM  CLAFLIN,  one 
of  the  greatest  merchants  America  has 
produced,  was  born  in  Milford,  Massachu- 
setts, a  son  of  John  Clafiin,  also  a  mer- 
chant. Young  Clailin  started  his  active  life 
as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  after  having 
been  offered  the  opportunity  of  a  college 
education,  but  with  the  characteristic 
promptness  that  was  one  of  his  virtues  he 
exclaimed,  "No  law  or  medicine  for  me." 
He  had  set  his  heart  on  being  a  merchant, 
and  when  his  father  retired  he  and  his 
brother  Aaron,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Sam- 
uel Daniels,  conducted  the  business.  Mr. 
Claflin  was  not  content,  however,  to  run  a 
store  in  a  town  like  Milford,  and  accordingly 
opened  a  dry  goods  store  at  Worcester,  with 
his  brother  as  a  partner,  but  the  partnership 
was  dissolved  a  year  later  and  H.  B.  Claflin 
assumed  complete  control.  Tiie  business 
in  Worcester  had  been  conducted  on  ortho- 
dox principles,  and  when  Mr.  Claflin  came 
there  and  introduced  advertising  as  a  means 
of  drawing  trade,  he  created  considerable 
animosity  among  the  older  merchants.  Ten 
years  later  he  was  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous merchants.  He  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness in  Worcester  for  $30,000,  and  went  to 
New  York  to  search  for  a  wider  field  than 
that  of  a  shopkeeper.  Mr.  Claflin  and 
William  M.  Bulkley  started  in  the  dry  goods 


business  there  under  the  firm  name  of  Bulk- 
ley  &  Claflin,  in  1843,  and  Mr.  Bulkley  was 
connected  with  the  firm  until  185  i, when  he 
retired.  A  new  firm  was  then  formed  under 
the  name  of  Claflin,  Mcllin  &  Co.  This 
firm  succeeded  in  founding  the  largest  dry 
goods  house  in  the  world,  and  after  weather- 
ing the  dangers  of  the  civil  war,  during 
which  the  house  came  very  near  going  un- 
der, and  was  saved  only  by  the  superior 
business  abilities  of  Mr.  Claflin,  continued  to 
grow.  The  sales  of  the  firm  amounted  to 
over  $72,000,000  a  year  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  Mr.  Claflin  died  November  14, 
1885. 

CHARLOTTE  CUSHMAN  (Charlotte 
Saunders  Cushman),  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  American  actresses,  was  born  in 
Boston,  July  23,  1816.  She  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  earliest  Puritan  families. 
Her  first  attempt  at  stage  work  was  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  in  a  charitable  concert 
given  by  amateurs  in  Boston.  From  this 
time  her  advance  to  the  first  place  on  the 
American  lyric  stage  was  steady,  until,  in 
1835,  while  singing  in  New  Orleans,  she 
suddenly  lost  control  of  her  voice  so  far  as 
relates  to  singing,  and  was  compelled  to  re- 
tire. She  then  took  up  the  study  for  the 
dramatic  stage  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Barton,  the  tragedian.  She  soon  after 
made  her  debut  as  "  Lady  Macbeth."  She 
appeared  in  New  York  in  September,  1836, 
and  her  success  was  immediate.  Her 
"Romeo"  was  almost  perfect,  and  she  is 
the  only  woman  that  has  ever  appeared  in 
the  part  of  "Cardinal  Wolsey."  She  at 
different  times  acted  as  support  of  Forrest 
and  Macready.  Her  London  engagement, 
secured  in  1845,  after  many  and  great  dis- 
couragements, proved  an  unqualilied  suc- 
cess. 


108 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOl.RM' lir. 


Her  farewell  appearance  was  at  Booth's 
theater.  New  York,  November  7,  1874,  in 
the  part  of  "  Lady  Macbeth,  "  and  after  that 
performance  an  Ode  by  K.  H.  Stoddard 
was  read,  and  a  body  of  citizens  went  upon 
the  stage,  and  in  their  name  the  venerable 
poet  Longfellow  presented  her  with  a  wreath 
of  laurel  with  an  inscription  to  the  effect 
that  "'she  who  merits  the  palm  should  bear 
it."  From  the  time  of  her  appearance  as  a 
modest  girl  in  a  charitable  entertainment 
down  to  the  time  of  final  triumph  as  a  tragic 
queen,  she  bore  herself  with  as  much  honor 
to  womanhood  as  to  the  profession  she  rep- 
resented. Her  death  occurred  in  Boston, 
February  18,  1876.  By  her  profession  she 
acquired  a  fortune  of  $600,000. 

NEAL  DOW,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
temperance  reformers  our  country  has  1 
known,wasborn  in  Portland,  Me.,  March  20, 
1804.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Friends  Seminary,  at  New  Bedford,  Massa- 
chusetts, his  parents  being  members  of  that 
sect.  After  leaving  school  he  pursued  a 
mecrantile  and  manufacturing  career  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  active  in  the 
affairs  of  his  native  city,  and  in  1839  be- 
came chief  of  the  fire  department,  and  in 
1 85 1  was  elected  mayor.  He  was  re-elected 
to  the  latter  office  in  1854.  Being  opposed 
to  the  liquor  traffic  he  was  a  champion  of 
the  project  of  prohibition,  first  brought  for- 
ward in  I  839  by  James  Appleton.  While 
serving  his  first  term  as  mayor  he  drafted  a 
bill  for  the  "suppression  of  drinking  houses 
and  tippling  sh(jps,"  which  he  took  to  the  \ 
legislature  and  which  was  passed  without  an 
alteration.  In  1858  Mr.  Dow  was  elected 
lo  the  legislature.  On  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Tnirteenth  Maine  Infantry  and  accompanied 
General  Butler's  expedition  lo  New  Orleans. 


In  1862  he  was  made  brigadier-general.  At 
the  battle  of  Port  Hudson  May  27,  1863,  he 
was  twice  wounded, and  taken  prisoner.  He 
was  confined  at  Libby  prison  and  Mobile 
nearly  a  year,  when,  being  exchanged,  he 
resigned,  his  health  having  given  way  under 
the  rigors  of  his  captivity.  He  made  sev- 
eral trips  to  England  in  the  interests  of 
temperance  organization,  where  he  addressed 
large  audiences.  He  was  the  candidate  of 
the  National  Prohibition  party  for  the  presi- 
dency in  1880,  receiving  about  ten  thousand 
votes.  In  1884  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  the  amendment  of  the  constitution  of 
Maine,  adopted  by  an  overwhelming  popular 
vote,  which  forever  forbade  the  manufacture 
or  sale  of  any  intoxicating  beverages,  and 
commanding  the  legislature  to  enforce  the 
prohibition.      He  died  October  2,   1897. 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth  president 
of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Orange  county,  Virginia.  September  24, 
1784.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  his  fath- 
er's plantation  and  his  education  was  lim- 
ited. In  1808  he  was  made  lieutenant  of 
the  Seventh  Infantry,  and  joined  his  regi- 
ment at  New  Orleans.  He  was  promoted 
to  captain  in  18 10,  and  commanded  at  Fort 
Harrison,  near  the  present  site  of  Terre 
Haute,  in  18 12,  where,  for  his  gallant  de- 
fense, he  was  brevetted  major,  attaining  full 
rank  in  18 14.  In  181  5  he  retired  to  an  es- 
tate near  Louisville.  In  i8i6  here-entered 
the  army  as  in;ijor,  and  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant-colonel  and  then  to  coK)nel. 
Having  for  many  years  been  Indian  agent 
over  a  large  porion  of  the  western  country, 
he  was  often  required  in  Washington  to  give 
advice  and  counsel  in  matters  connected 
with  the  Indian  bireau.  He  served  through 
the  Black  Hawk  Tndian  war  of  1832,  and  in 
1837  was  ordered   to  the  command  of  the 


COM  TEND  I  CM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


army  in  Florida,  where  he  attacked  the  In- 
dians in  the  swamps  and  brakes,  defeated 
them  and  ended  the  war.  He  was  brevetted 
brigadier-general  and  made  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  army  in  Florida.  He  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
southwest  in  1840,  but  was  soon  after  re- 
lieved of  it  at  his  request.  He  was  then 
stationed  at  posts  in  Arkansas.  In  1845  he 
was  ordered  to  prepare  to  protect  and  de- 
fend Te.xas  boundaries  from  invasion  by 
Mexicans  and  Indians.  On  the  annexation 
of  Texas  he  proceeded  with  one  thousand 
five  hundred  men  to  Corpus  Christi,  within 
the  disputed  territory.  After  reinforcement 
he  was  ordered  by  the  Mexican  General  Am- 
pudia  to  retire  beyond  the  Nueces  river, 
with  which  order  he  declined  to  comply. 
The  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma  followed,  and  he  crossed  the  Rio 
Grande  and  occupied  Matamoras  May  i8th. 
He  was  commissioned  major-general  for  this 
campaign,  and  in  September  he  advanced 
upon  the  city  of  Monterey  and  captured  it 
after  a  hard  fight.  Here  he  took  up  winter 
quarters,  and  when  he  was  about  to  resume 
activity  in  the  spring  he  was  ordered  to  send 
the  larger  part  of  his  army  to  reinforce 
General  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz.  After  leaving 
garrisons  at  various  points  his  army  was  re- 
duced to  about  five  thousand,  mostly  fresh 
recruits.  He  was  attacked  by  ':he  army  of 
Santa  Anna  at  Buena  Vista,  February  22, 
1847,  and  after  a  severe  fight  completely 
routed  the  Mexicans.  He  received  the 
thanks  of  congress  and  a  gold  medal  for 
this  victory.  He  remained  in  command  of 
the  "  army  of  occupation "  until  winter, 
when  he  returned  to  the  United  States. 

In  1848  General  Taylor  was  nominated 
by  the  Whigs  for  president.  He  was  elected 
over  his  two  opponents,  Cass  and  Van 
Buren.     Great  bitterness  was  developing  in 


the  struggle  for  and  against  the  extension  of 
slavery,  and  the  newly  acquired  territory  in 
the  west,  and  the  fact  that  the  states  were 
now  equally  divided  on  that  question,  tended 
to  increase  the  feeling.  President  Taylor 
favored  immediate  admission  of  California 
with  her  constitution  prohibiting  slavery, 
and  the  admission  of  other  states  to  be 
formed  out  of  the  new  territory  as  they 
might  elect  as  they  adopted  constitutions 
from  time  to  time.  This  policy  resulted  in 
the  "  Omnibus  Bill,"'  which  afterward  passed 
congress,  though  in  separate  bills;  not,  how- 
ever, until  after  the  death  of  the  soldier- 
statesman,  which  occurred  July  9,  1850. 
One  of  his  daughters  became  the  wife  of 
Jeflerson  Davis. 


MELVILLE  D.  LANDON,  better  known 
as  "  Eli  Perkins, "  author,  lecturer  and 
humorist,  was  born  in  Eaton,  New  York, 
September  7,  1839.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Landon  and  grandson  of  Rufus  Lan- 
don,  a  revolutionary  soldier  from  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut.  Melville  was  edu- 
cated at  the  district  school  and  neighboring 
academy,  where  he  was  prepared  for  the 
sophomore  class  at  Madison  University.  He 
passed  two  years  at  the  latter,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  Union  College,  and  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1861,  receiving  the  degree  of 
A.  M.,  in  1862.  He  was,  at  once,  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  in  the  treasury  depart- 
ment at  Washington.  This  being  about  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  and 
before  the  appearance  of  any  Union  troops 
at  the  capital,  he  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  "  Clay  Battalion,  "  of  Washing- 
ton. Leaving  his  clerkship  some  time  later, 
he  took  up  duties  on  the  staff  of  General  A. 
L.  Chetlain,  who  was  in  command  at  Mem- 
phis. In  1864  he  resigned  from  the  army 
and  engaged  in  cotton   planting  in  Arkansas 


110 


COMJ'hyDIL  M    OF    JilOGfiA/'J/y. 


and  Louisiana.  In  1867  he  went  abroad, 
making  tlielour  of  Euro|>e,  traversing  Rus- 
sia. Wliile  in  the  latter  country  his  old 
commander  of  the  "  Clay  Battalion,"  Gen- 
eral Cassius  M.  Clay,  then  United  States 
minister  at  St.  Petersburg,  made  him  secre- 
1  tary  of  legation.  In  1871,  on  returning  to 
America,  he  published  a  history  of  the 
Franco-Prussian  war,  and  followed  it  with 
numerous  humorous  writings  for  the  public 
press  under  the  name  of  "Eli  Perkins," 
which,  with  his  regular  contributions  to  the 
"  Commercial  Advertiser,"  brought  him  into 
notice,  and  spread  his  reputation  as  a  hu- 
morist throughout  the  country.  He  also  pub- 
lished "Saratoga  in  1891,"  "Wit,  Humor 
and  Pathos,"  '  ■  Wit  and  Humor  of  the  Age," 
•' Kings  of  Platform  and  Pulpit, ""  Thirty 
Years  of  Wit  and  Humor,"  "  Fun  and  Fact," 
and  "China  and  Japan." 

LEWIS  CASS,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent statesman  and  party  leaders  of  his 
day,  was  born  at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire, 
October  9,  1 782.  He  studied  law,  and  hav- 
ing removed  toZanesville.  Ohio,  commenced 
the  practice  of  that  profession  in  1802.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  American  govern- 
ment in  1812  and  was  made  a  colonel  in 
the  army  under  General  Williaiii  Hull,  and 
on  the  surrender  of  Fort  Maiden  by  that 
officer  was  held  as  a  prisoner.  Being  re- 
leased in  18 1 3,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general  and  in  1814  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Michigan  Territory. 
After  he  had  held  that  office  for  some 
sixteen  years,  negotiating,  in  the  meantime, 
many  treaties  with  the  Indians,  General 
CaGS  was  made  secretary  of  war  in  the  cabi- 
net of  President  Jackson,  in  1831.  He  was, 
in  1836,  appointed  minister  to  France, 
which  office  he  held  for  six  years.  In  1844 
he  -  as  elected   United   States  senator  from 


Michigan.  In  1846  General  Cass  opposed 
the  Wilmot  Proviso,  which  was  an  amend- 
ment to  a  bill  for  the  purchase  of  land  from 
Mexico,  which  provided  that  in  any  of  the 
territory  acquired  from  that  power  slavery 
should  not  exist.  For  this  and  other  reasons 
he  was  nominated  as  Democratic  candidate 
for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States  in 
1848,  but  was  defeated  by  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate,  having  but 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  electoral  votes 
to  his  opponent's  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three.  In  1849  General  Cass  was  re-elected 
to  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
1854  supported  Douglas"  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill.  He  became  secretary  of  state  in 
March,  1857,  under  President  Buchanan, 
but  resigned  that  office  in  December,  i860. 
He  died  June  17,  1866.  The  published 
works  of  Lewis  Cass,  while  not  numerous, 
are  well  written  and  display  much  ability. 
He  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  day 
in  the  political  councils  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  left  a  reputation  for  high  probity 
and  honor  behind  him. 


DE  WITT  CLINTON.— Probably  there 
were  but  few  men  who  were  so  popular 
in  their  time,  or  who  have  had  so  much  in- 
fluence in  moulding  events  as  the  individual 
whose  name  honors  the  head  of  this  article. 
De  Witt  Clinton  was  the  son  of  General 
James  Clinton,  and  a  nephew  of  Governor 
George  Clinton,  who  was  the  fourth  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a 
native  of  Orange  county.  New  York,  born  at 
Little  Britain.  March  2,  1769.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Columbia  College,  in  his  native 
state,  in  1796,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law. 
In  1790  he  became  private  secretary  to  his 
uncle,  then  governor  of  New  York.  He  en- 
tered public  life  as  a  Republican  or  anti- 
Federalist,   and  was   elected    to   the    lower 


COMPEXDIUM   OF   BIOGRArHr. 


Ill 


house  of  the  state  assembly  in  1797,  and  the 
senate  of  that  body  in  1798.  At  that  time 
he  was  looked  on  as  "  the  most  rising  man 
in  the  Union."  In  iSoi  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate.  In  1803  he  was 
appointed  by  the  governor  and  council 
mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York,  then  a 
very  important  and  powerful  office.  Hav- 
ing been  re-appointed,  he  held  the  office 
of  mayor  for  nearly  eleven  years,  and 
rendered  great  service  to  that  city.  Mr. 
Clinton  served  as  lieutenant-governor  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  1811-13,  and 
was  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  examine  and  survey  a  route  for  a  canal 
from  the  Hudson  river  to  Lake  Erie.  Dif- 
fering with  President  Madison,  in  relation  to 
the  war,  in  1812,  he  was  nominated  for  the 
presidency  against  that  gentleman,  by  a 
coalition  party  called  the  Clintonians,  many 
of  whom  were  Federalists.  Clinton  received 
eight-nine  electoral  votes.  His  course  at 
this  time  impaired  his  popularity  for  a  time. 
He  was  removed  from  the  mayoralty  in 
1 8 14,  and  retired  to  private  life.  In  18 15 
he  wrote  a  powerful  argument  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Erie  canal,  then  a  great  and 
beneficent  work  of  which  he  was  the  prin- 
cipal promoter.  This  was  in  the  shape  of 
a  memorial  to  the  legislature,  which,  in 
18 17,  passed  a  bill  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  that  canal.  The  same  year  he  was 
elected  governor  of  New  York,  almost  unani- 
mously, notwithstanding  the  opposition  of 
a  few  who  pronounced  the  scheme  of  the 
canal  visionary.  He  was  re-elected  governor 
in  1820.  He  was  at  this  time,  also,  presi- 
dent of  the  canal  commissioners.  He  de- 
clined a  re-election  to  the  gubernatorial 
chair  in  1822  and  was  removed  from  his 
place  on  the  canal  board  two  years  later. 
But  he  was  triumphantly  elected  to  the  of- 
fice of  governor  that  fall,  and  his  pet  project. 


the  Erie  canal,  was  finished  the  ne.xt  year. 
He  was  re-elected  governor  in  1826,  but 
died  while  holding  that  office,  February  11, 

1828. 

AARON  BURR,  one  of  the  many  briliianl 
figures  on  the  political  stage  in  the  early 
days  of  America,  was  born  at  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  February  6,  1756.  He  was  the  son 
of  Aaron  and  Esther  Burr,  the  former  the 
president  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and 
the  latter  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Edwards, 
who  had  been  president  of  the  same  educa- 
tional institution.  Young  Burr  graduated 
at  Princeton  in  1772.  In  1775  he  joined 
the  provincial  army  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts. For  a  time,  he  served  as  a  private 
soldier,  but  later  was  made  an  aide  on  the 
staff  of  the  unfortunate  General  Montgom- 
ery, in  the  Quebec  expedition.  Subse- 
quently he  was  on  the  staffs  of  Arnold,  Put- 
nam and  Washington,  the  latter  of  whom 
he  disliked.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant-colonel  and  commanded  a 
brigade  on  Monmouth's  bloody  field.  In 
1779,  on  account  of  feeble  health.  Colonel 
Burr  resigned  from  the  army.  He  took  up 
the  practice  of  law  in  Albany,  New  York, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  New  York  City. 
In  1789  he  became  attorney-general  of  that 
state.  In  1791  he  was  chosen  to  represent 
the  state  of  New  York  in  the  United  States 
senate  and  held  that  position  for  si.\  years. 
In  1800  he  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were  both 
candidates  for  the  presidency,  and  there 
being  a  tie  in  the  electoral  college,  each 
having  seventy-three  votes,  the  choice  was 
left  to  congress,  who  gave  the  first  place  to 
Jefferson  and  made  Aaron  Burr  vice-presi- 
dent, as  the  metiiod  then  was.  In  1S04  Mr. 
Burr  and  his  great  rival,  Ale.xander  Hamil- 
ton, met  in  a  duel,  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  the  latter.  Burr  losing  thereby  con- 


112 


COMPE.WDJUM   OF   JilOGJiAJ'Jir. 


siderable  political  and  social  influence.  He 
soon  embarked  in  a  wild  attempt  upon 
Mexico,  and  as  was  asserted,  upon  the 
southwestern  territories  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  tried  for  treason  at 
Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1807,  but  acquitted, 
and  to  avoid  importunate  creditors,  fled  to 
Europe.  After  a  time,  in  1812,  he  returned 
to  New  York,  where  he  practiced  law,  and 
where  he  died,  September  14,  1836.  A  man 
of  great  ability,  brilliant  and  popular  talents, 
his  influence  was  destroyed  by  his  unscrupu- 
lous political  actions  and  immoral  private 
life.  

ALBERT  GALLATIN,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  statesmen  of  the  early 
days  of  the  republic,  was  born  at  Geneva, 
Switzerland,  January  29,  1761.  He  was 
the  son  of  Jean  de  Gallatin  and  Sophia  A. 
Roiaz  du  Rosey  Gallatin,  representatives  of 
an  old  patrician  family.  Albert  Gallatin 
was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  and  was 
educated  under  the  care  of  friends  of  his 
parents.  He  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Geneva  in  1779,  and  declining  employ- 
ment under  one  of  the  sovereigns  of  Ger- 
many, came  to  the  struggling  colonies,  land- 
ing in  Boston  July  14,  1780.  Shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  proceeded  to  Maine,  where  he 
served  as  a  volunteer  uiuler  Colonel  Allen. 
He  made  advances  to  the  government  for 
the  support  of  the  American  troops,  and  in 
November,  1780,  was  placed  in  command 
of  a  small  fort  at  Passaniaquoddy,  defended 
by  a  force  of  militia,  volunteers  and  Indians. 
In  1783  he  was  professor  of  the  French 
language  at  Harvard  University.  A  year 
later,  having  received  his  patrimony  from 
Europe,  he  purchased  large  tracts  of  land 
in  western  Virginia,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  Indians  from  forming  the  large  settle- 
ment he  proposed,  and,  in  17S6.  purchased 


a  farm  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania. 
In  1789  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
to  amend  the  constitution  of  that  state,  and 
united  himself  with  the  Republican  party, 
the  head  of  which  was  Thomas  Jefferson. 
The  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  to  which  he  was 
subsequently  re-elected.  In  1793  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  but 
could  not  take  his  seat  on  account  of  not 
having  been  a  citizen  long  enough.  In  1794 
Mr.  Gallatin  was  elected  to  the  representa- 
tive branch  of  congress,  in  which  he  served 
three  terms.  He  also  took  an  important 
position  in  the  suppression  of  the  "whiskey 
insurrection."  In  1801,  on  the  accession  of 
Jefferson  to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Gallatin 
was  appointed  secretarj'  of  the  treasury. 
In  1809  Mr.  Madison  offered  him  the  posi- 
tion of  secretary  of  state,  but  he  declined, 
I  and  continued  at  the  head  of  the  treasury 
'  until  1812,  a  period  of  twelve  years.  He 
exercised  a  great  influence  on  the  other  de- 
partments and  in  the  general  administration, 
especially  in  the  matter  of  financial  reform, ' 
and  recommended  measures  for  taxation, 
etc..  which  were  passed  by  congress,  and  be- 
came laws  May  24,  181 3.  The  same  year  he 
was  sent  as  an  envoy  extraordinary  to  Rus- 
sia, which  had  offered  to  mediate  between 
this  country  and  Great  Britain,  but  the  lat- 
ter country  refusing  the  interposition  of 
another  power,  and  agreeing  to  treat  di- 
rectly with  the  United  States,  in  1S14.  at 
Ghent,  Mr.  Gallatin,  in  connection  with  his 
distinguished    colleagues,    negotiated     and 


signed   the  treaty 


peace.      In    iSi; 


conjunction  with  Messrs.  Adams  and  Clay, 
he  signed,  at  London,  a  commercial  treaty 
between  the  two  countries.  In  18 16.  de- 
clining his  old  post  at  the  head  of  the  treas- 
ury. Mr.  Gallatin  was  sent  as  minister  to 
France,    wli.  re    lie     remained    until     1S23. 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BIOGRAP HY. 


118 


After  a  year  spent  in  England  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary, he  took  up  his  residence  in  New 
York,  and  (rom  that  time  held  no  pubhc 
office.  In  1830  he  was  chosen  president  of 
the  council  of  the  University  of  New  York. 
He  was,  in  1831,  made  president  of  the 
National  bank,  which  position  he  resigned 
in  1839.      He  died  August  12,  1849. 


MILLARD  FILLMORE,  the  thirteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  of  New  England  parentage  in  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  January  7, 
1800.  His  school  education  was  very  lim- 
ited, but  he  occupied  his  leisure  hours  in 
study.  He  worked  in  youth  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  his  native  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  was  apprenticed  to  a  wool 
carder  and  cloth  dresser.  Four  years  later 
he  was  induced  by  Judge  Wood  to  enter  his 
office  at  MontviJle,  New  York,  and  take  up 
the  study  of  law.  This  warm  friend,  find- 
ing young  Fillmore  destitute  of  means, 
loaned  him  money,  but  the  latter,  not  wish- 
ing to  incur  a  heavj'  debt,  taught  school 
during  part  of  the  time  and  in  this  and  other 
ways  helped  maintain  himself.  In  1822  he 
removed  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  the  year 
following,  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  East  Aurora,  in  the  same  state.  Here 
he  remained  until  1830,  having,  in  the 
meantime,  been  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
supreme  court,  when  he  returned  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  became  the  partner  of  S.  G. 
Haven  and  N.  K.  Hall.  He  entered  poli- 
tics and  served  in  the  state  legislature  from 
1829  to  1832.  He  was  in  congress  in  1833- 
35  and  in  1837-41,  where  he  proved  an 
active  and  useful  member,  favoring  the 
views  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  then  battling 
almost  alone  the  slave-holding  party  in  na- 
tional politics,  and  in  most  01   public  ques- 


tions acted  with  the  Whig  party.  While 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways  and 
means  he  took  a  leading  part  in  draughting 
the  tariff  bill  of  1842.  In  1844  Mr.  Fill- 
more was  the  Whig  "candidate  for  governor 
of  New  York.  In  1847  he  was  chosen 
comptroller  of  the  state,  and  abandoning 
his  practice  and  profession  removed  to  Al- 
bany. In  1848  he  was  elected  vice  presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  and  they  were  inaugurated  the  fol- 
lowing March.  On  the  death  of  the  presi- 
dent, July  9,  1850,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  in- 
ducted into  that  office.  The  great  events 
of  his  administration  were  the  passage  of 
the  famous  compromise  acts  of  1850,  and 
the  sending  out  of  the  Japan  expedition  of 
1852. 

March  4,  1853,  having  served  one  term, 
President  Fillmore  retired  from  office,  and 
in  1855  went  to  Europe,  where  he  received 
marked  attention.  On  returning  home,  in 
1856,  he  was  nominated  for  the  presidency 
by  the  Native  American  or  "Know-Noth- 
ing" party,  but  was  defeated,  James  Buch- 
anan being  the  successful  candidate. 

Mr.  Fillmore  ever  afterward  lived  in  re- 
tirement. During  the  conflict  of  Civil  war 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  sup- 
posed, however,  that  his  sympathy  was  with 
the  southern  confederacy.  He  kept  aloof 
from  the  conflict  without  any  words  o!  cheer 
to  the  one  party  or  the  other.  For  this  rea- 
son he  was  forgotten  by  both.  He  died  of 
paralysis,  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  March  8, 
1874-  

PETER  F.  ROTHERMEL,  one  of  Amer- 
ica's greatest  and  best-known  historical 
painters,  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  8,  1817,  and  was  of  German 
ancestry.  He  received  his  earlier  education 
in   his  native  county,  and   in    Philadelphia 


114 


COMrE\DILM   OF    lilOGIiAl'Ur. 


learned  the  profession  of  land  surveying. 
But  a  strong  bias  toward  art  drew  him  away 
and  he  soon  opened  a  studio  where  he  did 
portrait  painting.  This  soon  gave  place  to 
historical  painting,  he  having  discovered  the 
bent  of  his  genius  in  that  direction.  Be- 
sides the  two  pictures  in  the  Capitol  at 
Washington — "DeSoto  Discovering  the  Mis- 
sissippi" and  "Patrick  Henry  Before  the 
Virginia  House  of  Burgesses" — Rothermel 
painted  many  others,  chief  among  which 
are:  "Columbus  Before  Queen  Isabella," 
"Martyrs  of  the  Colosseum."  "Cromwell 
Breaking  Up  Service  in  an  English  Church." 
and  the  famous  picture  of  the  "Battle 
of  Gettysburg."  The  last  named  was 
painted  for  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
which  Rothermel  received  the  sum  of  $25,- 
000,  and  which  it  took  him  four  years  to 
plan  and  to  paint.  It  represents  the  portion 
of  that  historic  field  held  by  the  First  corps, 
an  e.xclusively  Pennsylvania  body  of  men, 
and  was  selected  by  Rothermel  for  that 
reason.  For  many  years  most  of  his  time 
was  spent  in  Italy,  only  returning  for  short 
periods.  He  died  at  Philadelphia,  August 
16.  1895.  

EDMUND  KIRBY  SMITH,  one  of  the 
distinguished  leaders  upon  the  side  of  the 
south  in  the  late  Civil  war,  was  born  at  St. 
Augustine,  Florida,  in  1824.  After  receiv- 
ing the  usual  education  he  was  appointed  to 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1845  and 
entered  the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of 
infantry.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  was 
made  first  lieutenant  and  captain  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Cerro  Gordo  and  Contreras. 
From  1849  to  1852  he  was  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  at  West  Point.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Second  cavalry  with 
the  rank  of  captain  in   1855,  served  on  the 


frontier,  and  was  wounded  in  a  fight  with 
Comanche  Indians  in  Texas.  May  13.  1859. 
In  January,  1861,  he  became  major  of  his 
regiment,  but  resigned  April  9th  to  fol- 
low the  fortunes  of  the  southern  cause. 
He  was  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the 
Confederate  army  and  served  in  Virginia. 
At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861, 
he  arrived  on  the  field  late  in  the  day,  but 
was  soon  disabled  by  a  wound.  He  was 
made  major-general  in  1862,  and  being  trans- 
ferred to  East  Tennessee,  was  given  com- 
mand of  that  department.  Under  General 
Braxton  Bragg  he  led  the  advance  in  the 
invasion  of  Kentucky  and  defeated  the  Union 
forces  at  Richmond.  Kentucky,  August  30, 

1862,  and  advanced  to  Frankfort.  Pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  he 
was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
October  10,  and  in  the  battle  of  .Murfrees- 
boro,   December  31,    1862,   and  January  3. 

1863.  He  was  soon  made  general,  the 
highest  rank  in  the  service,  and  in  com- 
mand of  the  trans-Mississippi  department 
opposed  General  N.  P.  Banks  in  the  famous 
Red  River  expedition,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Jenkins  Ferry,  April  30,  1864,  and 
other  engagements  of  that  eventful  cam- 
paign. He  was  the  last  to  surrender  the 
forces  under  his  command,  which  he  did 
May  26,  1865.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  located  in  Tennessee,  where  he  died 
March  28,  1893. 


JOHN  JAMES  INGALLS,  a  famous 
American  statesman,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29.  1833,  at  Middleton.  Massachusetts, 
where  he  was  reared  and  received  his  early 
education.  He  went  to  Kansas  in  1858 
and  joined  the  free-soil  army,  and  a  year 
after  his  arrival  he  was  a  member  of  the  iiis- 
I  torical  Wyandotte  convention,  which  drafted 
i  a   free-state  constitution.      In  i86o  he  was 


COMPEXDIL'M   OF    BIOGRAPI/r. 


I'JS 


made  secretary  of  the  territorial  council, 
and  in  1861  was  secretary  of  the  state  sen- 
ate. The  next  j-ear  he  was  duly  elected  to 
the  legitimate  state  senate  from  Atchison, 
where  he  had  made  his  home.  From  that 
time  he  was  the  leader  of  the  radical  Re- 
publican element  in  the  state.  He  became 
the  editor  of  the  "  Atchison  Champion  "  in 
1S63,  which  was  a  "red-hot  free-soil  Re- 
publican organ."  In  1862  he  was  the  anti- 
Lane  candidate  for  lieutenant-governor,  but 
was  defeated.  He  was  elected  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  senate  to  succeed  Senator  Pom- 
eroy,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  forty-third 
congress  and  served  until  the  fiftieth.  In 
the  forty-ninth  congress  he  succeeded  Sen- 
ator Sherman  as  president  pro  tern.,  which 
position  he  held  through  the. fiftieth  con- 
gress.   

BENJAMIN  WEST,  the  greatest  of  the 
early  American  painters,  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent  and  Quaker  parentage.  He  was 
bom  in  Springfield,  Pennsylvania,  in  1738. 
From  what  source  he  inherited  his  genius  it 
is  hard  to  imagine,  since  the  tenets  and 
tendencies  of  the  Quaker  faith  were  not  cal- 
culated to  encourage  the  genius  of  art,  but 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  with  no  suggestion 
except  that  of  inspiration,  we  find  him  choos- 
ing his  model  from  life,  and  laboring  over 
his  first  work  calculated  to  attract  public 
notice.  It  was  a  representation  of  a  sleep- 
ing child  in  its  cradle.  The  brush  with 
which  he  painted  it  was  made  of  hairs 
which  he  plucked  from  the  cat's  tail,  and 
the  colors  were  obtained  from  the  war  paints 
of  friendly  Indians,  his  mother's  indigo  bag, 
and  ground  chalk  and  charcoal,  and  the  juice 
of  berries,  but  there  were  touches  in  the  rude 
production  that  he  declared  in  later  days 
were  a  credit  to  his  best  works.  The  pic- 
ture attracted    notice,    for    a   council    was 


called  at  once  to  pass  upon  the  boy's  con- 
duct in  thus  infringing  the  laws  of  the  so- 
ciety. There  were  judges  among  them  who 
saw  in  his  genius  a  rare  gift  and  their  wis- 
dom prevailed,  and  the  child  was  given  per- 
mission to  follow  his  inclination.  He  studied 
under  a  painter  named  Williams,  and  then 
spent  some  years  as  a  portrait  painter  with 
advancing  success.      At  the  age  of  twenty- 

j  two  he  went  to  Italy,  and  not  until  he   had 

'  perfected  himself  by  twenty-three  years  of 
labor  in  that  paradise  of  art  was  he  satisfied 
to  turn  his  face  toward  home.  However,  he 
stopped  at  London,  and  decided  to  settle 
there,  sending  to  America  for  his  intended 
bride  to  join  him.     Though  the  Revolution- 

I  ary  war  was  raging.  King  George  III  showed 
the  American  artist  the  highest  considera- 
tion and  regard.  His  remuneration  from 
works  for  royalty  amounted  to  five  thou- 
sand dollars  per  year  for  thirty  years. 

West's  best  known  work  in  America  is, 
perhaps,  "The   Death    of   General  Wolf." 

I  West  was  one  of  the  thirty-six  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Royal  academy  and  succeeded 
Joshua  Reynolds  as  president,   which    posi- 

I  tion  he  held  until  his  death.  His  early 
works  were  his  best,  as  he  ceased  to  display 
originality  in  his  later  life,  conventionality 
having  seriousl)'  affected  his  efforts.  He 
died  in  1820. 


SAMUEL  PORTER  JONES,  the  famous 
Georgia  evangelist,  was  born  October 
16,  1847,  in  Chambers  county,  Alabama. 
He  did  not  attend  school  regularly  during 
his  boyhood,  but  worked  on  a  farm,  and 
went  to  school  at  intervals,  on  account  of 
ill  health.  His  father  removed  to  Carters- 
ville,  Georgia,  when  Mr.  Jones  was  a  small 
boy.  He  quit  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
and  never  attended  college.  The  war  inter- 
fered  with  his  education,  which  was  intended 


116 


COM/'EXDJl  M   UF   B/OGJiAPJ/i: 


to  prepare  him  (or  the  legal  profession. 
After  the  war  he  renewed  his  preparation 
for  college,  but  was  compelled  to  desist  from 
such  a  course,  as  his  health  failed  him  en- 
tirely. Later  on,  however,  he  still  pursued 
his  legal  studies  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  Soon  after  this  event  he  went  to  Dal- 
las, Paulding  county,  Georgia,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  in  a  few  months  removed  to  Cherokee 
county,  Alabama,  where  he  taught  school. 
In  1869  he  returned  toCartersville,  Georgia, 
and  arrived  in  time  to  see  his  father  die. 
Immediately  after  this  event  he  applied  for 
a  license  to  preach,  and  went  to  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  to  the  meeting  of  the  North  Geor- 
gia Conference  of  the  M.  E.  church  south, 
which  received  him  on  trial.  He  became 
an  evangelist  of  great  note,  and  traveled 
extensively,  delivering  his  sermons  in  an 
inimitable  style  that  made  him  very  popular 
with  the  masses,  his  methods  of  conducting 
revivals  being  unique  and  original  and  his 
preaching  practical  and  incisive. 


the  newly  formed  Republican  party  and  in 
i860  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature  of  his 
state,  in  which  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the 
house.  In  186::  President  Lincoln  appoint- 
ed a  commission  to  pass  upon  and  examine 
the  accounts  of  the  United  States  quarter- 
masters and  disbursing  officers,  composed 
as  follows:  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  of  Illinois; 
Charles  A.  Dana,  of  New  York,  and 
Gov.  Boutwell.  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Cullom  was  nominated  for  congress  in 
1864,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of 
1,785.  In  the  house  of  representatives  he 
became  an  active  and  aggressive  member, 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  territories 

I  and   served   in  congress   until    1868.     Mr. 

!  Cullom  was  returned  to  the  state  legislature, 
of  which  he  was  chosen  speaker  in  1872, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1874.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  and  at  the 
end  of  his  term  he  was  chosen  for  a  second 
term.  He  was  elected  United  States  senator 
in  1883  and  twice  re-elected. 


SHELBY  MOORE  CULLOM.  a  national 
character  in  political  afiairs  and  for 
many  years  United  States  senator  from 
Illinois,  was  born  November  22,  1829,  at 
Monticello,  Kentucky.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1 830  and  spent  his  early 
yearson  a  farm,  but  having  formed  the  purpose 
of  devoting  himself  to  the  l.iwyer's  profession 
he  spent  two  years  study  at  the  Rock  River 
seminary  at  Mount  Morris.  Illinois.  In  1853 
Mr.  Cullom  entered  the  law  office  of  Stuart 
and  f-dwards  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  two 
years  later  he  began  the  independent  prac- 
tice of  law  in  that  city.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  was  soon  elected  city 
attorney  of  Springfield.  In  1856  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Illinois  house  of 
representatives.     He  identified  himself  with 


RICHARD  JORDAN  CATLING,  an 
American  inventor  of  much  note,  was 
born  in  Hertford  county,  North  Carolina, 
September  12,  1818.  At  an  early  age  he 
gave  promise  of  an  inventive  genius.  The 
first  emanation  from  his  mind  was  the 
invention  of  a  screw  for  the  propulsion  01 
water  craft,  but  on  application  for  a 
patent,  found  that  he  was  forestalled  but 
a  short  time  by  John  Ericsson.  Subse- 
quently he  invented  a  machine  for  sowing 
wheat  in  drills,  which  was  used  to  a  great 
extent  throughout  the  west.  He  then  stud- 
ied medicine,  and  in  1847-8  attended 
lectures  at  the  Indiana  Medical  College 
at  Laporte,  and  in  1848-9  at  the  Ohio 
Medical  College  at  Cincinnati.  He  later 
discovered  a  methoil  of  transmitting  power 
throujjh  the  medium  nf  compressed  air.      A 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


co^[PE^^DIU^r  of  biograpiit. 


119 


double-acting  hemp  break  was  also  invented 
by  him.  The  invention,  however,  by  which 
Dr.  Catling  became  best  known  was  the 
famous  machine  gun  which  bears  his  name. 
This  he  brought  to  light  in  1861-62,  and  on 
the  first  trial  of  it,  in  the  spring  of  the  latter 
year,  two  hundred  shots  per  minute  were 
fired  from  it.  After  making  some  improve- 
ments which  increased  its  efficiency,  it  was 
submitted  to  severe  trials  by  our  govern- 
ment at  the  arsenals  at  Frankfort,  Wash- 
ington and  Fortress  Monroe,  and  at  other 
points.  The  gun  was  finally  adopted  by 
our  government,  as  well  as  by  that  of  Great 
Britain,  Russia  and  others. 


BENJAMIN  RYAN  TILLMAN,  who  won 
a  national  fame  in  politics,  was  born 
August  II,  1847,  in  Edgefield  county,  South 
Carolina.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Oldfield  school,  where  he  acquired  the 
rudiments  of  Latin  and  Creek,  in  addition 
to  a  good  English  education.  He  left  school 
in  1864  to  join  the  Confederate  army,  but 
was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  a  severe 
illness,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  an  eye. 
In  1 867  he  removed  to  Florida,  but  returned 
in  1868,  when  he  was  married  and  devoted 
himself  to  farming.  He  was  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  organization  of  his  county, 
but  except  a  few  occasional  services  he  took 
no  active  part  in  politics  then.  Gradually, 
however,  his  attention  was  directed  to  the 
depressed  condition  of  the  farming  interests 
of  his  state,  and  in  August,  1885,  before  a 
joint  meeting  of  the  agricultural  society  and 
state  grange  at  Bennettsville,  he  made  a 
speech  in  which  he  set  forth  the  cause  of 
agricultural  depression  and  urged  measures 
of  relief.  From  his  active  interest  in  the 
farming  class  he  was  styled  the  "  Agricult- 
ural Moses."  He  advocated  an  industrial 
school  for  women  and  for  a  separate  agri- 


cultural college,  and  in  1887  he  secured  a 
modification  in  the  final  draft  of  the  will  of 
Thomas  C.  Clemson,  which  resulted  in  the 
erection  of  the  Clemson  Agricultural  Col- 
lege at  F6rt  Hill.  In  1890  he  was  chosen 
governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and 
carried  the  election  by  a  large  majority. 
Governor  Tillman  was  inaugurated  Decem- 
ber 4,  1890.  Mr.  Tillman  was  next  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  from  South 
Carolina,  and  gained  a  national  reputation 
by  his  fervid  oratory. 


GEORGE  DENISON  PRENTICE.— 
No  journalist  of  America  was  so  cele- 
brated in  his  time  for  the  wit,  spice,  and 
vigor  of  his  writing,  as  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  From  Atlantic  to 
Pacific  he  was  well  known  by  his  witticism 
as  well  as  by  strength  and  force  of  his  edi- 
torials. He  was  a  native  of  Preston,  Con- 
necticut, born  December  18,  1802.  After 
laying  the  foundation  of  a  liberal  education 
in  his  youth,  he  entered  Brown  University, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1823.  Tak- 
ing up  the  study  of  law,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1829.  During  part  of  his  time 
he  was  editor  of  the  "  New  England  Weekly 
Review,"  a  position  which  he  relinquished 
to  go  south  and  was  succeeded  by  John 
Greenleaf  Whittier,  the  Quaker  poet. 

On  arriving  in  Louisville,  whither  he 
had  gone  to  gather  items  for  his  history  of 
Henry  Clay,  Mr.  Prentice  became  identified 
with  the  "  Louisville  Journal,"  which,  under 
his  hands,  became  one  of  the  leading  Whig 
newspapers  of  the  country.  At  the  head  of 
this  he  remained  until  the  day  of  his  death. 
This  latter  event  occurred  January  22,  1870, 
and  he  was  succeeded  in  the  control  of  the 
"Journal  "by    Colonel    Henry   Watterson. 

Mr.  Prentice  was  an  author  of  consider- 
able celebrity,  chief  among  his  works  being 


120 


COMt'EMUL  M    OF    lilOGRAPIir. 


"The  Life  of  Henry  Clay."  and  "  Prentice- 
ana."  a  collection  of  wit  and  humor,  that 
passed  through  several  large  editions. 


SAM.  HOUSTON,  in  the  opinion  of  some 
critics  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
who  ever  figured  in  American  history,  was  a 
native  of  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia,  born 
March  2,  1793.  Early  in  life  he  was  left  in 
destitute  circumstances  by  the  death  of  his 
father,  and,  with  his  mother,  removed  to 
Tennessee,  then  almost  a  boundless  wilder- 
ness. He  received  but  little  education, 
spending  the  most  of  his  time  among  the 
Cherokee  Indians.  Part  of  the  time  of  his 
residence  there  Houston  acted  as  clerk  for  a 
trader  and  also  taught  one  of  the  primitive 
schools  of  the  day.  In  181 3  he  enlisted  as 
private  in  the  United  States  army  and  was 
engaged  under  General  Jackson  in  the  war 
with  the  Creek  Indians.  When  peace  was 
made  Houston  was  a  lieutenant,  but  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law  at  Nashville.  After  holding 
some  minor  offices  he  was  elected  member 
of  congress  from  Tennessee.  This  was  in 
1823.  He  retained  this  office  until  1827, 
when  he  was  chosen  governor  of  the  state. 
In  1829,  resigning  that  office  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  Sam  Houston  removed 
to  Arkansas,  and  made  his  home  among  the 
Cherokees,  becoming  the  agent  of  that 
tribe  and  representing  their  interests  at 
Washington.  On  a  visit  to  Texas,  just 
prior  to  the  election  of  delegates  to  a  con- 
vention called  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
up  a  constitution  previous  to  the  admission 
of  the  state  into  the  Mexican  union,  he  was 
unanimously  chosen  a  delegate.  The  con- 
vention framed  the  constitution,  but,  it  be- 
ing rejected  by  the  government  of  Mexico, 
and  the  petition  for  admission  to  the  Con- 
federacy denied  and  the  Texans  told  by  the 


president  of  the  Mexican  union  to  give  up 
their  arms,  bred  trouble.  It  was  determined 
to  resist  this  demand.  A  military  force  was 
soon  organized,  with  General  Houston  at 
the  head  of  it.  War  was  prosecuted  with 
great  vigor,  and  with  varying  success,  but 
at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  April  21,  1836, 
the  Mexicans  were  defeated  and  their  leader 
and  president,  Siinta  Anna,  captured.  Texas 
was  then  proclaimed  an  independent  repub- 
lic, and  in  October  of  the  same  year  Hous- 
ton was  inaugurated  president.  On  the  ad- 
mission of  Te.xas  to  the  Federal  Union,  in 
1845,  Houston  was  elected  senator,  and 
held  that  position  for  twelve  years.  Oppos- 
ing the  idea  of  secession,  he  retired  from 
political  life  in  1861,  and  died  at  Hunts- 
ville,  Texas,  July  25,  1863. 


ELI  WHITNEY,  the  inventor  of  the  cot- 
ton-gin, was  born  in  Westborough,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  8,  1765.  After  his 
graduation  from  Yale  College,  he  went  to 
Georgia,  where  he  studied  law,  and  lived 
with  the  family  of  the  widow  of  General 
Nathaniel  Greene.  At  that  time  the  only 
way  known  to  separate  the  cotton  seed  from 
the  fiber  was  by  hand,  making  it  extremely 
slow  and  expensive,  and  for  this  reason  cot- 
ton was  little  cultivated  in  this  country. 
Mrs.  Greene  urged  the  inventive  Whitney 
to  devise  some  means  for  accomplishing 
this  work  by  machinery.  This  he  finally 
succeeded  in  doing,  but  he  was  harassed  by 
attempts  to  defraud  him  by  those  who  had 
stolen  his  ideas.  He  at  last  formed  a  part- 
nership with  a  man  named  Miller,  and  they 
began  the  manufacture  of  the  machines  at 
Washington,  Georgia,  in  1795.  The  suc- 
cess of  his  invention  was  immediate,  and  the 
legislature  of  South  Carolina  voted  the  sum 
of  $50,000  for  his  idea.  This  sum  he  had 
great  difficulty  in  collecting,  after  years  of 


COMPEXDILM   OF    BIOGRAPIIT. 


121 


litigation  and  delay.  North  Carolina  al- 
lowed him  a  royalty,  and  the  same  was 
agreed  to  by  Tennessee,  but  was  never  paid. 

While  his  fame  rests  upon  the  invention 
of  the  cotton-gin,  his  fortune  came  from  his 
improvements  in  the  manufacture  and  con- 
struction of  firearms.  In  1798  the  United 
States  government  gave  him  a  contract  for 
this  purpose,  and  he  accumulated  a  fortune 
from  it.  The  town  of  Whitneyville,  Con- 
necticut, was  founded  by  this  fortune. 
Whitney  died  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
January  8,  1825. 

The  cotton-gin  made  the  cultivation  of 
cotton  profitable,  and  this  led  to  rapid  in- 
troduction of  slavery  in  the  south.  His  in- 
vention thus  affected  our  national  history  in 
a  manner  little  dreamed  of  by  the  inventor. 


management,  jointly  with  Theodore  Moss. 
Lester  Wallack  was  commissioned  in  the 
queen's  service  while  in  England,  and  there 
he  also  married  a  sister  to  the  famous  artist, 
the  late  John  Everett  Millais.  While  Les- 
ter Wallack  never  played  in  the  interior 
cities,  his  name  was  as  familiar  to  the  public 
as  that  of  our  greatest  stars.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 6,  1888,  at  Stamford,   Connecticut. 


LESTER  WALLACK  ^  John  Lester  Wal- 
lack), for  many  years  the  leading  light 
comedian  upon  the  American  stage,  was 
the  son  of  James  W.  Wallack,  the  "  Brum- 
mell  of  the  Stage."  Both  father  and  son 
were  noted  for  their  comeliness  of  feature 
and  form.  Lester  Wallack  was  born  in 
New  York,  January  i,  18 19.  He  received 
his  education  in  England,  and  made  his  first 
appearance  on  the  stage  in  1848  at  the  New 
Broadway  theater.  New  York.  He  acted 
light  comedy  parts,  and  also  occasion- 
ally in  romantic  plays  like  Monte  Cristo, 
which  play  made  him  his  fame.  He  went 
to  England  and  played  under  management 
of  such  men  as  Hamblin  and  Burton, and  then 
returned  to  New  York  with  his  father,  who 
opened  the  first  Wallack's  theater,  at  the 
corner  of  Broome  and  Broadway,  in  1852. 
The  location  was  afterward  changed  to 
Thirteenth  and  Broadway,  in  1S61,  and 
later  to  its  present  location,  Broadway  and 
Thirteenth,  in  1882.  The  elder  Wallack 
died  in   1864,   after  which  Lester  assumed 


GEORGE  MORTIMER  PULLMAN, 
the  palace  car  magnate,  inventor, 
multi-millionaire  and  manufacturer,  may 
well  be  classed  among  the  remarkable 
self-made  men  of  the  century.  He  was 
born  March  3,  1 831,  in  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York.  His  parents  were  poor,  and 
his  education  was  limited  to  what  he  could 
learn  of  the  rudimentary  branches  in  the 
district  school.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
went  to  work  as  clerk  for  a  country  mer- 
chant. He  kept  this  place  three  years, 
studying  at  night.  When  seventeen  he 
went  to  Albion,  New  York,  and  worked  for 
his  brother,  who  kept  a  cabinet  shop  there. 
Five  years  later  he  went  into  business  for 
1  himself  as  contractor  for  moving  buildings 
along  the  line  of  the  Erie  canal,  which  was 
'  then  being  widened  by  the  state,  and  was 
i  successful  in  thii.  In  18 58  he  removed  to 
I  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
j  moving  and  raising  houses.  The  work  was 
I  novel  there  then  and  he  was  quite  success- 
ful. About  this  time  the  discomfort  attend- 
ant on  traveling  at  night  attracted  his  at- 
tention. He  reasoned  that  the  public  would 
gladly  pay  for  comfortable  sleeping  accom- 
modations. A  few  sleeping  cars  were  in 
use  at  that  time,  but  they  were  wretchedly 
crude,  uncomfortable  affairs.  In  1859  he 
bought  two  old  day  coaches  from  the  Chi- 
cago &.\lton  road  and  remodeled  them  some- 
thing like  the  general  plan  of  the  sleepin? 


V2'2 


Ci>MrK.\J>n    M    OF    JilOGJy'A/'J/y. 


cars  of  the   present  day.     They   were   put 

into  service  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  and 
became  popular  at  once.  In  1863  he  built 
the  first  sleeping-car  resembling  the  Pullman 
cars  of  to-day.  It  cost  $i8.cxxj  and  was 
the  "Pioneer."  After  that  the  Pullman 
Palace  Car  Company  prospered.  It  had 
shops  at  different  cities.  In  1880  the  Town 
of  Pullman  was  founded  by  Mr.  Pullman 
and  his  company,  and  this  model  manufac- 
turing community  is  known  all  over  the 
-world.    Mr.  Pullman  died  October  19,  1897. 


JAMES  E.  B.  STUART,  the  most  famous 
cavalry  leader  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy during  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in 
Patrick  county,  Virginia,  in  1833.  On 
graduating  from  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  West  Point,  in  1854,  he  was  as- 
signed, as  second  lieutenant,  to  a  regiment 
of  mounted  rifles,  receiving  his  commission 
in  October.  In  March,  1855,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  newly  organized  First  cavalry, 
and  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  the 
following  December,  and  to  captain  April 
22,  1861.  Taking  the  side  of  the  south. 
May  14,  1861,  he  was  made  colonel  of  a 
Virginia  cavalry  regiment,  and  served  as 
such  at  Bull  Run.  In  September,  1861,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-gen- 
erai.  and  major-general  early  in  1862.  On 
the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virgmia,  in  June  of  the  latter  year,  when 
R.  E.  Lee  assumed  command.  General  Stu- 
art made  a  reconnoissance  with  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  cavalry  and  four  guns, 
and  in  two  days  made  the  circuit  of  McClel- 
lan's  army,  producing  much  confusion  and 
gathering  useful  information,  and  losing  but 
one  man.  August  25,  1862,  he  captured 
part  of  Pope's  headquarters'  train,  including 
that  general's  private  baggage  and  official 
correspondence,   and  the  next  night,    in  a 


descent  upoD  Manasses,  capturing  immense 
quantities  of  commissary  and  quartermaster 
store,  eight  guns,  a  number  of  locomotives 
and  a  few  hundred  prisoners.  During  the 
invasion  of  Maryland,  in  September,  1862, 
General  Stuart  acted  as  rearguard,  resisting 
the  advance  of  the  Federal  cavalry  at  South 
Mountain,  and  at  Antietam  commanded  the 
Confederate  left.  Shortly  after  he  crossed 
the  Potomac,  making  a  raid  as  far  as  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862,  Gen- 
eral Stuart's  command  was  on  the  e.xtreme 
right  of  the  Confederate  line.  At  Chancel- 
lorsville,  after  "Stonewall  "  Jackson's  death 
and  the  wounding  of  General  A.  P.  Hill, 
General  Stuart  assumed  command  of  Jack- 
son's corps,  which  he  led  in  the  severe  con- 
test of  May  3,  1863.  Early  in  June,  the 
same  year,  a  large  force  of  cavalry  was 
gathered  under  Stuart,  at  Culpepper,  Vir- 
ginia, which,  advancing  to  join  General  Lee 
in  his  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  was  met  at 
Brandy  Station,  by  two  divisions  of  cavalry 
and  two  brigades  of  infantry,  under  General 
John  I.  Gregg,  and  driven  back.  During  the 
movements  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign  he 
rendered  important  services.  In  May,  1864, 
General  Stuart  succeeded,  by  a  detour,  in 
placing  himself  between  Richmond  and 
Sheridan's  advancing  column,  and  at  Yellow 
Tavern  was  attacked  in  force.  During  the 
fierce  conflict  that  ensued  General  Stuart 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  Rich- 
mond, May  II,  1864. 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE,  the  fourteenth 
president  of  the  United  States  —from 
1853  until  1S57 — was  born  November  23. 
1804,  at  Hillsboro.  New  Hampshire.  He 
came  of  old  revolutionary  stock  and  his 
father  was  a  governor  of  the  state.  Mr. 
Pierce  entered  Bowdoin    College  in    1820, 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BlOGRArilV. 


123 


was  graduated  in  1824.  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Wood- 
bury, and  later  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
Mr.  Pierce  practiced  his  profession  with 
varying  successes  in  his  native  town  and 
also  in  Concord.  He  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  in  1833  and  served  in  that 
body  until  1S37,  the  last  two  years  of  his 
term  serving  as  speaker  of  the  house.  He 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  in 
1837,  just  as  President  Van  Buren  began 
his  term  of  office.  Mr.  Pierce  served  until 
1842,  and  many  times  during  Polk's  term  he 
declined  important  public  offices.  During 
the  war  with  Mexico  Mr.  Pierce  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general,  and  he  embarked 
with  a  portion  of  his  troops  at  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  May  27,  1847,  and  went  with 
them  to  the  field  of  battle.  He  served 
through  the  war  and  distinguished  himself 
by  his  skill,  bravery  and  e.xcellent  judg- 
ment. When  he  reached  his  home  in  his 
native  state  he  was  received  coldly  by  the 
opponents  of  the  war,  but  the  advocates  of 
the  war  made  up  for  his  cold  reception  by 
the  enthusiastic  welcome  which  they  ac- 
corded him.  Mr.  Pierce  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  and  in  the  political 
strife  that  followed  he  gave  his  support  to 
the  pro-slavery  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party.  The  Democratic  convention  met  in 
Baltimore,  June  12,  1852,  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  the  presidency,  and  they  con- 
tinued in  session  four  days,  and  in  thirty- 
five  ballotings  no  one  had  secured  the  re- 
quisite two-thirds  vote.  Mr.  Pierce  had  not 
received  a  vote  as  yet,  until  the  Virginia 
delegation  brought  his  name  forward,  and 
finally  on  the  forty-ninth  ballot  Mr.  Pierce 
received  282  votes  and  all  the  other  candi- 
dates eleven.  His  opponent  on  the  Whig 
ticket  was  General  Winfield  Scott,  who 
only  received    the  electoral  votes    of    four 


states.  Mr.  Pierce  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  March  4,  1853, 
with  W.  R.  King  as  vice  president,  and  the 
following  named  gentlemen  were  afterward 
chosen  to  fill  the  positions  in  the  cabinet: 
William  S.  Marcy,  James  Guthrie,  Jeffer- 
son Davis,  James  C.  Dobbin,  Robert  Mc- 
Clelland, Jatnes  Campbell  and  Caleb  Cush- 
ing.  During  the  administration  of  President 
Pierce  the  Missouri  compromise  law  was 
repealed,  and  all  the  territories  of  the  Union 
were  thrown  open  to  slavery,  and  the  dis- 
turbances in  Kansas  occurred.  In  1857  he 
was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  James 
Buchanan,  and  retired  to  his  home  in  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire.  He  always  cherished 
his  principles  of  slavery,  and  at  the  out- 
break of  the  rebellion  he  was  an  adherent  of 
the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  died  at 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  October  8,  1869. 


JAMES  B.  WEAVER,  well  known  as  a 
leader  of  the  Greenback  and  later  of  the 
Populist  party,  was  born  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
June  12,  1833.  He  received  his  earlier 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Ohio 
University,  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1854.  Removing  to  the  grow- 
ing state  of  Iowa,  he  became  connected 
with  "The  Iowa  Tribune,"  at  the  state 
capital,  Des  Moines,  as  one  of  its  editors. 
He  afterward  practiced  law  and  was  elected 
district  attorney  for  the  second  judicial  dis- 
trict of  Iowa,  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
1866,  which  office  he  held  for  a  short  time. 
In  1867  Mr.  Weaver  was  appointed  assessor 
of  internal  revenue  for  the  first  district  of 
Iowa,  and  filled  that  position  until  some- 
time in  1873.  He  was  elected  and  served 
in  the  forty-sixth  congress.  In  1880  the 
National  or  Greenback  party  in  convention 
at  Chicago,  nominated  James  B.  Weaver  as 


ll't 


COMPEXDirM    OF    lilOGRAPin. 


its  candidate  for  the  presidency.  By  a 
union  of  the  Democratic  and  National 
parties  in  his  district,  he  was  elected  to  the 
forty-ninth  congress,  and  re-elected  to  the 
same  office  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Mr.  Weaver 
was  conceded  to  be  a  very  fluent  speaker, 
and  quite  active  in  all  political  work.  On 
July  4,  1892,  at  the  National  convention 
of  the  People's  party.  General  James  B. 
Weaver  was  chosen  as  the  candidate  for 
president  of  that  organization,  and  during 
the  campaign  that  followed,  gained  a  na- 
tional reputation. 


AXTHO.NY  JOSEPH  DREXEL,  one 
of  the  leading  bankers  and  financiers  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1826,  and  was  the  son  of 
Francis  M.  Drcxel,  who  had  established 
the  large  banking  institution  of  Drcxel  & 
Co.,  so  well  known.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  Dornbirn,  in  the  Austrian  Tyrol.  He 
studied  languages  and  fine  arts  at  Turin, 
Italy.  On  returning  to  his  mountain  home, 
in  1809,  and  finding  it  in  the  hands  of  the 
French,  he  went  to  Switzerland  and  later 
to  Paris.  In  1 812,  after  a  short  visit  home, 
he  went  to  Berlin,  where  he  studied  paint- 
ing until  1817,  in  which  year  he  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  A 
few  years  later  he  went  to  Chili  and  Peru, 
where  he  executed  some  fine  portraits  of 
notable  people,  including  General  Simon 
Bolivar.  After  spending  some  time  in  Mex- 
ico, he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business.  In  1837  he 
founded  the  house  of  Drcxel  &  Co.  He 
died  in  1837,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  two 
sons.  Anthony  J.  and  Francis  A.  His  son. 
Anthony  J.  Drexel,  Jr. ,  entered  the  bank 
when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age.  before  he 
was  through  with  his  schooling,  and  after 
that  the  history  of  the  banking   business  of 


which  he  was  the  bead,  was  the  history  of  his 
life.  The  New  York  house  of  Dre.xel,  Mor- 
gan &  Co.  was  established  in  1850;  the 
Paris  house.  Dre.xel.  Harjes  &  Co.. in  1867. 
The  Drcxel  banking  houses  have  supplied 
iand  placed  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars 
n  government,  corporation,  railroad  and 
other  loans  and  securities.  The  reputation 
of  the  houses  has  always  been  held  on  the 
highest  plane.  Mr.  Dre.xel  founded  and 
heavily  endowed  the  Drexel  Institute,  in 
Philadelphia,  an  institution  to  furnish  better 
and  wider  avenues  of  employment  to  young 
people  of  both  se.xes.  It  has  departments 
of  arts,  science,  mechanical  arts  and  domes- 
tic economy.  Mr.  Drexel.Jr., departed  this 
life  June  30,   1893. 


SAMUEL  FINLEY  BREESE  MORSE, 
inventor  of  the  recording  telegraph  in- 
strument, was  born  in  Charlestown,  Massa- 
chusetts, April  27,  1791.  He  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  iSio,  and  took  up  art 
as  his  profession.  He  went  to  London  with 
the  great  American  painter,  Washington 
Allston,  and  studied  in  the  Royal  Academy 
under  Benjamin  West.  His  "Dying  Her- 
cules," his  first  effort  in  sculpture,  took  the 
gold  medal  in  1813.  He  returned  to  .Amer- 
ica in  18 1 5  and  continued  to  pursue  his 
profession.  He  was  greatly  interested  in 
scientific  studies,  which  he  carried  on  in 
connection  with  other  labors.  He  founded 
the  National  Academy  of  Design  and  was 
many  years  its  president.  He  returned  to 
Europe  and  spent  three  years  in  study 
in  the  art  centers,  Rome.  Florence,  Venice 
and  Paris.  In  1832  he  returned  to  America 
and  while  on  the  return  voyage  the  idea  of 
a  recording  telegraph  apparatus  occurred  to 
him.  and  he  mmie  a  drawing  to  represent  his 
conception.  He  was  the  first  to  occupy  the 
chair  of    fine  arts  in  the  University  of  Now 


C(>.)//'/:X/>/r.)/    OF    JUl)  a h'A /'//)■ 


125 


York  Citj',  and  in  1835  he  set  up  his  rude 
instrument  'n  his  room  in  the  university. 
But  it  was  not  until  after  many  years  of 
discouragement  and  reverses  of  fortune  that 
le  finally  was  successful  in  placing  his  inven- 
tion before  the  public.  In  1844,  by  aid  of 
the  United  States  government,  he  had  con- 
structed a  telegraph  line  forty  miles  in  length 
from  Washington  to  Baltimore.  Over  this 
line  the  test  was  made,  and  the  first  tele- 
graphic message  was  flashed  May  24,  1844. 
from  the  United  States  supreme  court  rooms 
to  Baltimore.  It  read,  "What  hath  God 
wrought!"  His  fame  and  fortune  were  es- 
tablished in  an  instant.  Wealth  and  honors 
poured  in  upon  him  from  that  day.  The 
nations  of  Europe  vied  with  each  other 
in  honoring  the  great  inventor  with  medals, 
titles  and  decorations,  and  the  learned 
societies  of  Europe  hastened  to  enroll  his 
name  upon  their  membership  lists  and  confer 
degrees.  In  1858  he  was  the  recipient  of  an 
honor  never  accorded  to  an  inventor  before. 
The  ten  leading  nations  of  Europe,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Emporer  Napoleon,  ap- 
pointed representatives  to  an  international 
congress,  which  convened  at  Paris  for  the 
special  purpose  of  expressing  gratitude  of  the 
nations,  and  they  voted  him  a  present  of 
400,000  francs. 

Professor  Morse  was  present  at  the  unveil- 
ing of  a  bronze  statue  erected  in  his  honor  in 
Central  Park,  New  York,  in  1871.  His  last 
appearance  in  public  was  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  statue  of  Benjamin  Franklin  in  New 
York  in  1872,  when  he  made  the  dedica- 
tory speech  and  unveiled  the  statue.  He 
died  April  2,  1872,  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

MORRISON  REMICH  WAITE, seventh 
chief  justice  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Lyme,  Connecticut,  November  29, 
1816.      He  was  a  graduate   from  Yale   Col- 


lege in  1837,  in  the  class  with  William  M. 
Evarts.  His  father  was  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  errors  of  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, and  in  his  office  young  Waite 
studied  law.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of 
that  state  in  1849.  He  removed  from 
Maumee  City  to  Toledo  and  became  a  prom- 
inent legal  light  in  that  state.  He  was 
nominated  as  a  candidate  for  congress  re- 
peatedly but  declined  to  run,  and  also  de- 
clined a  place  on  the  supreme  bench  of  the 
state.  He  won  great  distinction  for  his  able 
handling  of  the  Alabama  claims  at  Geneva, 
before  the  arbitration  tribunal  in  1S71,  and 
was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States  in  1874  on  the 
death  of  Judge  Chase.  When,  in  1876,  elec- 
toral commissioners  were  chosen  to  decide 
the  presidential  election  controversy  between 
Tilden  and  Hayes,  Judge  Waite  refused  to 
serve  on  that  commission. 

His  death  occurred  March  23,  1S88. 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE  was  one  of  the 
distinguished  American  explorers  of  the 
unknown  regions  of  the  frozen  north,  and 
gave  to  the  world  a  more  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  Arctic  zone.  Dr.  Kane  was 
born  February  3,  1820,  at  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the 
universities  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania, 
and  took  his  medical  degree  in  1843.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  United  States 
navy,  and  was  physician  to  the  Chinese 
embassy.  Dr.  Kane  traveled  extensively 
in  the  Levant,  Asia  and  Western  Africa, 
and  also  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  in 
which  he  was  severely  wounded.  His 
first  Arctic  expedition  was  under  De  Haven 
in  the  first  Grinnell  expedition  in  search 
of  Sir  John  Franklin  in  1850.  Ho  com- 
manded    the    second    Grinnell    expedition 


126 


COMPEXD/L'M   OF    BlOCliArn V. 


in  1853-55,  and  discovered  an  open  polar 
sea.  For  this  expedition  he  received  a  gold 
medal  and  other  distinctions.  He  published 
a  narrative  of  his  first  polar  e.xpedition  in 
1853.  and  in  1856  published  two  volumes 
relating  to  his  second  polar  expedition.  He 
was  a  man  of  active,  enterprising  and  cour- 
ageous spirit.  His  health,  which  was  al- 
ways delicate,  was  impaired  by  the  hard- 
ships of  his  Arctic  expeditions,  from  which 
he  never  fully  recovered  and  from  which  he 
died  February  16.  1857,  at  Havana. 


ELIZABETH  CADY  STANTON  was  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Daniel  Cady  and 
Margaret  Livingston,  and  was  born  Novem- 
ber 12,  1815,  at  Johnstown,  New  York.  She 
was  educated  at  the  Johnstown  Academy, 
v"here  she  studied  with  a  class  of  boys,  and 
.vas  fitted  for  college  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
ifter  which  she  pursued  her  studies  at  Mrs. 
Willard's  Seminary,  at  Troy.  Her  atten- 
*.'!on  was  called  to  the  disabilities  of  her  sex 
by  her  own  educational  experiences,  and 
through  a  study  of  Blackstone,  Story,  and 
Kent.  Miss  Cady  was  married  to  Henry  B. 
Stanton  in  1840,  and  accompanied  him  to 
the  world's  anti-slavery  convention  in  Lon- 
don. While  there  she  made  the  acquain- 
tance of  Lucretia  Mott.  Mrs.  Stanton 
resided  at  Boston  until  1847,  when  the 
family  moved  to  Seneca  Falls,  New  York, 
and  she  and  Lucretia  Mott  signed  the  first 
call  for  a  woman's  rights  convention.  The 
meeting  was  held  at  her  place  of  residence 
July  19  20,  1848.  This  was  the  first  oc- 
casion of  a  formal  claim  of  suffrage  for 
women  that  was  made.  Mrs.  Stanton  ad- 
dressed the  New  York  legislature,  in  1854, 
on  the  rights  of  married  women,  and  in 
i860,  in  advocacy  of  the  granting  of  di- 
vorce for  dnuikcnness.  She  also  addressed 
the  legislature  and   the    constitutional   con- 


vention, and  maintained  that  during  the 
revision  of  the  constitution  the  state  was 
resolved  into  its  original  elements,  and  that 
all  citizens  had,  therefore,  a  right  to  vote 
for  the  members  of  that  convention.  After 
1869  Mrs.  Stanton  frequently  addressed 
congressional  committees  and  state  consti- 
tutional conventions,  and  she  canvassed 
Kansas,  Michigan,  and  other  states  when 
the  question  of  woman  suffrage  was  sub- 
mitted in  those  states.  Mrs.  Stanton  was 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Revolution,"  and 
most  of  the  calls  and  resolutions  for  con- 
ventions have  come  from  her  pen.  She 
was  president  of  the  national  committee, 
also  of  the  Woman's  Loyal  League,  and 
of  the  National  Association,  for  many  years. 


DAVID  DUDLEY  FIELD,  a  great 
American  jurist  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut in  1805.  He  en.o.ca  Williams  College 
when  sixteen  years  old,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  1825.  In  1828  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  soon  came  into  prominence  be- 
fore the  bar  of  that  state.  He  entered  upon 
the  labor  of  reforming  the  practice  and 
procedure,  which  was  then  based  upon  the 
common  law  practice  of  England,  and  had 
become  extremely  complicated,  difficult  and 
uncertain  in  its  application.  His  first  paper 
on  this  subject  was  published  in  1839.  and 
after  eight  years  of  continuous  efforts  in  this 
direction,  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  com- 
mission by  New  York  to  reform  the  practice 
of  that  state.  The  result  was  embodied  in 
the  two  codes  of  procedure,  civil  and  crimi- 
nal, the  first  of  which  was  adopted  almost 
entire  by  the  state  of  New  York,  and  has 
since  been  adopted  by  more  than  half  the 
states  in  the  Union,  and  became  the  basis 
of  the  new  practice  and  procedure  in  Eng- 
land, contained  in  the  Judicature  act.      He 


co^frEXD/r^f  or  BioGRAPfir. 


127 


was  later  appointed  chairman  cf  a  new  com- 
mission to  codify  the  entire  body  of  laws. 
This  great  work  employed  many  years  in  its 
completion,  but  when  finished  it  embraced 
a  civil,  penal,  and  political  code,  covering 
the  entire  field  of  American  laws,  statutory 
and  common.  This  great  body  of  law  was 
adopted  by  California  and  Dakota  territory 
in  its  entirety,  and  many  other  states  have 
since  adopted  its  substance.  In  1867  the 
British  Association  for  Social  Science  heard 
a  proposition  from  Mr.  Field  to  prepare  an 
international  code.  This  led  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  his  "  Draft  Outlines  of  an  Interna- 
tional Code, "  which  was  in  fact  a  complete 
bod}'  of  international  laws,  and  introduced 
the  principle  of  arbitration.  Other  of  his 
codes  of  the  state  of  New  York  have  since 
been  adopted  by  that  state. 

In  addition  to  his  great  works  on  law, 
Mr.  Field  indulged  his  literary  tastes  by  fre- 
quent contributions  to  general  literature, 
and  his  articles  on  travels,  literature,  and 
the  political  questions  of  the  hour  gave 
him  rank  with  the  best  writers  of  his  time. 
His  father  was  the  Rev.  David  Dudley  Field, 
and  his  brothers  were  Cyrus  ^^'.  Field,  Rev. 
Henry  Martin  Field,  and  Justice  Stephen 
J.  Field  of  the  United  States  supreme 
court.  David  Dudley  Field  died  at  New 
York,  April  13,   1894. 


HENRY  M.  TELLER,  a  celebrated 
American  politician,  and  secretary  of 
the  interior  under  President  Arthur,  was  born 
May  23,  1830,  in  Allegany  county,  New 
York.  He  was  of  Hollandish  ancestry  and 
received  an  excellent  education,  after  which 
he  took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Teller  removed  to  Illinois  in  January, 
I858,  and  practiced  for  three  years  in  that 
state.      From  thence  he  moved  to  Colorado 


in  1 86 1  and  located   at  Central  City,  which 
was  then  one  of  the  principal  mining  towns 
in  the  state.      His  exceptional  abilities    as 
a  lawyer  soon  brought  him  into  prominence 
and  gained  for  him  a  numerous  and  profit- 
able clientage.      In  politics  he  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  declined  to  become 
a  candidate  for  of!ice  until  the  admission  of 
Colorado  into  the  Union  as  a  state,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate. 
Mr.    Teller   drew   the  term    ending  March 
4,  1877,  but  was  re-elected  December   11, 
1876,  and  served  until  April  17,  18S2,  when 
'  he  was  appointed    by  President  Arthur  as 
secretary  of   the  interior.      He  accepted  a 
cabinet  position  with   reluctance,    and    on 
March  3,   1885,  he  retired  from  the  cabinet, 
[  having  been  elected  to   the  senate   a   short 
I  time  before  to  succeed   Nathaniel    P.    Hill. 
Mr.  Teller  took  his  seat  on  March  4,   1885, 
j  in  the  senate,  to  which  he  was  afterward 
I  re-elected.      He  served  as  chairman  on  the 
'  committee  of  pensions,   patents,    mines  and 
;  mining,  and  was  also  a  member  of  commit- 
!  tees    on    claims,    railroads,    privileges    and 
elections  and  public  lands.     Mr.  Teller  came 
,  to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  advo- 
;  cates  of  the  silver  cause.    He  was  one  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Republican  National  conven- 
tion at  St.  Louis  in   1896,  in  which  he  took 
an  active  part  and  tried  to  have    a    silver 
plank  inserted  in  the  platform  of  the    party. 
Failing  in  this  he  felt  impelled  to  bolt  the 
convention,  which  he  did  and  joined  forces 
with  the  great  silver  movement  in  the  cam- 
paign which  followed,  being  recognized  in 
that  campaign  as  one  of  the  most  able  and 
eminent  advocates  of  ••silver"  in  America. 


JOHN  ERICSSON,  an  eminent  inven- 
tor and  machinist,  who  won  fame  \a 
!  America,  was  born  ir.  Sweden,  July  31.1 803. 
I  In  early  childhood  he  evinced  a  decided  in- 


128 


coMri:.\njL.M  of  jj/ogua/'//)-. 


cliiiatiuii  tj  mechanical  pursuits,  and  at  the 
age  of  eleven  lie  was  appointed  to  a  cadet- 
ship  i  I  the  engineer  corps,  and  at  the  age  of 
seveiiteen  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
In  1826  he  introduced  a  ••flame  engine," 
which  he  had  invented,  and  offered  it  to 
English  capitalists,  but  it  was  found  that  it 
could  be  operated  only  by  the  use  of  wood 
for  fuel.  Shortly  after  this  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  army  of  Sweden,  and  de- 
voted himself  to  mechanical  pursuits.  He 
discovered  and  introduced  the  principle  of 
artificial  draughts  in  steam  boilers,  and  re- 
ceived a  prize  of  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  for  his  locomotive,  the  "Novelty," 
which  attained  a  great  speed,  for  that  day. 
The  artificial  draught  effected  a  great  saving 
in  fuel  and  made  unnecessary  the  huge 
smoke-stacks  formerly  used,  and  the  princi- 
ple is  still  applied,  in  modified  form,  in  boil 
ers.  He  also  invented  a  steam  fire-engine, 
and  later  a  hot-air  engine,  which  he  at- 
tempted to  apply  in  the  operation  of  his 
ship,  "Ericsson."  but  as  it  did  not  give  the 
speed  required,  he  abandoned  it,  but  after- 
wards applied  it  to  machinery  for  pumping, 
hoisting,  etc. 

Ericsson  was  first  to  apply  the  screw 
propeller  to  navigation.  The  English  peo- 
ple not  receiving  this  new  departure  readily, 
Ericsson  came  to  America  in  1839,  and 
built  the  United  States  steamer,  "Prince- 
ton." in  which  the  screw-propeller  was  util- 
ized, the  first  steamer  ever  built  in  which 
the  propeller  was  under  water,  out  of  range 
of  the  enemy's  shots.  The  achievement 
which  gave  him  greatest  renown,  however, 
was  the  ironclad  vessel,  the  "Monitor,"  an 
entirely  new  type  of  vessel,  which,  in  March, 
1862.  attacked  the  Confederate  monster 
ironclad  ram,  "  \'irginia,"  and  after  a  fierce 
struggle,  compelled  her  to  withdraw  from 
Haujpton  Roads  for  repairs.      After  the  war 


one  of  his  most  noted  inventions  was  his 
vessel,  "  Destroyer,"  with  a  submarine  gun, 
which  carried  a  projectile  torpedo.  In  1886 
the  king  of  Spain  conferred  on  him  the 
grand  cross  of  the  Order  of  Naval  -Merit. 
He  died  in  March.  1SS9,  and  his  body  was 
transferred,  with  naval  honors,  to  the  country 
of  his  birth. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fifteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  April  23,  1791.  He  was  of  Irish 
ancestry,  his  father  having  come  to  this 
country  in  1783,  in  quite  humble  circum- 
stances, and  settled  in  the  western  part  of 
the  Keystone  state. 

James  Buchanan  remained  in  his  se- 
cluded home  for  eight  years,  enjoying  but 
few  social  or  intellectual  advantages.  His 
parents  were  industrious  and  frugal,  and 
prospered,  and.  in  1799.  the  family  removed 
to  Mercersbur  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  placed  in  school.  His  progress  was 
rapid,  and  in  1801  he  entered  Dickinson 
College,  at  Carlisle,  where  he  took  his  place 
among  the  best  scholars  in  the  institution. 
In  1809  he  graduated  with  the  highest  hon- 
ors in  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen,  tall, 
graceful  and  in  vigorous  health.  He  con:- 
menced  the  study  of  law  at  Lancaster,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bai  in  1812.  He  rose 
very  rapidly  in  his  profession  and  took  a 
stand  with  the  ablest  of  his  fellow  lawyers. 
When  but  twenty-si.\  years  old  he  success- 
fully defended,  unaided  by  counsel,  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  state  who  was  before  the 
bar  of  the  state  senate  under  articles  of  im- 
peachment. 

During  the  war  of  1S12-15,  Mr.  Buch- 
anan sustained  the  government  with  all  his 
power,  eloquently  urging  the  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  the  war,  and  enlisted  as   a  private 


CO.UPEXD/C.U   OF    BIOGRAPIir. 


129 


volunteer  to  assist  in  repelling  the  British 
who  had  sacked  and  burned  the  public 
buildings  of  Washington  and  threatened 
Baltimore.  At  that  time  Buchanan  was 
a  Federalist,  but  the  opposition  of  that 
party  to  the  war  with  Great  Britain  and  the 
alien  and  sedition  laws  of  John  Adams, 
brought  that  party  into  disrepute,  and  drove 
many,  among  them  Buchanan,  into  the  Re- 
publican, or  anti-Federalist  ranks.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1S28.  In  1831  he 
was  sent  as  minister  to  Russia,  and  upon 
his  return  to  this  country,  in  1833,  was  ele- 
vated to  the  United  States  senate,  and  re- 
^  mained  in  that  position  for  twelve  years. 
Upon  the  accession  of  President  Polk  to 
office  he  made  Mr.  Buchanan  secretary  of 
state.  Four  years  later  he  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  and  in  1853  he  was  honored  with 
the  mission  to  England.  In  1S56  the  na- 
tional Democratic  convention  nominated 
him  for  the  presidency  and  he  was  elected. 
It  was  during  his  administration  that  the 
rising  tide  of  the  secession  movement  over- 
took the  country.  Mr.  Buchanan  declared 
that  the  national  constitution  gave  him  no 
power  to  do  anything  against  the  movement 
to  break  up  the  Union.  After  his  succession 
by  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  Mr.  Buchanan 
retired  to  his  home  at  Wheatland,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  June  i,   1868. 


JOHN  HARVARD,  the  founder  of  the 
Harvard  University,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land about  the  year  1608.  He  received  his 
education  at  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge, 
and  came  to  America  in  1637,  settling  in 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  non-conformist 
minister,  and  a  tract  of  land  was  set  aside 
for  him  in  Charlestown,  near  Boston.  He 
was  at  once  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to 
formulate  a  body  of  laws  for  the  colony. 
One  vear  before  his  arrival  in  the  colony 


the  general  court  had  voted  the  sum  of  four 
hundred  pounds  toward  the  establishment  of 
a  school  or  college,  half  of  which  was  to  be 
paid  the  next  year  In  1637  preliminary 
plans  were  made  for  starting  the  school.  In 
163S  John  Harvard,  who  had  shown  great 
I  interest  in  the  new  institution  of  learning 
j  proposed,  died,  leaving  his  entire  property, 
about  twice  the  sum  originally  voted,  to  the 
school,  together  with  three  hundred  volumes 
as  a  nucleus  for  a  library.  The  institution 
was  then  given  the  name  of  Harvard,  and 
established  at  Newton  (now  Cambridge), 
j  Massachusetts.  It  grew  to  be  one  of  the  two 
I  principal  seats  of  learning  in  the  new  world, 
and  has  maintained  its  reputation  since.  It 
now  consists  of  twenty-two  separate  build- 
ings, and  'ts  curriculum  embraces  over  one 
hundred  and  seventy  elective  courses,  and  it 
ranks  among  the  great  universities  of  the 
world. 

ROGER  BROOKE  TANEY,  a  noted 
jurist  and  chief  justice  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court,  was  born  in  Calvert 
county,  Maryland,  March  17,  1777.  He 
graduated  fum  Dickinson  College  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  took  up  the  study  of  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1799.      He 

1  was  chosen  to  the  legislature  from  his  county, 
and  in  1801  removed  to  Frederick,  Mary- 
land. He  became  United  States  senator 
from  Maryland  in  18 16,  and  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  Baltimore  a  few 
years  later.      In  1824  he  became  an  ardent 

I  admirer  and  supporter  of  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  upon  Jackson's  election  to  the  presi- 
dency, was  appointed  attorney  general  of 
the  United  States.  Two  years  later  he  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and 
after  serving  in  that  capacity  for  nearly  one 
year,  the  senate  refused  to  confirm  the  ap- 
pointment.     In    1835,   upon    the   death  of 


COM/'EX/JILM   OF    lilOGRAr lir. 


Chief-justic^  Marshall,  he  was  appointed  to 
that  place,  and  a  political  change  having 
occurred  in  the  make  up  of  the  senate,  he 
was  confirmed  in  i!>36.  He  presided  at 
his  first  session  in  January  of  the  following 
year. 

The  case  which  suggests  itself  first  to 
the  average  reader  in  connection  with  this 
jurist  is  the  celebrated  "  Dred  Scott  "  case, 
which  came  before  the  supreme  court  for 
decision  in  1856.  In  his  opinion,  delivered 
on  behalf  of  a  majority  of  the  court,  one 
remarkable  statement  occurs  as  a  result  of 
an  exhaustive  sur\cy  of  the  historical 
grounds,  to  the  effect  that  "  for  more  than 
a  century  prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution thi.y  (Africans)  had  been  regarded 
so  far  inferior  that  they  had  no  rights  which 
a  white  man  was  bound  to  respect."  Judge 
Taney  retained  the  office  of  chief  justice 
until  his  death,  in  1864. 


JOHN  LOTHKOP  MOTLEY.— This  gen- 
tleman had  a  world-wide  reputation  as 
an  historian,  which  placed  him  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  great  men  of  America.  He  was 
born  April  15,  1814,  at  Dorchester,  Massa- 
chusetts, was  given  a  thorough  preparatory 
education  and  then  attended  Harvard,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1831.  He  also 
studied  at  Gottingen  and  Berlin,  read  law 
and  in  1836  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In 
1 84 1  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
legation  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  in  1866-67 
served  as  United  Stages  niinibter  to  Austria, 
serving  in  the  same  capacity  during  1869 
and  187010  England.  In  1856,  after  long 
and  e.xhaustive  research  and  preparation. he 
published  in  London  "The  Rise  of  tlu' 
Dutch  Republic."  It  embraced  three  vol- 
umes and  immediately  attracted  great  at- 
tention throughout  Europe  and  America  as 
a  work  of  unusual   merit.      From    1S61    to 


r868  he  produced  "The  History  of  the 
United  Netherlands,"  in  four  volumes. 
Other  works  followed,  with  equal  success, 
and  his  position  as  one  of  the  foremost  his- 
torians and    writers  of   his  day  was  firmly 

j  established.      His    death  occured    May  29, 

I    '877.  

ELIAS  HOWE,  the  inventor  of  the  sew- 
ing machine,  well  deserves  to  be  classed 
among  the  great  and  noted  men  of  Amer- 
ica. He  was  the  son  of  a  miller  and  farmer 
and  was  born  at  Spencer,  Massachusetts, 
July  9,  1819.  In  1835  he  went  to  Lowell 
and  worked  there,  and  later  at  Boston,  in  the 
machine  shops.  His  first  sewing  machine 
was  completed  in  i  S45 .  and  he  patented  it  in 
1846,  laboring  with  the  greatest  persistency 
in  spite  of  poverty  and  hardships,  working 
for  a' time  as  an  engine  driver  on  a  railroad 
at  pauper  \sages  and  with  broken  health. 
He  then  spent  two  years  of  unsuccessful  ex- 
ertion in  England,  striving  in  vain  to  bring 
his  invention  into  public  notice  and  use. 
He  returned  to  the  United  States  in  almost 
hopeless  poverty,  to  find  that  his  patent 
had  been  violated.  At  last,  however,  he 
found  friends  who  assisted  him  financially, 
and  after  years  of  litigation  he  made  gocjd 
his  claims  in  the  courts  in  1S54.  His  inven- 
tion afterward  brought  him  a  large  fortune. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  volunteered  as  a 
private  in  the  Seventeenth  Connecticut  Vol- 
unteers, and  served  for  some  time.  During 
his  life  time  he  received  the  cross  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor  and  many  other  med,ils. 
His  death  occurred  October  3,  1867,  at 
Brooklyn.  New  York. 


PllILLirS  BROOKS,  celebrated  as  an 
eloquent  pre.icher  and  able  pulpit  ora- 
I  tor,  was  born  in  Boston  on  the  13th  d.iy  of 
;    December.     1S35.       He    received    excellent 


COMPEXDILM   OF    BlOGRAPlir 


131 


educational  advantages,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1855.  Early  in  life  he  decided 
upon  the  ministry  as  his  life  work  and 
studied  theology  in  the  Episcopal  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  at  Alexandria,  Virginia.  In 
1859  he  was  ordained  and  the  same  year 
became  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Advent, 
in  Philadelphia.  Three  years  later  he  as- 
sumed the  pastorate  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  where  he  remained  until  1870. 
At  the  e.xpiration  of  that  time  he  accepted 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Trinity  Church  in 
Boston,  where  his  eloquence  and  ability  at- 
tracted much  attention  and  built  up  a  pow- 
erful church  organization.  Dr.  Brooks  also 
devoted  considerable  time  to  lecturing  and 
literary  work  and  attained  prominence  in 
these  lines.         

WILLIAM  B.  ALLISON,  a  statesman 
of  national  reputation  and  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  was  born 
March  2,  1829,  at  Perry,  Ohio.  He  grew 
up  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  assisted 
in  cultivating,  and  attended  the  district 
school.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  went 
to  the  academy  at  Wooster,  and  subse- 
quently spent  a  year  at  the  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  He  next 
taught  school  and  spent  another  year  at  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Allison  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
at  Wooster,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bariniSsi,  and  soon  obtained  a  position 
as  deputy  county  clerk.  His  political  lean- 
ings were  toward  the  old  line  Whigs,  who 
afterward  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  in  1856,  in  the  campaign  of 
which  he  supported  Fremont  for  president. 
Mr  Allison  removed  to  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
in  the  following  year.  He  rapidly  rose  to 
prominence  at  the  bar  and  in  politics.     In 


i860  he  was  chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  convention  held  in  Chicago,  of 
which  he  was  elected  one  of  the  secretaries. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  staf!  of  the  governor.  His 
congressional  career  opened  in  1S62,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  thirty-eighth  congress; 
he  was  re-elected  three  times,  serving  from 
March  4,  1863,  to  March  3.  1871.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  ways  and  means  committee 
a  good  part  of  his  term.  His  career  in  the 
United  States  senate  began  in  1873,  and  he 
rapidly  rose  to  eminence  in  national  affairs, 
his  service  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  that 
body  being  marked  by  close  fealty  to  the 
Republican  party.  He  twice  declined  the 
portfolio  of  the  treasury  tendered  him  by 
Garfield  and  Harrison,  and  his  name  was 
prominently  mentioned  for  the  presidency 
at  several  national  Republican  conventions. 


MARY  ASHTON  LIVERMORE,  lec- 
turer and  writer,  was  born  in  Boston, 
December  19,  1821.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Timothy  Rice,  and  married  D.  P.  Liver- 
more,  a  preacher  of  the  Universalist  church. 
She  contributed  able  articles  to  many  of  the 
most  noted  periodicals  of  this  country  and 
England.  During  the  Civil  war  she  labored 
zealously  and  with  success  on  behalf  of  the 
sanitary  commission  which  played  so  impor- 
tant a  part  during  that  great  struggle.  She 
became  editor  of  the  "  Woman's  Journal," 
published  at  Boston  in  1870. 

She  held  a  prominent  place  as  a  public 
speaker  and  writer  on  woman's  suffrage, 
temperance,  social  and  religious  questions, 
and  her  intluence  was  great  in  every  cause 
she  advocated. 


JOHN  B.    GOUGH,  a  noted  temperance 
lecturer,  who  won  his  fame  in  America, 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Sandgate,  Kent, 


182 


COMPEXDILM    OF    BIOGliAI'Hr 


England,  August  22,  1817.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  at  the  a;^e  of  twelve. 
He  followed  the  trade  of  bookbinder,  and 
lived  in  great  poverty  on  account  of  the 
liquor  habit.  In  1843,  however,  he  re- 
formed, and  began  his  career  as  a  temper- 
ance lecturer.  He  worked  zealously  in  the 
cause  of  temperance,  and  his  lectures  and 
published  articles  revealed  great  earnestness. 
He  formed  temperance  societies  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  labored  with  great 
success.  He  visited  England  in  the  same 
cause  about  the  year  1853  and  again  in 
1878.  He  also  lectured  upon  many  other 
topics,  in  which  he  attained  a  wide  reputa- 
tion. His  death  occurred  February  18, 
1886.  

THOMAS  BUCHANAN  READ,  author, 
sculptor  and  painter,  was  born  in  Ches- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  March  12,  1822. 
He  early  evinced  a  taste  for  art,  and  began 
the  study  of  sculpture  in  Cincinnati.  Later 
he  found  painting  more  to  his  liking.  He 
went  to  New  York,  where  he  followed  this 
profession,  and  later  to  Boston.  In  1846 
he  located  in  Philadelphia.  He  visited 
Italy  in  1 8 50.  and  studied  at  Florence, 
where  he  resided  almost  continuously  for 
twenty-two  years.  He  returned  to  America 
in  1872,  and  died  in  New  York  May  11  of 
the  same  year. 

He  was  the  author  of  many  heroic 
poems,  but  the  one  giving  him  the  most  re- 
nown is  his  famous  "Sheridan's  Kide,"  of 
which  he  has  also  left  a  representation  in 
painting. 

EUGENE  V.  DEBS,  the  former  famous 
president  of  the  American  Railway 
Union,  and  great  labor  leader,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  in  1855. 
He  received    his    education    in   the    public 


schools  of  that  place  and  at  the  age  'A 
sixteen  years  began  work  as  a  painter  in 
the  Vandalia  shops.  After  this,  for  some 
three  years,  he  was  employed  as  a  loco- 
motive fireman  on  the  same  road.  His 
first  appearance  in  public  life  was  in  his 
canvass  for  the  election  to  the  office  of  city 
clerk  'of  Terre  Haute.  In  this  capacity  he 
served  two  terms,  and  when  twenty  si.\ 
years  of  age  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
legislature  of  the  state  of  Indiana.  While 
a  member  of  that  body  he  secured  the 
passage  of  several  bills  in  the  interest  of 
organized  labor,  of  which  he  was  always 
a  faithful  champion.  Mr.  Debs'  speech 
nominating  Daniel  Voorhees  for  the  United 
States  senate  gave  him  a  wide  reputation  for 
oratory.  On  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
the  legislature,  he  was  elected  grand  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Brotherhood  of 
Locomotive  Fireman  and  filled  that  office 
for  fourteen  successive  years.  He  was 
always  an  earnest  advocate  of  confederation 
of  railroad  men  and  it  was  mainly  through 
his  efforts  that  the  United  Order  of  Railway 
Employes,  composed  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Railway  Trainmen  and  Conductors. 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen  and 
the  Switchmen's  Mutual  Aid  Association  was 
formed,  and  he  became  a  member  of  its 
supreme  council.  The  order  was  dissolved 
by  disagreement  between  two  of  its  leading 
orders,  and  then  Mr.  Debs  conceived  the 
idea  of  the  American  Railway  Union.  He 
worked  on  the  details  and  tiie  union  came 
into e.xistence in Chicaf^o,  June 20, 1 S93.  For 
a  time  it  prospered  and  became  one  of  the 
largest  bodies  of  railway  men  in  the  world. 
It  won  in  a  contest  with  the  Great  Northern 
Railway.  In  the  strike  made  by  the  union 
in  sympathy  with  the  Pullman  employes 
inaugurated  in  Chic.igo  June  25,  iS<j4.  and 
the  consequent  rioting,   the    Railway  Union 


CO.UPEXniCM   OF    BIOGRAPIir 


lost  much  prestige  and  Mr.  Debs,  in  company 
with  others  of  the  officers,  being  held  as  in  con- 
tempt of  the  United  States  courts,  he  suffered 
a  sentence  of  six  months  in  jail  at  Wood- 
stock, McHenry  county,  Illinois.  In  1897 
Mr.  Debs,  on  the  demise  of  the  American 
Railway  Union,  organized  the  Social 
Democracy,  an  institution  founded  on  the 
best  lines  of  the  communistic  idea,  which 
was  to  provide  homes  and  employment  for 
its  members. 


JOHN  G.  CARLISLE,  famous  as  a  law- 
yer, congressman,  senator  and  cabinet 
officer,  was  born  in  Campbell  (now  Kenton) 
county,  Kentucky,  September  5,  1S35,  on  a 
farm.  He  received  the  usual  education  oi 
the  time  and  began  at  an  early  age  to  teach 
school  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  study  of 
law.  Soon  opportunity  offered  and  he 
entered  an  office  in  Covington,  Kentucky, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar  in 
1S5S.  Politics  attracted  his  attention  and 
in  1S59  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  the  legislature  of  his  native 
state.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  1861, 
he  embraced  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  preserving  Kentucky 
to  the  federal  cause.  He  resumed  his  legal 
practice  for  a  time  and  declined  a  nomina- 
tion as  presidential  elector  in  1864.  In 
1 866  and  again  in  1S69  Mr.  Carlisle  was 
elected  to  the  senate  of  Kentucky.  He  re- 
signed this  position  in  1871  and  was  chosen 
lieutenant  governor  of  the  state,  which  office 
he  held  until  1875.  He  was  one  of  the 
presidential  electors-at- large  for  Ken- 
tucky in  1876.  He  first  entered  congress  in 
1877,  and  soon  became  a  prominent  leader 
on  the  Democratic  side  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  continued  a  member  of 
that  body  through  the  forty-si.xth,  forty- 
seventh,  forty -eighth   and  forty-ninth  con- 


gresses, and  was  speaker  of  the  house  during 
the  two  latter.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  to  succeed  Senator 
Blackburn,  and  remained  a  member  of  that 
branch  of  congress  until  March,  1893,  when 
he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
He  performed  the  duties  of  that  high  office 
until  March  4,  1S97,  throughout  the  en- 
tire second  administration  of  President 
Cleveland.  His  ability  and  many  years  of 
public  service  gave  him  a  national  reputa- 
tion. 

FR.\NCES  E.  \VILL.\RD,  for  many  years 
president  of  the  -Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union,  and  a  noted  American 
lecturer  and  writer,  was  born  in  Rochester, 
New  York,  September  28,  1839.  Graduating 
from  the  Northwestern  Female  College  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  she  began  teaching  and  met 
with  great  success  in  many  cities  of  the  west. 
She  was  made  directress  of  Genesee  Wes- 
leyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  Ohio,  in  1867,  and 
four  years  later  was  elected  president  of  the 
Evanston  College  for  young  ladies,  a  branch 
of  the  Northwestern  University. 

During  the  two  years  succeeding  1869 
she  traveled  e.xtensively  in  Europe  and  the 
east,  visiting  Egypt  and  Palestine,  and 
gathering  materials  for  a  valuable  course  of 
lectures,  which  she  delivered  at  Chicago  on 
her  return.  She  became  very  popular,  and 
won  great  influence  in  the  temperance 
cause.  Her  work  as  president  of  the  Wo- 
man's Christian  Temperance  Union  greatly 
strengthened  that  society,  and  she  made 
frequent  trips  to  Europe  in  the  interest  of 
that  cause. 


RICHARD  OLNEY.— Among  the  promi- 
nent men  who  were  members  of  the 
cabinet  of  President  Cleveland  in  his  second 
administration,  the  gentleman  whose  nama 


1S4 


COMrE.\DIV.\f   OF   BWGA'AJ'//r. 


heads  this  sketch  held  a  leading  place,  oc- 
cupying the  positions  of  attorney  general 
and  secretary  of  state. 

Mr.  Olney  came  from  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  New  England  families; 
the  first  of  his  ancestors  to  come  from  Eng- 
land settled  in  Massachusetts  in  1635.  This 
was  Thomas  Olney.  He  was  a  friend  and 
co-religionist  of  Roger  Williams,  and  when 
the  latter  moved  to  what  is  now  Rhode 
feland,  went  with  him  and  became  one  of 
the  founders  of  Providence  Plantations. 

Richanl  Olney  was  born  in  O.vford, 
Massachusetts,  in  1835,  and  received  the 
elements  of  his  earlier  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  which  New  England  is  so  proud 
of.  He  entered  Brown  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1856,  and  passed  the 
Harvard  law  school  two  years  later.  He 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
Judge  B.  F.  Thomas,  a  prominent  man  of 
that  locality.  For  years  Richard  Olney  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
learned  lawyers  in  Massachusetts.  Twice 
he  was  offered  a  place  on  the  bench  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state,  but  both  times 
he  declined.  He  was  always  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  tenets,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  trusted  counsellor  of  members  of  that 
party.  In  1874  Mr.  Olney  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  legislature.  In  1876,  during 
the  heated  presidential  campaign,  to 
strengthen  the  cause  of  Mr.  Tilden  in  the 
New  England  states,  it  was  intimated  that 
in  the  event  of  that  gentleman's  election  to 
the  presidency,  Mr.  Olney  would  be  attor- 
ney general. 

when  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  presi- 
'<«"nt  of  the  United  States,  on  his  inaugura- 
tion in  March,  1893,  he  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  attorney  general  to  Richard  Olney. 
1  his  was  accepted,  and  th.it  gentleman  ful- 
filled the  duties  of  the  office  until  the  death 


of  Walter  Q.  Gresham,  in  May,  1895,  made 
vacant  the  position  of  secretary  of  state. 
This  post  was  filled  by  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Olney.  While  fxrcupying  the  later 
office,  Mr.  Olney  brought  himself  into  inter- 
national prt)ininence  by  some  very  able  state 
papers. 

JOHN  J.W  KNOX,  for  many  yearscomp- 
troller  of  the  currency,  and  an  eminent 
financier,  was  born  in  Knoxboro.  Oneida 
county,  New  York.  May  19.  182S.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  and  graduated  at 
Hamilton  College  in  1849.  For  about 
thirteen  years  he  was  engaged  as  a  private 
banker,  or  in  a  position  in  a  bank,  where 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  knowledge  of 
the  laws  of  finance.  In  1862,  iialmon  P. 
Chase,  then  secretary  of  the  treajury,  ap- 
pointed him  to  an  ofiice  in  that  department 
of  the  government,  and  later  he  had  charge 
of  the  mint  coinage  correspondence.  In  1S67 
Mr.  Kno.x  was  made  deputy  comptroller 
of  the  currency,  and  in  that  capacity,  in 
1870,  he  made  two  reports  on  the  mint 
service,  with  a  codification  of  the  mint  and 


coinage  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
I  suggesting  many  important  amendments 
These  reports  were  ordered  printed  by  reso- 
lution of  congress.  The  bill  which  he  pre- 
pared, with  some  slight  changes,  was  sub- 
sequently passed,  and  has  been  known  in 
history  as  the  "  Coinage  .Act  of  1873." 

In  1872  Mr.  Knox  'vrj  appointed  comp- 
troller of  the  currency,  and  held  that  re- 
sponsible position  until  1S84,  when  he  re- 
signed. He  then  accepted  the  position  of 
president  of  the  National  Bank  of  the  Re- 
public, of  New  York  City,  which  institution 
he  served  for  many  years.  He  was  the 
author  of  "  United  States  Notes,"  published 
in  1884.  In  the  reports  spoken  of  above,  a 
history  of  the  two   United   States    banks  i< 


COMPENDIUM   OF   B/OGIiAPHi: 


135 


given,  together  with  that  of  the  state  and 
national  banking  system,  and  much  valuable 
statistical  matter  relating  to  kindred  sub- 
jects. 

NATHANIEL  HAWTHORNE.— In  the 
opinion  of  many  critics  Hawthorne  is 
pronounced  the  foremost  American  novelist, 
and  in  his  peculiar  vein  of  romance  is  said 
to  be  without  a  peer.  His  reputation  is 
world-wide,  and  his  ability  as  a  writer  is 
recognized  abroad  as  well  as  at  home. 
He  was  born  July  4,  1804,  at  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts. On  account  of  feeble  health  he 
spent  some  years  of  his  boyhood  on  a  farm 
near  Raymond,  Maine.  He  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  liberal  education  in  his  youth, 
and  entered  Bowdoin  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1825  in  the  same  class  with 
H  W  Longfellow  and  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 
He  then  returned  to  Salem,  where  he  gave 
his  attention  to  literature,  publishing  several 
tales  and  other  articles  in  various  periodi- 
cals. His  first  venture  in  the  field  of  ro- 
mance, •' Fanshaw,"  proved  a  failure.  In 
1836  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  became 
editor  of  the  "American  Magazine,"  which 
soon  passed  out  of  existence.  In  1837  he 
published  "Twice  Told  Tales,"  which  were 
chiefly  made  up  of  his  former  contributions 
to  magazines.  In  1838-41  he  held  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Boston  custom  house,  but  later 
took  part  in  the  "Brook  /arm  e.xperiment," 
a  socialistic  idea  after  the  plan  of  Fourier. 
In  1843  he  was  married  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  the  old  parsonage  at  Concord, 
Massachusetts,  which  he  immortalized  in 
his  next  work,  "Mosses  From  an  Old 
Manse,"  published  in  1846.  From  the  lat- 
ter date  until  1850  he  was  surveyor  of  the 
port  of  Salem,  and  while  thus  employed 
wrote  one  of  his  strongest  works.  "The 
Scarlet   Letter."     For  the  succeeding  two 


years  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  was  his  home, 
and  the  "  House  of  the  Seven  Gables"  was 
produced  there,  as  well  as  the  "  Blithedale 
Romance."  In  1852  he  published  a  "Life 
of  Franklin  Pierce, "  a  college  friend  whom 
he  warmly  regarded.  In  1853  he  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  consul  to  Liverpool, 
England,  where  he  remained  some  years, 
after  which  he  spent  some  time  in  Italy. 
On  returning  to  his  native  land  he  took  up 
his  residence  at  Concord,  Massachusetts. 
While  taking  a  trip  for  his  health  with  ex- 
President  Pierce,  he  died  at  Plymouth,  New 
Hampshire,  May  19,  1864.  In  addition  to 
the  works  mentioned  above  Mr.  Hawthorne 
gave  to  the  world  the  following  books: 
"  True  Stories  from  History,"  "The  Won- 
der Book,"  "  The  Snow  Image,"  "Tangle- 
wood  Tales,"  "The  Marble  Faun,"  and 
' '  Our  Old  Home. "  After  his  death  appeared 
a  series  of  "Notebooks,"  edited  by  his  wife, 
Sophia  P.  Hawthorne;  "  Septimius  Felton," 
edited  by  his  daughter,  Una,  and  "Dr. 
Grimshaw's  Secret,"  put  into  shape  by  his 
talented  son,  Julian.  He  left  an  unfinished 
work  called  "  Dolliver  Romance,"  which  has 
been  published  just  as  he  left  it. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  sixteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born 
February  12,  1809,  in  Larue  county  (Har- 
din county),  Kentucky,  in  a  log-cabin  near 
Hudgensville.  When  he  was  eight  years 
old  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Indiana, 
near  the  Ohio  river,  and  a  year  later  his 
mother  died.  His  father  then  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  (Bush)  Johnston,  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  Kentucky,  who  proved  a  kind  of  fos- 
ter-mother to  Abraham,  and  encouraged 
him  to  study.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
and  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Gentry ville,  and 
was  noted  for  his  athletic  feats  and  strength, 
fondness    for  debate,   a  fund  of    humorous 


186 


COMPEXDILM   OF   BIOGRAl'in: 


anecdote,  as  well  as  the  composition  of  rude 
verses.  He  made  a  trip  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen to  New  Orleans  on  a  flat-boat,  and  set- 
tled in  Illinois  in  1830.  He  assisted  his 
father  to  build  a  log  house  and  clear  a  farm 
on  the  Sangamon  river  near  Decatur,  Illinois,  \ 
and  split  the  rails  with  which  to  fence  it.  In 
1851  he  was  employed  in  the  building  of  a  ] 
flat-boat  on  the  Sangamon,  and  to  run  it  to 
New  Orleans.  The  voyage  gave  him  a  new 
insight  into  the  horrors  of  slavery  in  the 
south.  On  his  return  he  settled  at  New  , 
Salem  and  engaged,  first  as  a  clerk  in  a  store, 
then  as  grocer,  surveyor  and  postmaster,  and 
he  piloted  the  first  steamboat  that  as- 
cended the  Sangamon.  He  participated  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war  as  captain  of  volun- 
teers, and  after  his  return  he  studied  law, 
interested  himself  in  politics,  and  became 
prominent  locally  as  a  public  speaker.  He 
was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1834  as  a 
'•  Clay  Whig, "  and  began  at  once  to  dis- 
play a  command  of  language  and  forcible 
rhetoric  that  made  him  a  match  for  his 
more  cultured  opponents.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1837,  and  began  prac- 
tice at  Springfield.  He  married  a  lady  o(  a 
prominent  Kentucky  family  in  1842.  He 
was  active  in  the  presidential  campaigns  of 
1840  and  1844  and  was  an  elector  on  the 
Harrison  and  Clay  tickets,  and  was  elected 
to  congress  in  1 846,  over  Peter  Cartwright. 
He  voted  for  the  Wilmot  proviso  and  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, and  opposed  the  war  with  Mexico,  but 
gained  little  prominence  during  his  two 
years'  service.  He  then  returned  to  Spring- 
field and  devoted  his  attention  to  law,  tak- 
ing little  interest  in  politics,  until  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise  and  the  passage 
of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  in  1854.  This 
awakened  his  interest  in  politics  again  and 
he  attacked  the  champion  of  that  measure, 


Stephen  A.  Douglas,  in  a  speech  at  Spring- 
field that  made  him  famous,  and  is  said 
by  those  who  heard  it  to  be  the  greatest 
speech  of  his  life.  Lincoln  was  selected  as 
candidate  for  the  United  Slates  senate,  but 
was  defeated  by  Trumbull.  Upon  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Kansas- Nebraska  bill  the  Whig 
party  suddenly  went  to  pieces,  and  the  Re- 
publican party  gathered  head.  At  the 
Bloomington  Republican  convention  in  1856 
Lincoln  made  an  effective  address  in  which 
he  first  took  a  position  antagonistic  to  the  ex- 
istence of  slavery.  He  was  a  Fremont  elector 
and  received  a  strong  support  for  nomina- 
tion as  vice-president  in  the  Philadelphia 
convention.  In  1858  he  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  Republicans  for  the  United 
States  senate,  and  the  great  campaign  of  de- 
bate which  followed  resulted  in  the  election 
of  Douglas,  but  established  Lincoln's  repu- 
tation as  the  leading  e.xponent  of  Republican 
doctrines.  He  began  to  be  mentioned  in 
Illinois  as  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and 
a  course  of  addresses  in  the  eastern  states 
attracted  favorable  attention.  When  the 
national  convention  met  at  Chicago,  his 
rivals.  Chase,  Seward,  Bates  and  others, 
were  compelled  to  retire  before  the  western 
giant,  and  he  was  nominated,  with  Hannibal 
Hamlin  as  his  running  mate.  The  Demo- 
cratic party  had  now  been  disrupted,  and 
Lincoln's  election  assured.  He  carried 
practically  every  northern  state,  and  the 
secession  of  South  Carolina,  followed  by  a 
number  of  the  gulf  states,  took  place  before 
his  inauguration.  Lincoln  is  the  only  presi- 
dent who  was  ever  compelled  to  reach 
Washington  in  a  secret  manner.  He  es- 
caped assassination  by  avoiding  Baltimore, 
and  was  quietly  inaugurated  March  4,  1861. 
His  inaugural  address  was  firm  but  con- 
ciliatory, and  he  said  to  the  secessionists: 
'*  You  have    no  oath  registered  in  heaven 


COMPEXDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPIIT. 


137 


to  destroy  the  government,  while  I  have  the 
most  solemn  one  to  preserve,  protect  and 
defend  it.'  He  made  up  his  cabinet  chieliy 
of  those  political  rivals  in  his  own  party — 
Seward,  Chase,  Cameron,  Bates — and  se- 
cured the  co-operation  of  the  Douglas  Dem- 
ocrats. His  great  deeds,  amidst  the  heat 
and  turmoil  of  war,  were:  His  call  for 
seventy-five  thousand  volunteers,  and  the 
blockading  of  southern  ports;  calling  of  con- 
gress in  e.xtra  session,  July  14,  1861,  and 
obtaining  four  hundred  thousand  men  and 
four  hundred  million  dollars  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war;  appointing  Stanton  secre- 
tary of  war;  issuing  the  emancipation  proc- 
lamation; calling  three  hundred  thou- 
sand volunteers;  address  at  Gettysburg 
cemetery;  commissioned  Grant  as  lieuten- 
ant-general and  commander-in-chief  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States;  his  second 
inaugural  address;  his  visit  to  the  army  be- 
fore Richmond,  and  his  entry  into  Rich- 
mond the  day  after  its  surrender. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  shot  by  John 
W'i'kes  Booth  in  a  box  in  Ford's  theater 
at  Washington  the  night  of  April  14,  1865, 
and  expired  the  following  morning.  His 
body  was  buried  at  Oak  Ridge  cemetery, 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  a  monument  com- 
memorating his  great  work  marks  his  resting 
place. 

STEPHEN  GIRARD,  the  celebrated 
philanthropist,  was  born  in  Bordeaux, 
France,  May  24,  1750.  He  became  a  sailor 
engaged  in  the  American  coast  trade,  and 
also  made  frequent  trips  to  the  West  Indies. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  was  a 
grocer  and  liquor  seller  in  Philadelphia. 
He  married  in  that  city,  and  afterward 
separated  from  his  wife.  After  the  war  he 
again  engaged  in  the  coast  and  West  India 
trade,  and  his  fortune  began  to  accumulate 


from  receiving  goods  from  West  Indian 
planters  during  the  insurrection  in  Hayti, 
little  of  which  was  ever  called  for  again. 
He  became  a  private  banker  in  Philadelphia 
in  1 812,  and  afterward  was  a  director  in  the 
United  States  Bank.  He  made  much  money 
by  leasing  property  in  the  city  in  times  of 
depression,  and  upon  the  revival  of  industry 
sub-leasing  at  enormous  profit.  He  became 
the  wealthiest  citizen  of  the  United  States 
of  his  time. 

He  was  eccentric,  ungracious,  and  a 
freethinker.  He  had  few,  if  any,  friends  in 
his  lifetime.  However,  he  was  most  chari- 
tably disposed,  and  gave  to  charitable  in- 
stitutions and  schools  with  a  liberal  hand. 
He  did  more  than  any  one  else  to  relieve 
the  suffering  and  deprivations  during  the 
great  yellow  fever  scourge  in  Philadelphia, 
devoting  his  personal  attention  to  the  sick. 
He  endowed  and  made  a  free  institution, 
the  famous  Will's  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary 
of  Philadelphia — one  of  the  largest  institu- 
tions of  its  kind  in  the  world.  At  his  death 
practically  all  his  immense  wealth  was  be- 
queathed to  charitable  institutions,  more 
than  two  millions  of  dollars  going  to  the 
founding  of  Girard  College,  which  was  to 
be  devoted  to  the  education  and  training  of 
boys  between  the  ages  of  six  and  ten  years. 
Large  donations  were  also  made  to  institu- 
tions in  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans. 
The  principal  building  of  Girard  College  is 
the  most  magnificent  example  of  Greek 
architecture  in  America.  Girard  died  De- 
cember 26,  1 83 1. 


LOUIS  J.  R.  AGASSIZ,  the  eminent  nat- 
uralist and  geologist,  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Motier,  near  Lake  Xeuchatel,  Swit- 
zerland, May  28,  1807,  but  attained  his 
greatest  fame  after  becoming  an  American 
citizen.     He  studied  the  medical  sciences  at 


188 


COM  I' E  SDH' M  or  lUOCRAinr 


Zurich,  Heidelberg  and  Munich.  His  first 
work  was  a  Latin  description  of  the  fishes 
which  Martius  and  Spix  brought  from  Brazil. 
This  was  published  in  1 829-3  •  •  He  devoted 
much  time  to  the  study  of  fossil  fishes,  and 
in  1S32  was  appointed  professor  of  natural 
history  at  Neuchatel.  He  greatly  increased 
his  reputation  by  a  great  work  in  French, 
entitled  "  Researches  on  P'ossil  Fishes,"  in 
1832-42,  in  which  he  made  many  important 
improvements  in  the  classification  of  fishes. 
Having  passed  many  summers  among  the 
Alps  in  researches  on  glaciers,  he  propounded 
some  new  and  interesting  ideas  on  geology, 
and  the  agency  of  glaciers  in  his  "Studies 
by  the  Glaciers."  This  was  published  in 
1840.  This  latter  work,  with  his  "  System 
of  the  Glaciers,"  published  in  1847,  are 
among  his  principal  works. 

In  1846,  Professor  Agassiz  crossed  the 
ocean  on  a  scientific  excursion  to  the  United 
States,  and  soon  determined  to  remain  here. 
He  accepted,  about  the  beginning  of  1848, 
the  chair  of  zoology  and  geology  at  Harvard. 
He  explored  the  natural  history  of  the 
United  States  at  different  times  and  gave  an 
impulse  to  the  study  of  nature  in  this 
country.  In  1865  he  conducted  an  expedi- 
tion to  Brazil,  and  explored  the  lower  Ama- 
zon and  its  tributaries.  In  1868  he  was 
made  non-resident  professor  of  natural  his- 
tory at  Cornell  University.  In  December, 
1 87 1,  he  accompanied  the  Hassler  expedi- 
tion, under  Professor  Pierce,  to  the  South 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  He  died  at 
Cambridge,     Massachusetts,  December   14, 

«873- 

Among  other  of  the  important  works  of 
Professor  Agassiz  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: "Outlines  of  Comparative  Physi- 
ology," "Journey  to  Brazil,"  and  "Contri- 
butions to  the  Natural  History  of  the  United 
'^tit'-:  "       It    is  said  of  Professor  Agassiz, 


that,  perhaps,  with  the  exception  of  Hugh 
Miller,  no  one  had  so  popularized  science  in 
his  day,  or  trained  so  many  young  natural- 
ists. Many  of  the  theories  held  by  Agassiz 
are  not  supported  by  many  of  the  natural- 
ists of  these  later  days,  but  upon  many  of 
the  speculations  into  the  origin  of  species  and 
in  physics  he  has  left  the  marks  of  his  own 
strongly  marked  individuality. 


WILLIAM  WINDOM.— As  a  prominent 
and  leading  lawyer  of  the  great  north- 
I  west,  as  a  member  of  both  houses  of  con- 
gress, and  as  the  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
the  gentleman  whose  name  headsthis  sketch 
won  for  himself  a  prominent  position  in  the 
history  of  our  country. 

Mr.  Windom  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Belmont  county.  May  10,  1827. 
He  received  a  good  elementary  education  m 
the  schools  of  his  native  state,  and  took  up 
the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1855.  In  the  latter  year  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  move  further  west,  and  accordingly 
went  to  Minnesota,  and  opening  an  office, 
became  identified  with  the  interests  of  that 
state,  and  the  northwest  generally.  In 
1858  he  took  his  place  in  the  Minnesota 
delegation  in  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, at  Washington,  and  continued 
to  represent  his  constituency  in  that  body 
for  ten  years.  In  1871  Mr.  Windom  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  Min- 
nesota, and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office 
after  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  position  for 
a  full  term,  in  1876.  On  the  inauguration 
of  President  Garfield,  in  March,  1S81,  Mr. 
Windom  became  secretary  of  the  treasury 
in  his  cabinet.  He  resigned  this  office  Oc- 
tober 27,  1 88 1,  and  was  elected  senatoi 
from  the   North  Star  state    to  fill   the   va- 


COMPEXniL'M   OF    BIOGRAPI/r 


cancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  A.  J. 
Fdgerton.  Mr.  Windom  served  in  that 
chamber  until  March,   1883. 

William    \\indom    died    in     New    York 
City  January  29,   1891. 


DON  M.  DICKINSON,  an  American 
politician  and  lawyer,  was  born  in 
Port  Ontario,  New  York,  January  17,  1846. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Michigan 
when  he  was  but  two  years  old.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Detroit 
and  at  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one.  In  1872  he  was  made 
secretary  of  the  Democratic  state  central 
committee  of  Michigan,  and  his  able  man- 
agement of  the  campaign  gave  him  a  prom- 
inent place  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  In 
1876,  during  the  Tilden  campaign,  he  acted 
as  chairman  of  the  state  central  committee. 
He  was  afterward  chosen  to  represent  his 
state  in  the  Democratic  national  committee, 
and  in  1886  he  was  appointed  postmaster- 
generalby  President  Cleveland.  After  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  returned 
to  Detroit  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 
In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1896,  Mr. 
Dickinson  adhered  to  the  "goldwipg"of 
the  Democracy,  and  his  influence  was  felt 
in  the  national  canvass,  and  especially  in 
his  own  state. 


JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR,  the  founder  of 
the  Astor  family  and  fortunes,  while  not 
a  native  of  this  country,  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  men  of  his  time,  and  as  all  his 
wealth  and  fame  were  acquired  here,  he 
may  well  be  classed  among  America's  great 
men.  He  was  born  near  Heidelberg,  Ger- 
many, July  17,  1763,  and  when  twenty 
years  old  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
Even  at  that  age  he  exhibited  remarkable 


business  ability  and  foresight,  and  soon  he 
was  investing  capital  in  furs  which  he  took 
to  London  and  sold  at  a  great  profit.  He 
next  settled  at  New  York,  and  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  fur  trade.  He  exported 
furs  to  Europe  in  his  own  vessels,  which  re- 
turned with  cargoes  of  foreign  commodities, 
and  thus  he  rapidly  amassed  an  immense 
fortune.  In  181 1  he  founded  Astoria  on 
the  western  coast  of  North  America,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  as  a  depot 
for  the  fur  trade,  for  the  promotion  of 
which  he  sent  a  number  of  expeditions  to 
the  Pacific  ocean.  He  also  purchased  a 
large  amount  of  real  estate  in  New  York, 
the  value  of  which  increased  enormously 
All  through  life  his  business  ventures  were 
a  series  of  marvelous  successes,  and  he 
ranked  as  one  of  the  most  sagacious  and 
successful  business  men  in  the  world.  He 
died  March  29,  1848,  leaving  a  fortune  es- 
timated at  over  twenty  million  dollars  to 
his  children,  who  have  since  increased  it. 
John  Jacob  Astor  left  $400,000  to  found  a 
public  library  in  New  Y''ork  City,  and  his  son, 
William  B.  Astor,  who  died  in  1875,  left 
$300,000  to  add  to  his  father's  bequest. 
This  is  known  as  the  Astor  Library,  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  United  States. 


SCHUYLER  COLFAX,  an  eminent 
American  statesman,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  March  23,  1S23,  being  a  grand- 
son of  General  William  Colfax,  the  com- 
mander of  Washington's  life-guards.  In 
1836  he  removed  with  his  mother,  who  was 
then  a  widow,  to  Indiana,  settling  at  South 
Bend.  Young  Schuyler  studied  law,  and 
in  1845  became  editor  of  the  "St.  Joseph 
Valley  Register,"  a  Whig  paper  published 
at  South  Bend.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  which  formed  a  new  constitu- 
tion   for  Indiana  in  1850,  and   he  opposed 


140 


COMrRXDllM   OF  lilOGRA  I' 11 V. 


the  clause  that  prohibited  colored  men 
from  settling  in  that  state.  In  1851  he  was 
defeated  as  the  \\'hig  candidate  for  congress 
but  was  elected  in  1854.  and,  being  repeat- 
edly re-elected,  continued  to  represent  that 
district  in  congress  until  1869.  He  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
members  of  the  house  of  representatives, 
and  served  three  terms  as  speaker.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  an  active  participant 
in  all  public  measures  of  importance,  and 
was  a  confidential  friend  and  adviser  of 
President  Lincoln.  In  May,  1868,  Mr. 
Colfa.x  was  nominated  for  vice-president  on 
the  ticket  with  General  Grant,  and  was 
elected.  After  the  close  of  his  term  he  re- 
tired from  office,  and  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  lectilr- 
ing  and  literary  pursuits.  His  death  oc-  j 
currcd  January  23,  1885.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  America, 
and  that  order  erected  a  bronze  statue  to 
his  memory  in  University  Park.  Indianapo- 
lis, Indiana,  which  was  unveiled  in  May, 
18.S7.  

WILLIAM  FREEMAN  VILAS,  who  at- 
tained a  national  reputation  as  an  able 
lawyer,  statesman,  and  cabinet  officer,  was  i 
born  at  Chelsea,  Vermont,  July  9,  1840.  j 
His  parents  removed  to  Wisconsin  when 
our  subject  was  but  eleven  years  of  age, 
and  there  with  the  early  settlers  endured  all 
the  hardships  and  trials  incident  to  pioneer  j 
life.  William  F.  Vilas  was  given  all  the 
advantages  found  in  the  common  schools, 
and  supplemented  this  by  a  course  of  study 
in  the  Wisconsin  State  University,  after 
which  he  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  began  practicing  at  Madison. 
Shortly  afterward  the.  Civil  war  broke  out 
and  Mr.  Vilas  enlisted  and  became  colonel 


of  the  Twenty-third  regiment  of  Wisconsin 
Volunteers,  serving  throughout  the  war  with 
distinction.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  Wisconsin,  resumed  his  law  prac- 
tice, and  rapidly  rose  to  eminence  in  this 
profession.  In  18S5  he  was  selected  by 
President  Cleveland  for  postmaster-general 
and  at  the  close  of  his  term  again  returned 
to  Madison,  Wisconsin,  to  resume  the  prac- 
tice of  law. 

THOMAS  McINTVRE  COOLEY,  an  em- 
inent American  jurist  and  law  writer, 
was  born  in  Attica,  New  York,  January  6, 
1824.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1846, 
and  four  years  later  was  appointed  reporter 
of  the  supreme  court  of  Michigan,  which 
office  he  continued  to  hold  for  seven  jears. 
In  the  meantime,  in  1859,  he  became  pro- 
fessor of  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  and  soon  afterward  was 
made  dean  of  the  faculty  of  that  depart- 
ment. In  1864  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  supreme  court  of  Michigan,  in  1S67  be- 
came chief  justice  of  that  court,  and  in 
1869  was  re-elected  for  a  term  of  eight 
years.  In  18S1  he  again  joined  the  faculty 
of  the  University  of  Michigan,  assuming  the 
professorship  of  constitutional  and  adminis- 
trative law.  His  works  on  these  branches 
have  become  standard,  and  he  is  recog- 
nized as  authority  on  this  and  related  sub- 
jects. Upon  the  passage  of  the  inter-state 
commerce  law  in  18S7  he  became  chairman 
of  the  commission  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity four  years. 


JOHN  PETER  ALTGELD,  a  noted 
American  politician  and  writer  on  social 
questions,  was  born  in  Germany,  December 
30,  1847.  He  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  and  settled  in  Ohi(»  when  two  years 
old.      In  1S64  he  entered  the   Union   army 


•JOMPEXDICM   OF    BIOGRAl'lir. 


and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  after 
which  he  settled  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  He 
was  elected  judge  of  the  superior  court  of 
Cook  county,  Illinois,  in  iS86,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  until  elected  governor  of 
Illinois  in  1892,  as  a  Democrat.  During 
the  first  year  of  his  term  as  governor  he  at- 
tracted national  attention  by  his  pardon  of 
the  anarchists  convicted  of  the  Hayniarket 
murder  in  Chicago,  and  again  in  1894  by 
his  denunciation  of  President  Cleveland  for 
calling  out  federal  troops  to  suppress  the 
rioting  in  connection  with  the  great  Pull- 
man strike  in  Chicago.  At  the  national 
convention  of  the  Democratic  party  in  Chi- 
cago, in  July,  1896,  he  is  said  to  have  in- 
spired the  cliuse  in  the  platform  denuncia- 
tory of  interference  by  federal  authorities  in 
local  affars,  and  "government  by  injunc- 
tion." He  was  gubernatorial  candidate  for 
re-election  on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  1896, 
but  W..S  defeated  by  John  R.  Tanner,  Re- 
publican. Mr.  Altgeld  published  two  vol- 
umes of  essays  on  "  Live  Questions,"  evinc- 
ing radical  views  on  social   matters. 


ADLAI  EWING  STEVENSON,  an  Amer. 
ican  statesman  and  politician,  was  born 
ill  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  October  23, 
1835,  and  removed  with  the  family  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1852.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,  and  set- 
tled in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Metamora,  Illinois.  In  1861  he  was 
made  master  in  chancery  of  Woodford 
county,  and  in  1864  was  elected  state's  at- 
torney. Ill  1868  he  returned  to  Blooming- 
ton  and  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
James  S.  Evving.  He  had  served  as  a  pres- 
idential elector  in  1864.  and  in  1868  was 
elected  to  congress  as  a  Democrat,  receiv- 
ing a  majority  vote  from  every  county  in  l.is 
district.     He     became     prominent    in    his 


party,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
convention  in  1884.  On  the  election  of 
Cleveland  to  the  presidency  Mr.  Stevenson 
was  appointed  first  assistant  postmaster- 
general.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  continued  to  exert  a  controlling  influence 
in  the  politics  of  his  state,  and  in  1892  was 
elected  vice-president  of  the  United  States 
on  the  ticket  with  Grover  Cleveland.  At 
;  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law  at  Bloomington, 
Illinois. 

SIMON  CAMERON,  whose  name  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  history 
of  the  United  States  as  a  political  leader 
and  statesman,  was  born  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  March  8,  1799.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  receiving 
good  educational  advantages,  and  develop- 
ing a  natural  inclination  for  political  life. 
He  rapidly  rose  in  prominence  and  became 
the  most  influential  Democrat  in  Penns}.'" 
vania,  and  in  1845  was  elected  by  that  party 
to  the  United  States  senate.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  declare  his  allegiance  to 
it,  and  in  1856  was  re-elected  United  States 
senator  from  Pennsylvania  as  a  Republican. 
In  March,  1 861,  he  was  appointed  secretary 
of  war  by  President  Lincoln,  and  served 
until  early  in  1862,  when  he  was  sent  as 
minister  to  Russia,  returning  in  1863.  In 
1866  he  was  again  elected  United  States 
senator  and  served  until  1877,  when  he  re- 
signed and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  James 
Donald  Cameron.  He  continued  to  exert  a 
powerful  influence  in  political  affairs  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  June  26,   1889. 

James  Donald  Cameron  was  the   eld- 
est   son     of     Simon     Cameron,     and     also 
I  attained    a    high    rank    among    American 
'  statesmen.      He  was    born  at  Harrisburg. 


I4i 


COMPEXDIUM  OF   BJOGRAPHr. 


Pennsylvania,  May  14.  1833,  and  received  an 
excellent  education,  graduating  ut  Princeton 
College  in  1852.  He  rapidly  developed  into 
one  of  the  most  able  and  successful  business 
men  of  the  country  and  was  largely  inter- 
ested in  and  identified  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  coal,  iron,  lumber  and  manu- 
facturing interests  of  his  native  state.  He 
served  as  cashier  and  afterward  president  of 
the  Middletown  bank,  and  in  1861  was  made 
vice-president,  and  in  1863  president  of 
the  Northern  Central  railroad,  holding  this 
position  until  1874,  when  he  resigned  and 
was  succeeded  by  Thomas  A.  Scott.  This 
road  was  of  great  service  to  the  government 
during  the  war  as  a  means  of  communica- 
tion between  Pennsylvania  and  the  national 
capital,  via  Baltimore.  Mr.  Cameron  also 
took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs, 
always  as  a  Republican.  In  May,  1876, 
he  was  appointed  secretary  of  war  in  Pres- 
ident Grant's  cabinet,  and  in  1877  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  United  States 
senate.  He  was  re-elected  in  1885,  and 
again  in  1891,  serving  until  1896,  and  was 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
intluential  members  of  that  bodv. 


ADOLPHUS  W.  GREELEY,  a  famous 
American  arctic  explorer,  was  born  at 
Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  March  27, 
1844.  He  graduated  from  Brown  High 
School  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  a  year 
later  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Nineteenth 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  and  was  made  first 
sergeant.  In  1863  he  was  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant.  After  the  war  he  was 
assigned  to  the  I'ifth  United  States  Cavalry, 
and  became  first  lieutenant  in  1873.  He 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  United  States 
signal  service  shortly  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  An  expedition  was  fitted  out  by  the 
United    States    government     in    1881,    un- 


der auspices  of  the  weather  bureau,  and 
Lieutenant  Greeley  placed  in  command 
They  set  sail  from  St.  Johns  the  first  week 
in  July,  and  after  nine  days  landed  in  Green- 
land, where  they  secured  the  services  of  two 
natives,  together  with  sledges,  dogs,  furs 
and  equipment.  They  encountered  an  ice 
pack  early  in  August,  and  on  the  28th  of 
that  month  freezing  weather  set  in.  Two 
of  his  party.  Lieutenant  Lockwood  and  Ser- 
geant Brainard,  added  to  the  known  maps 
about  forty  miles  of  coast  survey,  and 
reached  the  highest  point  yet  attained  by 
man,  eighty-three  degrees  and  twenty-four 
minutes  north,  longitude,  forty-four  degrees 
and  five  minutes  west.  On  their  return  to 
Fort  Conger.  Lieutenant  Greeley  set  out 
for  the  south  on  August  9.  1883.  He 
reached  Baird  Inlet  twenty  days  later  with 
his  entire  party.  Here  they  were  compelled 
to  abandon  their  boats,  and  drifted  on  an 
ice-floe  for  one  month.  They  then  went 
into  camp  at  Cape  Sabine,  where  they  suf- 
fered untold  hardships,  and  eighteen  of  the 
party  succumbed  to  cold  and  hunger,  and 
had  relief  been  delayed  two  days  longer 
none  would  have  been  found  alive.  They 
were  picked  up  by  the  relief  expedition, 
under  Captain  Schley,  June  22,  1S84.  The 
dead  were  taken  to  New  York  for  burial. 
Many  sensational  stories  were  published 
concerning  the  expedition,  and  Lieutenant 
Greeley  prepared  an  exhaustive  account 
of  his  explorations  and  experiences. 


LEVI  P.  MORTON,  the  millionaire  poli- 
tician, was  born  in  Shoreham,  \'er- 
mont,  May  16,  1824,  and  his  early  educa- 
tion consisted  of  the  rudiments  which  he 
obtained  in  the  common  school  up  to  the 
age  of  fourteen,  and  after  that  time  what 
knowledge  he  gained  was  wrested  from  the 
hard  school  of  experience.      He  removed  to 


COMPEXDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPIir 


143 


Hanover,  Veimont.  then  Concord,  Vermont, 
and  afterwards  to  Boston.  He  had  worked 
in  a  store  at  Shoreham,  his  native  village, 
and  on  going  to  Hanover  he  established  a 
store  and  went  into  business  for  himself. 
In  Boston  he  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store, 
and  then  opened  a  business  of  his  own  in 
the  same  line  in  New  York.  After  a  short 
career  he  failed,  and  was  compelled  to  set- 
tle with  his  creditors  at  only  fifty  cents  on 
the  dollar.  He  began  the  struggle  anew, 
and  when  the  war  began  he  established  a 
banking  house  in  New  York,  with  Junius 
Morgan  as  a  partner.  Through  his  firm 
and  connections  the  great  government  war 
loans  were  floated,  and  it  resulted  in  im- 
mense profits  to  his  house.  When  he  was 
again  thoroughly  established  he  invited  his 
former  creditors  to  a  banquet,  and  under 
each  guest's  plate  was  found  a  check  cover- 
ing the  amount  of  loss  sustained  respec- 
tively, with  interest  to  date. 

President  Garfield  appointed  Mr.  Mor- 
ton as  minister  to  France,  after  he  had  de- 
clined the  secretaryship  of  the  navj',  and  in 
1888  he  was  nominated  as  candidate  for 
vice-president,  with  Harrison,  and  elected. 
In  1894  he  was  elected  governor  of  New 
York  over  David  B.  Hill,  and  served  one 
term. 

CHARLES  KENDALL  ADAMS,  one 
of  the  most  talented  and  prominent 
educators  this  country  has  known,  was  born 
January  24,  1835,  at  Derby,  Vermont.  He 
received  an  elementary  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  studied  two  terms  in 
the  Derby  Academy.  Mr.  Adams  moved 
with  hB  parents  to  Iowa  in  1856.  He  was 
very  anxious  to  pursue  a  collegiate  course, 
but  this  was  impossible  until  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  the  autumn  of 
1856  he  began  the  study  of  Latin  and  Greek 


at  Denmark  Academy,  and  in  September. 
1857,  he  was  admitted  to  the  University  of 
Michigan.  Mr.  Adams  was  wholly  depend- 
ent upon  himself  for  the  means  of  his  edu- 
cation. During  his  third  and  fourth  year 
he  became  deeph'  interested  in  historical 
studies,  was  assistant  librarian  of  the  uni- 
versity, and  determined  to  pursue  a  post- 
graduate course.  In  1864  he  was  appointed 
instructor  of  history  and  Latin  and  was  ad- 
vanced to  an  assistant  professorship  in  1865, 
and  in  1867,  on  the  resignation  o*  Professoi 
White  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Cornell, 
he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  chair  of  profes- 
sor of  history.  This  he  accepted  on  con- 
dition of  his  being  allowed  to  spend  a  year 
for  special  study  in  Germany,  France  and 
Italy.  Mr.  Adams  returned  in  1868,  and 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  professorship. 
He  introduced  the  German  system  for  the 
instruction  of  advanced  history  classes,  and 
his  lectures  were  largely  attended.  In  1885, 
on  the  resignation  of  President  White  at 
Cornell,  he  was  elected  his  successor  and 
held  the  office  for  seven  years,  and  on  Jan- 
uary 17,  1893,  he  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Pres- 
ident Adams  was  prominently  connected 
I  with  numerous  scientific  and  literary  organ- 
izations and  a  frequent  contributor  to  the 
historical  and  educational  data  in  the  peri- 
odicals and  journals  of  the  country.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  following:  "  Dem- 
ocracy and  Monarchy  in  France,"  "  Manual 
of  Historical  Literature,"  "  A  Plea  for  Sci- 
entific Agriculture,"  "  Higher  Education  in 
Germany." 

JOSEPH  B.  FORAKER,  a  prom.inent  po- 
litical leader  and  e.\-governor  of  Ohio, 
was  born  near  Rainsboro,  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  July  S,  1S46.  His  parents  operated 
a  small  farm,  with  a  grist  and  sawmill,  hav- 


144 


COMPEXDILM   OF   BlOGRAPHr. 


iiig  emigrated  liither  from  Virginia  and 
Di  la  ware  on  account  of  their  distaste  for 
slavery. 

Joseph  was  reared  upon  a  farm  until 
1862.  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-ninth 
Ohio  Infantry.  Later  he  was  made  ser- 
geant, and  in  1864  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant. The  next  year  he  was  brevetted 
captain.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  army  after  a  brilliant 
service,  part  of  the  time  being  on  the  staff 
of  General  Slocum.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout  Mount- 
ain and  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  in  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea. 

For  two  years  subsequent  to  the  war 
young  Foraker  was  studying  at  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  but  later 
went  to  Cornell  University,  at  Unity,  New 
Yoik,  from  which  he  graduated  July  i, 
1869.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  In  1879  Mr.  Foraker  was  elected 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  Cincinnati 
and  held  the  office  for  three  years.  In  1883 
he  was  defeated  in  the  contest  for  the  gov- 
ernorship with  Judge  Hoadly.  In  1885, 
however,  being  again  nominated  for  the 
same  office,  he  was  elected  and  served  two 
terms.  In  1889,  in  running  for  governor 
again,  this  time  against  James  E.  Camp- 
bell, he  was  defeated.  Two  years  later  his 
career  in  the  United  States  senate  began. 
Mr.  Foraker  was  always  a  prominent  figure 
at  all  national  meetings  of  the  Republican 
parly,  and  a  strong  power,  politically,  in  his 
native  state. 


LYMAN  ABBOTT,  an  eminent  American 
preacher  and  writer  on  religious  sub- 
jects, came  of  a  noted  New  England 
family.  His  father.  Rev.  Jacob  Abbott,  was 
a  prolific  and  popular  writer,  and  his  uncle, 
Kev.    Jt'hn    S.    C.     Abbott,   was    a    noted 


preacher  and  author.  Lyman  Abbott  was 
born  December  18,  1835,  in  Ro.xbury, 
Massachusetts.  He  graduated  at  the  New 
York  University,  in  1853,  studied  law,  and 
practiced  for  a  time  at  the  bar,  after  which 
he  studied  theology  with  his  uncle,  Rev. 
John  S.  C.  Abbott,  and  in  i860  was  settled 
in  the  ministry  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  re- 
maining there  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  became  connected  with  the 
Freedmen's  Commission,  continuing  this 
until  1868,  when  he  accepted  the  pastorate 
of  the  New  England  Congregational  church, 
in  New  York  City.  A  few  years  later  he  re- 
signed, to  devote  his  time  principally  to  lit- 
erary pursuits.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
edited  for  the  American  Tract  Society,  its 
"Illustrated  Christian  Weekly,"  also  the 
New  York  "Christian  Union."  He  pro- 
duced many  works,  which  had  a  wide  circu- 
lation, among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
following:  "Jesus  of  Nazareth,  His  Life  and 
Teachings,"  "Old  Testament  Shadows  of 
New  Testament  Truths.  "  "Morning  and 
Evening  Exercises,  Selected  from  Writings 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,"  "  Laicus,  or  the 
Experiences  of  a  Layman  in  a  Country 
Parish,"  "Popular  Religious  Dictionary," 
and  "Commentaries  on  Matthew,  Mark, 
Luke,  John  and  Acts." 


GEORGE  WILLIAM  CURTIS.— The 
well-known  author,  orator  and  journal- 
ist whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born 
at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  February  24, 
1824.  Having  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
most  excellent  education  in  his  native  land, 
he  went  to  Europe  and  studied  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Berlin.  He  made  an  extensive 
tour  throughout  the  Levant,  from  which  he 
returned  home  in  1850.  At  that  early  age 
literature  became  his  field  of  labor,  and  in 
185 1  he  published  his  first  important  work. 


COMPEXDILWr   OF    BIOGRAPIir 


145 


"  Nile  Notes  of  a  Howadji."  In  1852  two 
works  issued  from  his  facile  pen,  "The 
Howadji  in  Syria,"  and  "  Lotus-Eating. " 
Later  on  he  was  the  author  of  the  well- 
known  "  Potiphar  Papers,"  "  Prue  and  L" 
and  "Trumps."  He  greatly  distinguished 
himself  throughout  this  land  as  a  lecturer 
on  many  subjects,  and  as  an  orator  had  but 
few  peers.  He  was  also  well  known  as  one 
of  the  most  fluent  speakers  on  the  stump, 
making  many  political  speeches  in  favor  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  recognition  of 
his  valuable  services,  Mr.  Curtis  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Grant,  chairman  of 
the  advisory  board  of  the  civil  service.  Al- 
though a  life-long  Republican,  Mr.  Curtis 
refused  to  support  Blaine  for  the  presidency 
in  1884,  because  of  his  ideas  on  civil  ser- 
vice and  other  reforms.  For  his  memorable 
and  magnificent  eulogy  on  Wendell  Phillips, 
delivered  in  Boston,  in  1884,  that  city  pre- 
sented Mr.  Curtis  with  a  gold  medal. 

George  W.  Curtis,  however,  is  best 
known  to  the  reading  public  of  the  United 
States  by  his  connection  with  the  Harper 
Brothers,  having  been  editor  of  the  "Har- 
per's Weekly,"  and  of  the  "  Easy  Chair," 
in  "  Harper's  Monthly  Magazine, "for many 
years,  in  fact  retaining  that  position  until 
the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  August 
31.   1S92.  

ANDREW  JOHNSON,  the  seventeenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  served 
from  1S65  to  1869.  He  was  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1808,  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
and  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  He  never  attended  school,  and  was 
apprenticed  to  a  tailor.  While  serving  his 
apprenticeship  he  suddenly  acquired  a  pas- 
sion for  knowledge,  and  learned  to  read. 
From  that  time  on  he  spent  all  his  spare 
time  in  reading,  and   after  working  for  two 


years  as  a  journeyman  tailor  at  Lauren's 
Court  House,  South  Carolina,  he  removed 
to  Greenville,  Tennessee,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  and  was  married.  Under  his 
wife's  instruction  he  made  rapid  progress  in 
his  studies  and  manifested  such  an  interest 
in  local  politics  as  to  be  elected  as  "  work- 
ingmen's  candidate  "  alderman  in  1828,  and 
in  1830  to  the  mayoralty,  and  was  twice 
re-elected  to  each  office.  Mr.  Johnson 
utilized  this  time  in  cultivating  his  talents 
as  a  public  speaker,  by  taking  part  in  a  de- 
bating society.  He  was  elected  in  1835  to 
the  lower  house  of  the  legislature,  was  re- 
elected in  1839  as  a  Democrat,  and  in 
1841  was  elected  state  senator.  Mr.  John- 
son was  elected  representative  in  congress 
in  1843  and  was  re-elected  four  times  in 
succession  until  1853,  when  he  was  the  suc- 
cessful candidate  for  the  gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  He  was  re-elected  in  1855 
and  in  1857  he  entered  the  United  States 
senate.  In  i860  he  was  supported  by  the 
Tennessee  delegation  to  the  Democratic 
convention  for  the  presidential  nomination, 
and  lent  his  .influence  to  the  Breckinridge 
wing  of  the  party.  At  the  election  of  Lin- 
coln, which  brought  about  the  first  attempt 
at  secession  in  December,  i860,  Mr.  John- 
son took  a  firm  attitude  in  the  senate  for 
the  Union.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  loy- 
alists in  East  Tennessee.  By  the  course 
that  Mr.  Johnson  pursued  in  this  crisis  he 
was  brought  prominently  before  the  north- 
ern people,  and  when,  in  March,  1862,  he 
was  appointed  military  governor  of  Ten- 
nessee with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general, 
he  increased  his  popularity  by  the  vigorous 
manner  in  which  he  labored  to  restore 
order.  In  the  campaign  of  1864  he  was 
elected  vice-president  on  the  ticket  with 
President  Lincoln,  and  upon  the  assassi- 
nation of  the    latter    he    succeeded    to  the 


146 


coMriiyniiM  of  luocRArin: 


presidency.  April  15,  1865.  He  retained 
the  cabinet  of  President  Lincoln,  and  at 
first  exhibited  considerable  severity  towards 
the  former  Confederates,  but  he  soon  inau- 
gurated a  policy  of  reconstruction,  pro- 
claimed a  general  amnesty  to  the  late  Con- 
federates, and  established  provisional  gov- 
ernments in  the  southern  states.  These 
states  claimed  representation  in  congress  in 
the  following  December,  and  then  arose  the 
momentous  question  as  to  what  should  be 
the  policy  of  the  victorious  Union  against 
their  late  enemies.  The  Republican  ma- 
jority in  congress  had  an  apprehension  that 
the  President  would  undo  the  results  of  the 
war,  and  consequently  passed  two  bills  over 
the  executive  veto,  and  the  two  highest 
branches  of  the  governinent  were  in  open 
antagonism.  The  cabinet  was  reconstructed 
in  July,  and  Messrs.  Randall,  Stanbury  and 
Browning  superseded  Messrs.  Denison, 
Speed  and  Harlan.  In  August,  1867,  Pres- 
ident Johnson  removed  the  secretary  of  war 
and  replaced  him  with  General  Grant,  but 
when  congress  met  in  December  it  refused 
to  ratify  the  removal  of  Stanton,  who  re- 
sumed the  functions  of  his  office.  In  1868 
the  president  again  attempted  to  remove 
Stanton,  who  refused  to  vacate  his  post 
and  was  sustained  by  the  senate.  Presi- 
dent Johnson  was  accused  by  congress  of 
high  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  but  the  trial 
resulted  in  his  acquittal.  Later  he  was  Uni- 
ted States  senator  from  Tennessee,  and 
died  July  31,  1875. 


in  1775,  at  Cambridge.  Massachusetts.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Virginia  convention  in 
1776,  and  attorney-general  of  the  state  the 
same  year.  In  1779  he  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  congress,  and  served  four  years 
in  that  body.  He  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention in  1787  that  framed  the  constitu- 
tion. In  that  convention  he  proposed  what 
was  known  as  the  '•  Virginia  plan"  of  con- 
federation, but  it  was  rejected.  He  advo- 
cated the  ratification  of  the  constitution  in 
ttie  Virginia  convention,  although  he  had  re- 
fused to  sign  it.  He  became  governor  of 
Virginia  in  1788,  and  the  next  year  Wash- 
ington appointed  him  to  the  office  of  at- 
torney-general of  the  United  States  upon 
the  organization  of  the  government  under 
the  constitution.  He  was  appointed  secre- 
tary of  state  to  succeed  Jefferson  during 
Washington's  second  term,  but  resigned  a 
year  later  on  account  of  differences  in  the 
cabinet  concerning  the  policy  pursued  to- 
ward the  new  French  republic.  He  died 
September  12,  1813. 


EDMUND  RANDOLPH,  first  attorney- 
general  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  August  10,  1753.  His  father, 
John  Randolph,  was  attorney-general  of 
Virginia,  and  lived  and  died  a  royalist.  Ed- 
mund was  educated  in  the  law.  but  joined 
the  army  as  aide-de-camp  to    Washington 


W INFIELD  SCOTT  HANCOCK  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  14,  1824.  He  received 
his  early  education  at  the  Norristown 
Academy,  in  his  native  county,  and,  in  1840. 
was  appointed  a  cadet  in  the  United  States 
Military  Academy,  at  West  Point.  He  was 
grnduated  from  the  latter  in  1S44,  and  brev- 
ettcd  as  second  lieutenant  of  infantry.  In 
1853  he  was  made  first  lieutenant,  and  two 
years  'ater  transferred  to  the  quartermaster's 
department,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
in  1863  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  He 
served  on  the  frontier,  and  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  displaying  conspicuous  gallantry  dur- 
ing the  latter.  He  also  took  a  part  in  the 
Seminole  war,  and  in  the  troubles  in  K.in- 
sas,  in  1857,  and  in  California,  at  the  out- 


COMPEXDILM  OF   BIOGRArHT. 


147 


break  of  the  Civil  war,  as  chief  quarter- 
master of  the  Southern  district,  he  exerted 
a  powerful  influence.  In  1861  he  applied 
for  active  duty  in  the  field,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  department  of  Kentucky  as  chief 
quartermaster,  but  before  entering  upon  that 
duty,  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers.  His  subsequent  history  during 
the  war  was  substantially  that  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  He  participated  in  the 
campaign,  under  McClellan,  and  led  the 
gallant  charge,  which  captured  Fort  Magru- 
der,  won  the  day  at  the  battle  of  Wil- 
liamsburg, and  by  services  rendered  at 
Savage's  Station  and  other  engagements, 
won  several  grades  in  the  regular  service, 
and  was  recommended  by  McClellan  for 
major-general  of  volunteers.  He  was  a  con- 
spicuous figure  at  South  Mountain  and  An- 
tietam.  He  was  commissioned  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers,  November  29,  1862,  and 
made  commander  of  the  First  Division  of 
the  Second  Corps,  which  he  led  at  Fred- 
ricksburg  and  at  Chancellorsville.  He  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Second 
Corps  in  June,  1863,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  July  i,  2  and  3,  of  that  year, 
took  an  important  part.  On  his  arrival  on 
the  field  he  found  part  of  the  forces  then 
in  retreat,  but  stayed  the  retrograde 
movement,  checked  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
following  day  commanded  the  left  center, 
repulsed,  on  the  third,  the  grand  assault  of 
General  Lee's  army,  and  was  severely 
wounded.  For  his  services  on  that  field 
General  Hancock  received  the  thanks  of 
congress.  On  recovering  from  his  wound, 
he  was  detailed  to  go  north  to  stimulate  re- 
cruiting and  fill  up  the  diminished  corps,  and 
was  the  recipient  of  many  public  receptions 
and  ovations.  In  March,  1864,  he  returned 
to  his  command,  and  in  the  Wilderness  and 
at   Spottsylvania   led  large    bodies  of   men 


successfully  and  conspicuously.  From  that 
on  to  the  close  of  the  campaign  he  was  a 
prominent  figure.  In  November,  1864,  he 
was  detailed  to  organize  the  First  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  and  at  the  close  of  hostilities 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Mid- 
dle Military  Division.  In  July,  1866,  he 
was  made  major-general  of  the  regular 
service.  He  was  at  the  head  of  various 
military  departments  until  1872,  when  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Atlantic,  which  post  he  held 
until  his  death.  In  1869  he  declined  the 
nomination  for  governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  president,  in  1880,  and  was  de- 
feated by  General  Garfield,  who  had  a  popu- 
lar majority  of  seven  thousand  and  eighteen 
and  an  electoral  majority  .of  fifty-nine.  Gen- 
eral Hancock  died  February  9,  1886. 


THOMAS  PAINE,  the  most  noted  polit- 
ical and  deistical  writer  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary period,  was  born  in  England,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1737,  of  Quaker  parents.  Hisedu- 
cation  was-obtained  in  the  grammar  schools 
of  Thetford,  his  native  town,  and  supple- 
mented by  hard  private  study  while  working 
at  his  trade  of  stay-maker  at  London  and 
other  cities  of  England.  He  was  for  a  time 
a  dissenting  preacher,  although  he  did  not 
relinquish  his  employment.  He  married  a 
revenue  official's  daughter,  and  was  employed 
in  the  revenue  service  for  some  time.  He 
then  became  a  grocer  and  during  all  this  time 
he  was  reading  and  cultivating  his  literary 
tastes,  and  had  developed  a  clear  and  forci- 
ble style  of  composition.  He  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  interests  of  the  e.xcisemen, 
and  published  a  pamphlet  that  brought 
him  considerable  notice.  He  was  soon  after- 
ward introduced  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  and 
having  been  dismissed  from  the  service  on  a 


coMi'iiXDiiwr  OF  ji/oGh'.\rj/y. 


charge  of  smuggling,  his  resentment  led  him 
to  accept  the  advice  of  that  statesman  to 
come  to  America,  in  1774.  He  became 
editor  of  the  •'  Pennsylvania  Magazine,"  and 
the  next  year  published  his  "Serious 
Thoughts  upon  Slavery"  in  the  "Penn- 
sylvania Journal."  His  greatest  political 
work,  however,  was  written  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  Dr.  Rush,  and  entitled  "Common 
Sense."  It  was  the  most  popular  pamphlet 
written  during  the  period  and  he  received 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  from  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania  in  recognition  of  its 
value.  His  periodical,  the  "Crisis,"  began 
in  1776,  and  its  distribution  among  the 
soldiers  did  a  great  deal  to  keep  up  the  spirit 
of  revolution.  He  was  made  secretary  of 
the  committee  of  foreign  affairs,  but  was  dis- 
missed for  revealing  diplomatic  secrets  in 
one  of  his  controversies  with  Silas  Deane. 
He  was  originator  and  promoter  of  a  sub- 
scription to  relieve  the  distress  of  the  soldiers 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  sent  to 
France  with  Henry  Laurens  to  negotiate  the 
treaty  with  France,  and  was  granted  three 
thousand  dollars  by  congress  for  his  services 
there,  and  an  estate  at  New  Rochelle,  by  the 
state  of  New  York. 

In  1787,  after  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  he  went  to  France,  and  a  few 
years  later  published  his  "  Rights  of  Man," 
defending  the  French  revolution,  which 
gave  him  great  popularity  in  Prance.  He 
was  made  a  citizen  and  elected  to  the  na- 
tional convention  at  Calais.  He  favored 
banishment  of  the  king  to  America,  and 
opposed  his  execution.  He  was  imprisoned 
for  about  ten  months  during  1794  by  the 
Robespierre  party,  during  which  time  he 
wrote  the  "  Age  of  Reason,"  his  great  deis- 
tical  work.  He  was  in  danger  of  the  guillo- 
tine for  several  months.  He  todk  up  his 
residence  with  the  faini!\  "f  Imh.^  \|..iir"i'. 


then  minister  to  France  and  was  chosen 
again  to  the  convention.  He  returned 
to  the  United  States  in  1802,  and  was 
cordially  received  throughout  the  coun- 
try except  at  Trenton,  where  he  was  insulted 
by  Federalists.  He  retired  to  his  estate  at 
New  Rochelle,  and  his  death  occurred  June 
i  8.  1809. 

JOHN  WILLIAM  MACKAY  was  one  of 
Americas  noted  men,  both  in  the  de- 
velopment   of    the    western   coast  and   the 

I  building  of  the  Mackay  and  Bennett  cable. 

I  He  was    born    in  1831  at    Dublin,  Ireland; 

I  came  to  New  York  in  1840  and  his  boyhood 

I  days  were  spent  in  Park  Row.  He  went 
to  California  some  time  after  the  argonauts 

[  of  1849  and  took  to  the  primitive  methods 
of  mining  —  lost  and  won  and  finally  drifted 

'  into  Nevada  about  i860.  The  bonanza  dis- 
coveries which  were  to  have   such  a  potent 

'  influence  on  the  finance  and  statesmanship 
of  the  day  came  in  1872.  Mr.  Mackay 
founded  the  Nevada  Bank  in  1878.  He  is 
said  to  have  taken  one  hundred  and 
fifty  million  dollars  in  bullion  out  of 
the  Big  Bonanza  mine.  There  were  as- 
sociated with  him  in  this  enterprise  James 
G.  Fair,  senator  from  Nevada;  William 
O'Brien  and  James  C.  Flood.  When 
vast  wealth  came  to  Mr.  Mackay  he  be- 
lieved it  his  duty  to  do  his  country  some 
service,  and  he  agitated  in  his  mind  the 
building  of  an  American  steamship  line, 
and  while  brooding  over  this  his  attention 
was  called  to  the  cable  relations  between 
America  and  Europe.  The  financial  man- 
agement of  the  cable  was  selfish  and  ex- 
travagant, and  the  capital  was  heavy  with 
accretions  of  financial  "  water"  and  to  pay 
even  an  apparent  diviiiend  upon  the  sums 
which  represcntctl  the  nominal  value  of  the 
rablis,  it  was  nccossarv    to  hold    the    rates 


COMPEXDIUM    OF    BlOGUAPlir. 


149 


at  an  exorbitant  figure.  And,  moreover, 
the  cables  were  foreign;  in  one  the  influence 
of  France  being  paramount  and  in  the  other 
that  of  England;  and  in  the  matter  of  intel- 
ligence, so  necessary  in  case  of  war,  we 
would  be  at  the  mercy  of  our  enemies.  This 
train  of  thought  brought  Mr.  Mackay  into  re- 
lation wMth  James  Gordon  Bennett,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  "  New  York  Herald."  The 
result  of  their  intercourse  was  that  Mr.  Mac- 
kay so  far  entered  into  the  enthusiasm  of 
Mr.  Bennett  over  an  independent  cable, 
that  he  offered  to  assist  the  enterprise  with 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  was  the 
inception  of  the  Commercial  Cable  Com- 
pany, or  of  what  has  been  known  for  years 
as   the    Mackav-Bennett  cable. 


ELISHA  GRAY,  the  great  inventor  and 
electrician,  was  born  August  2,  1835. 
at  Barnesville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  He 
was,  as  a  child,  greatly  interested  in  the 
phenomena  of  nature,  and  read  with  avidity 
all  the  books  he  could  obtain,  relating  to 
this  subject.  He  was  apprenticed  to  various 
trades  during  his  boyhood,  but  his  insatiable 
thirst  for  knowledge  dominated  his  life  and 
he  found  time  to  study  at  odd  intervals. 
Supporting  himself  by  working  at  his  trade, 
he  found  time  to  pursue  a  course  at  Oberlin 
College,  where  he  particularly  devoted  him- 
self to  the  study  of  physicial  science.  Mr. 
Graj'  secured  his  first  patent  for  electrical 
or  telegraph  apparatus  on  October  I,  1867. 
His  attention  was  first  attracted  to  tele- 
phonic transmission  during  this  year  and  he 
saw  in  it  a  way  of  transmitting  signals  for 
telegraph  purposes,  and  conceived  the  idea 
of  electro-tones,  tuned  to  different  tones  in 
the  scale.  He  did  not  then  realize  the  im- 
portance of  his  invention,  his  thoughts  being 
employed  on  the  capacity  of  the  apparatus 
ior  transmitting  musical   tones   through  an 


electric  circuit,  and  it  was  not  until  KS74 
that  he  was  again  called  to  consider  the  re- 
production of  electrically-transmitted  vibra- 
tions through  the  medium  of  animal  tissue. 
He  continued  experimenting  with  various 
results,  which  finally  culminated  in  his 
taking  out  a  patent  for  his  speaking  tele- 
phone on  February  14,  1876.  He  took  out 
fifty  additional  patents  in  the  course  of 
eleven  years,  among  which  were,  telegraph 
switch,  telegraph  repeater,  telegraph  annun- 
ciator and  typewriting  telegraph.  From 
1869  until  1873  he  was  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  telegraph  apparatus  in  Cleve- 
land and  Chicago,  and  filled  the  office  of 
electrician  to  the  Western  Electric  Com- 
pany. He  was  awarded  the  degree  of  D. 
S.,  and  in  1874  he  went  abroad  to  perfect 
himself  in  acoustics.  Mr.  Gray's  latest  in- 
vention was  known  as  the  telautograph  or 
long  distance  writing  machine.  Mr.  Gray 
wrote  and  published  several  works  on  scien- 
tific subjects,  among  which  were:  "Tele- 
graphy and  Telephony,"  and  "  Experi- 
mental Research  in  Electro-Harmonic  Tele- 
graphy and  Telephony." 


WHITELAW  REID.— Among  the  many 
men  who  have  adorned  the  field  of 
journalism  in  the  United  States,  few  stand 
out  with  more  prominence  than  the  scholar, 
author  and  editor  whose  name  heads  this  ar- 
ticle. Born  at  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
October  27,  1837,  he  graduated  at  Miami 
University  in  1856.  For  about  a  year  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  graded  schools  of 
South  Charleston,  Ohio,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased the  "Xenia  News,"  which  he  edited 
for  about  two  years.  This  paper  was  the 
first  one  outside  of  Illinois  to  advocate  the 
nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  Mr.  Reid 
having  been  a  Republican  since  the  birth  of 
that  party  in  1S56.     After  taking  an  active 


150 


coMrEMULM  or  nioi.RM'in: 


part  in  the  campaign,  in  the  winter  of  1860- 
Ci,  he  went  to  the  state  capital  as  corres- 
pondent of  three  daily  papers.  At  the  close 
of  the  session  of  the  legislature  he  became 
city  editor  of  the  "Cincinnati  Gazette," 
and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  went  to 
the  front  as  a  correspondent  for  that  journal. 
For  a  time  he  served  on  the  staff  of  General 
Morris  in  West  Virginia,  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  Shortly  after  he  was  on  the  staff 
of  General  I^osecrans,  and,  under  the  name 
of  "Agate,"  wrote  most  graphic  descrip- 
tions of  the  movements  in  the  field,  espe- 
cially that  of  the  battle  ol  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing. In  the  spring  of  1862  Mr.  Reid  went 
to  Washington  and  was  appointed  librarian 
to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  acted  as 
correspondent  of  the  "Cincinnati  Gazette." 
His  description  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
written  on  the  field,  gained  him  added 
reputation.  In  1865  he  accompanied  Chief 
Justice  Chase  on  a  southern  tour,  and  pub- 
lished "After  the  War;  a  Southern  Tour." 
During  the  next  two  years  he  was  engaged 
in  cotton  planting  in  Louisiana  and  Ala- 
bama, and  published  "Ohio  in  the  War." 
In  1868  he  returned  to  the  "  Cincinnati  Ga- 
zette," becoming  one  of  its  leading  editors. 
The  same  year  he  accepted  the  invitation  of 
Horace  Greeley  and  became  one  of  the  staff 
on  the  "  New  York  Tribune."  Upon  the 
death  of  Mr.  Greeley  in  1872,  Mr.  Reid  be- 
came editor  and  chief  proprietor  of  that 
paper.  In  1 878  he  was  tendered  the  United 
States  mission  to  Berlin,  but  declined.  The 
offer  was  again  made  by  the  Garfield  ad- 
ministration, but  again  he  declined.  In 
1S78  he  was  elected  by  the  New  York  legis- 
lature regent  of  the  university,  to  succeed 
General  John  A.  Dix.  Under  the  Harrison 
administration  he  served  as  United  States 
minister  to  France,  and  in  1892  was  the 
Republican  nominee  for  the  vice-presidency 


of  the  United  States.  Among  other  works 
published  by  him  were  the  "  Schools  of 
Journalism,"  "The  Scholar  in  Politics.'" 
"Some  Newspaper  Tendencies,"  and 
' '  Town-Hall  Suggestions. " 


G FORGE  WHITEFIELD  was  one  of 
the  most  powerful  aniJ  effective  preach- 
ers the  world  has  ever  produced,  swaying 
his  hearers  and  touching  the  hearts  of  im- 
mense audiences  in  a  manner  that  has  rarely 
been  equalled  and  never  surpassed.  While 
not  a  native  of  America,  yet  much  of  his 
labor  was  spent  in  this  country.  He  wielded 
a  great  inHuence  in  the  United  States  in 
early  days,  and  his  death  occurred  here;  so 
that  he  well  deserves  a  place  in  this  volume 
as  one  of  the  most  celebrated  men  America 
has  known. 

George  Whitefield  was  born  in  the  Bull 
Inn,  at  Gloucester,  England.  December  16. 
17 14.  He  acquired  the  rudiments  of  learn- 
ing in  St.  Mary's  grammar  school.  Later 
he  attended  O.vford  University  for  a  time, 
where  he  became  intimate  with  the  Oxford 
Methodists,  and  resolved  to  devote  himself 
to  the  ministry.  He  was  ordained  in  the 
Gloucester  Cathedral  June  20,  1S36,  and 
the  following  day  preached  his  first  sermon 
in  the  same  church.  On  that  day  there 
commenced  a  new  era  in  Whitefield's  life. 
He  went  to  London  and  began  to  preach  at 
Bishopsgate  church,  his  fame  soon  spread- 
ing over  the  city,  and  shortly  he  was  en- 
gaged four  times  on  a  single  Sunday  in  ad- 
dressing audiences  of  enormous  magnitude, 
and  he  preached  in  various  parts  of  his  native 
country,  the  people  crowding  in  multitudes 
to  hear  him  and  hanging  upon  the  rails  and 
rafters  of  the  churches  and  approaches  there- 
to. He  finally  sailed  (or  .America,  landing 
in  Georgia,  v.-here  he  stirred  the  people  to 
great  enthusiasm.     During  the  balance  of 


LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


153 


his  life  he  divided  his  time  between  Great 
Britain  and  America,  and  it  is  recorded  that 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  thirteen  times.  He 
came  to  America  for  the  seventh  time  in 
1770.  He  preached  every  day  at  Boston 
from  the  17th  to  the  20th  of  September, 
1770,  then  traveled  to  Newburyport,  preach- 
ing at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  September 
29,  on  the  \%'ay.  That  evening  he  went  to 
Newburyport,  where  he  died  the  next  day, 
Sunday,  September  30,  1770. 

"  Whitefield's  dramatic  power  was  amaz- 
ing,"  says  an  eminent  writer  in  describing 
him.  "  His  voice  was  marvelously  varied, 
and  he  ever  had  it  at  command — an  organ, 
a  flute,  a  harp,  all  in  one.  His  intellectual 
powers  were  not  of  a  high  order,  but  he  had 
an  abundance  of  that  ready  talent  and  that 
wonderful  magnetism  which  makes  the  pop- 
ular preacher;  and  beyond  all  natural  en- 
dowments, there  was  in  his  ministry  the 
power  of  evangelical  truth,  and,  as  his  con- 
verts believed,  the  presence  of  the  spirit  of 
God."  

CHARLES  FRANCIS  BRUSH,  one  of 
America's  prominent  men  in  the  devel- 
opment of  electrical  science,  was  born  March 
17,  1849,  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  spent 
his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm.  From 
the  district  school  at  Wickliffe,  Ohio,  he 
passed  to  the  Shaw  Academy  at  Collamer, 
and  then  entered  the  high  school  at  Cleve- 
land. His  interest  in  chemistry,  physics 
and  engineering  was  already  marked,  and 
during  his  senior  year  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  chemical  and  physical  appar- 
atus. During  these  years  he  devised  a  plan 
for  lighting  street  lamps,  constructed  tele- 
scopes, and  his  first  electric  arc  lamp,  also 
an  electric  motor.  In  September,  1867,  he 
entered  the  engineering  department  of  the 
University    of    Michigan    and  graduated  in 


1869,  which  was  a  year  in  advance  of  his 
class,  with  the  degree  of  M.  E.  He  then 
returned  to  Cleveland,  and  for  three  years 
was  engaged  as  an  analytical  chemist  and 
for  four  years  in  the  iron  business.  In 
1875  Mr.  Brush  became  interested  in  elec- 
tric lighting,  and  in  1876,  after  four  months' 
experimenting,  he  completed  the  dynamo- 
electric  machine  that  has  made  his  name 
famous,  and  in  a  shorter  time  produced  the 
series  arc  lamps.  These  were  both  patent- 
ed in  the  United  States  in  1876,  and  he 
afterward  obtained  fifty  patents  on  his  later 
inventions,  including  the  fundamental  stor- 
age battery,  the  compound  series,  shunt- 
winding  for  dynamo-electric  machines,  and 
the  automatic  cut-out  for  arc  lamps.  His 
patents,  two-thirds  of  which  have  already 
been  profitable,  are  held  by  the  Brush 
Electric  Company,  of  Cleveland,  while  his 
foreign  patents  are  controlled  by  the  Anglo- 
American  Brush  Electric  Light  Company, 
of  London.  In  1880  the  Western  Reserve 
University  conferred  upon  Mr.  Brush  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  and  in  i88i  the  French 
government  decorated  him  as  a  chevalier  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor. 


H' 


ENRY  CLEWS,  of  Wall-street  fame, 
was  one  of  the  noted  old-time  opera- 
tors on  that  famous  street,  and  was  also  an 
author  of  some  repute.  Mr.  Clews  was 
born  in  Staffordshire.  England.  August  14, 
1840.  His  father  had  him  educated  with 
the  intention  of  preparing  him  for  the  minis- 
try, but  on  a  visit  to  the  United  States  the 
young  man  became  interested  in  a  business 
life,  and  was  allowed  to  engage  as  a  clerk  in 
the  importing  house  of  Wilson  G.  Hunt  & 
Co..  of  New  York.  Here  he  learned  the 
first  principles  of  business,  and  when  the  war 
broke  out  in  1861  young  Clews  saw  in  the 
needs  of  the   government  an   opportunity  to 


154 


COMI'HMtn  M    or    Ji/OGJiA/'J/y. 


reap  a  golden  harvest.  He  identified  him- 
self with  the  negotiating  of  loans  for  the 
government,  and  used  his  powers  of  pur- 
suasion  upon  the  great  money  powers  to 
convince  them  of  the  stability  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  value  of  its  securities.  By 
enthusiasm  and  patriotic  arguments  he  in- 
duced capitalists  to  invest  their  money  in 
government  securities,  often  against  their 
judgment,  and  his  success  was  remarkable. 
His  was  one  of  the  leading  firms  that  aided 
the  struggling  treasury  department  in  that 
critical  hour,  and  his  reward  was  great.  In 
addition  to  the  vast  wealth  it  brought. 
President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Chase 
both  wrote  important  letters,  acknowledging 
his  valued  service.  In  1873.  by  the  repu- 
diation of  the  bonded  indebtedness  of  the 
state  of  Georgia,  Mr.  Clews  lost  six  million 
dollars  which  he  had  invested  in  those  se- 
curities. It  is  said  that  he  is  the  only  man, 
with  one  e.\ception,  in  Wall  street,  who 
ever  regained  great  wealth  after  utter  dis- 
aster. His  "  Twenty-Eight  Years  in  Wall 
Street  "  has  been  widely  read. 


ALFRED  VAIL  was  one  of  the  men  that 
gave  to  the  world  the  electric  telegraph 
and  the  names  of  Henry,  Morse  and  Vail 
will  forever  remain  linked  as  the  prime  fac- 
tors in  that  great  achievement.  Mr.  Vail 
was  born  September  25,  1807,  at  Morris- 
town,  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  son  of  Stephen 
Vail,  the  proprietor  of  the  Speedwell  Iron 
Works,  near  Morristown.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen,  after  he  had  completed  his  stud- 
ies at  the  Morristown  Academy,  Alfred  Vail 
went  into  the  Speedwell  Iron  Works  and 
contented  himself  with  the  duties  of  his 
position  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He 
then  determined  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
ministry,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he 
entered  the  University  ol    the   City  of    New 


York,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1836.  His 
health  becoming  impaired  he  labored  for  a 
time  under  much  uncertainty  as  to  his  future 
course.  Professor  S.  F.  B.  Morse  had  come 
to  the  university  in  1835  as  professor  of  lit- 
erature and  fine  arts,  and  about  this  time, 
1837.  Professor  Gale,  occupying  the  chair 
of  chemistry,  invited  Morse  to  exhibit  his 
apparatus  for  the  benefit  of  the  students. 
On  Saturday,  September  2,  1837,  the  exhi- 
bition took  place  and  Vail  was  asked  to  at- 
tend, and  with  his  inherited  taste  for  me- 
chanics and  knowledge  of  their  construction, 
he  saw  a  great  future  for  the  crude  mechan- 
ism used  by  Morse  in  giving  and  recording 
signals.  Mr.  Vail  interested  his  father  in 
the  invention,  and  Morse  was  invited  to 
Speedwell  and  the  elder  Vail  promised  to 
help  him.  It  was  stipulated  that  Alfred 
Vail  should  construct  the  required  apparatus 
and  exhibit  before  a  committee  of  congress 
the  telegraph  instrument,  and  was  to  receive 
a  quarter  interest  in  the  invention.  Morse 
had  devised  a  series  of  ten  numbered  leaden 
types,  which  were  to  be  operated  in  giving 
the  signal.  This  was  not  satisfactory  to 
Vail,  so  he  devised  an  entirely  new  instru- 
ment, involving  a  lever,  or  "point."  on  a 
radically  different  principle,  which,  when 
tested,  produced  dots  and  dashes,  and  de- 
vised the  famous  dot-and-dash  alphabet, 
misnamed  the  "  Morse."  At  last  the  ma- 
chine was  in  working  order,  on  January  6. 
1838.  The  machine  was  taken  to  Wash- 
ington, where  it  caused  not  only  wonder, 
but  excitement.  Vail  continued  his  experi- 
ments and  devised  the  lever  and  roller. 
When  the  line  between  Baltimore  and 
Washington  was  completed.  Vail  was  sta- 
tioned at  the  Baltimore  end  and  received 
the  famous  first  message.  It  is  a  remarka- 
ble fact  that  not  a  single  feature  of  the 
j  original   invention  of    Morse,  as  formulated 


coMrExnu'M  of  biographt. 


155 


by  his  caveat  and  repeated  in  his  original 
patent,  is  to  be  found  in  Vail's  apparatus. 
From  1S37  to  1844  it  was  a  combination  of 
the  inventions  of  Morse,  Henrj'  and  Vail, 
but  the  work  of  Morse  fell  gradually  into 
desuetude,  while  Vail's  conception  of  an 
alphabet  has  remained  unchanj^ed  for  half  a 
century.  Mr.  Vail  published  but  one  work, 
"American  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph," 
in  1845,  ^n<i  died  at  Morristown  at  the  com- 
paratively early  age  of  fifty-one,  on  January 
'9.  1859-  '_ 

ULYSSES  S.  GR.'VNT,  the  eighteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  April  27,  1822,  at  Point  Pleasant,  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  entered  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  June,  1843,  and  was  given  his 
brevet  as  second  lieutenant  and  assigned  to 
the  Fourth  Infantry.  He  remained  in  the 
service  eleven  years,  in  which  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  Me.xican  war  with  gal- 
lantry, and  was  thrice  brevetted  for  conduct 
in  the  field.  In  1848  he  married  Miss  Julia 
Dent,  and  in  1854,  having  reached  the 
grade  of  captain,  he  resigned  and  engaged 
in  farming  near  St.  Louis.  In  i860  he  en- 
tered the  leather  business  with  his  father  at 
Galena,  Illinois. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  svar,  in  1861, 
he  commenced  to  drill  a  company  at  Ga- 
lena, and  at  the  same  time  offered  his  serv- 
ices to  the  adjutant-general  of  the  army, 
but  he  had  few  influential  friends,  so  re- 
ceived no  answer.  He  was  employed  by 
the  governor  of  Illinois  in  the  organization 
of  the  various  volunteer  regiments,  and  at 
the  end  of  a  few  weeks  was  given  the 
colonelcy  of  the  Twenty-first  Infantry,  from 
that  state.  His  military  training  and  knowl- 
edge soon  attracted  the  attention  of  his  su- 


perior officers,  and  on  reporting  to  General 
Pope  in  Missouri,  the  latter  put  him  in 
the  way  of  advancement.  August  7,  1861, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers,  and  for  a  few  weeks 
was  occupied  in  watching  the  movements  of 
partisan  forces  in  Missouri.  September  i, 
the  same  year,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  Southeast  Missouri, 
with  headquarters  at  Cairo,  and  on  the  6th 
of  the  month,  without  orders,  seized  Padu- 
cah,  which  commanded  the  channel  of  the 
Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers,  by  which  he  se- 
cured Kentucky  for  the  Union.  He  now 
received  orders  to  make  a  demonstration  on 
Belmont,  which  he  did,  and  with  about  three 
thousand  raw  recruits  held  his  own  against 
the  Confederates  some  seven  thousand 
strong,  bringing  back  about  two  hundred 
prisoners  and  two  guns.  In  February,]  1862, 
he  moved  up  the  Tennessee  river  with 
the  naval  fleet  under  Commodore  Foote. 
The  latter  soon  silenced  Fort  Henry,  and 
Grant  advanced  against  Fort  Donelson  and 
took  their  fortress  and  its  garrison.  His 
prize  here  consisted  of  si.xty-five  cannon, 
seventeen  thousand  si.x  hundred  stand  of 
arms,  and  fourteen  thousand  si.\  hundred 
and  twenty-three  prisoners.  This  was  the 
first  important  success  won  by  the  Union 
forces.  Grant  was  immediately  made  a 
major-general  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  district  of  West  Tennessee.  In  April, 
1862,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, and  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by 
the  enemy  Grant  became  commander  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee.  He  now 
made  his  first  demonstration  toward  Vicks- 
burg,  but  owing  to  the  incapacity  of  subor- 
dinate officers,  was  unsuccessful.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  he  took  command  of  all  the 
troops  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  devoted 
several  months  to   the   siege  of   Vicksburg, 


COMPESDILM  OF    BIOGRArJir. 


which  was  finally  taken  possession  of  by  him 
July  4,  with  thirty-one  thousand  six  hundred 
prisoners  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-two 
cannon,  thus  throwing  the  Mississippi  river 
open  to  the  Federals.  He  was  now  raised 
to  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the  regular 
army.  October  following,  at  the  head  of 
the  Department  of  the  Mississippi.  General 
Grant  went  to  Chattanooga,  where  he  over- 
threw the  enemy,  and  united  with  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  The  remarkable  suc- 
cesses achieved  by  him  pointed  Grant  out 
for  an  appropriate  commander  of  all  na- 
tional troops,  and  in  February.  1864.  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-general  was  made  for  him 
by  act  of  congress.  Sending  Sherman  into 
Georgia,  Sigel  into  the  Valley  of  West  Vir- 
ginia and  Butler  to  attempt  the  capture  of 
Richmond  he  fought  his  way  through  the 
Wilderness  to  the  James  and  pressed  the 
siege  of  the  capital  of  the  Confederacy. 
After  the  fall  of  the  latter  Grant  pressed 
the  Confederate  army  so  hard  that  their 
commander  surrendered  at  Appomattox 
Court  House,  April  9,  1865.  This  virtually 
ended  the  war. 

After  the  war  the  rank  of  general  was 
conferred  upon  U.  S.  Grant,  and  in  1868  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  United  States, 
and  re-elected  his  own  successor  in  1872. 
After  the  expiration  of  the  latter  term  he 
made  his  famous  tour  of  the  world.  He  died 
at  Mt.  McGregor,  near  Saratoga,  New  York, 
July  23.  1885,  and  was  buried  at  Riverside 
Park,  New  York,  where  a  magnificent  tomb 
has  been  erected  to  hold  the  ashes  of  the 
nation's  hero. 


JOHN  MARSHALL,  the  fourth  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Virginia,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1755  His  father.  Colonel  Thomas 
Marshall,  served  with  distinction  in  the  Rev- 


olutionary war,  while  he  also  served  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war  until  1779,  where 
he  became  noted  in  the  field  and  courts 
martial.  While  on  detached  service  he  at- 
tended a  course  of  law  lectures  at  William 
and  Mary  College,  delivered  by  Mr.  Wythe, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  next  year 
he  resigned  his  commission  and  began  his 
career  as  a  lawyer.  He  was  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  convention  called  in  Virginia 
to  ratify  the  Federal  constitution.  He  was 
tendered  the  attorney-generalship  of  the 
United  States,  and  also  a  place  on  the  su- 
preme bench,  besides  other  places  of  less 
honor,  all  of  which  he  declined.  He 
went  to  France  as  special  envoy  in  1798, 
and  the  next  year  was  elected  to  congress. 
He  served  one  year  and  was  appointed,  first, 
secretary  of  war,  and  then  secretary  of  state, 
and  in  1801  was  made  chief  justice  of  the 
United  States.  He  held  this  high  office  un- 
til his  death,  in  1S35. 

Chief  Justice  Marshall's  early  education 
was  neglected,  and  his  opinions,  the  most 
valuable  in  existence,  are  noted  for  depth 
of  wisdom,  clear  and  comprehensive  reason- 
ing, justice,  and  permanency,  rather  than  for 
wide  learning  and  scholarly  construction. 
His  decisions  and  rulings  are  resorted  to 
constantly  by  our  greatest  lawyers,  and  his 
renown  as  a  just  judge  and  profound  jurist 
was  world  wide. 


LAWRENCE  BARRETT  is  perhaps 
known  more  widely  as  a  producer  of 
new  plays  than  as  a  great  actor.  He  was 
born  in  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  in  1838,  and 
educated  himself  as  best  he  could,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  became  salesman 
for  a  Detroit  dry  goods  house.  He  after- 
wards began  to  go  upon  the  stage  as  a 
supernumerary,  and  his  ambition  was  soon 
rewarded  by  the  notice  of  the  management. 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPIIT. 


157 


During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a 
soldier,  and  after  valiant  service  for  his 
country  he  returned  to  the  stage.  He  went 
to  Europe  and  appeared  in  Liverpool,  and 
returning  in  1869,  he  began  playing  at 
Booth's  theater,  with  Mr.  Booth.  He  was 
afterward  associated  with  John  McCullough 
in  the  management  of  the  California 
theater.  Probably  the  most  noted  period 
of  his  work  was  during  his  connection  with 
Edwin  Booth  as  manager  of  that  great 
actor,  and  supporting  him  upon  the  stage. 
Mr.  Barrett  was  possessed  of  the  crea- 
tive instinct,  and,  unlike  Mr.  Booth,  he 
sought  new  fields  for  the  display  of  his 
genius,  and  only  resorted  to  traditional 
drama  in  response  to  popular  demand.  He 
preferred  new  plays,  and  believed  in  the 
encouragement  of  modern  dramatic  writers, 
and  was  the  only  actor  of  prominence  in  his 
time  that  ventured  to  put  upon  the  stage 
new  American  plays,  which  he  did  at  his 
own  expense,  and  the  success  of  his  experi- 
ments proved  the  quality  of  his  judgment. 
He  died  March  21,   1891. 


ARCHBISHOP  JOHN  HUGHES,  a  cel- 
ebrated Catholic  clergyman,  was  born 
at  Annaboghan,  Tyrone  county,  Ireland, 
June  24,  1797,  and  emigrated  to  America 
when  twenty  years  of  age,  engaging  for 
some  time  as  a  gardener  and  nurseryman. 
In  1 8 19  he  entered  St.  Mary's  College, 
where  he  secured  an  education,  paying  his 
way  by  caring  for  the  college  garden.  In 
1 82  5  he  was  ordained  a  deacon  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church,  and  in  the  same  year, 
a  priest.  Until  1838  he  had  pastoral  charges 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  founded  St.  John's 
Asylum  in  1829,  and  a  few  years  later  es- 
tablished the  "Catholic  Herald."  In  1838 
he  was  made  bishop  of  Basileopolis  in  parti- 
bus    and    coadjutor   to    Bishop   Dubois,   of 


New  York,  and  in  1842  became  bishop  of 
New  York.  In  1839  he  founded  St.  John's 
College,  at  Fordham.  In  1850  he  was 
made  archbishop  of  New  York.  In  1861-2 
he  was  a  special  agent  of  the  United  States 
in  Europe,  after  which  he  returned  to  this 
country  and  remained  until  his  death,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1864.  Archbishop  Hughes  early 
attracted  much  attention  by  his  controver- 
sial correspondence  with  Rev.  John  Breck- 
inridge in  1833-35.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
ability,  a  fluent  and  forceful  writer  and  an 
able  preacher. 

RUTHERFORD  BIRCHARD  HAYES 
was  the  nineteenth  president  of  the 
United  States  and  served  from  1877  to  1881. 
He  was  born  October  4,  1822,  at  Delaware, 
Ohio,  and  his  ancestry  can  be  traced  back 
as  far  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and  Rutherford 
were  two  Scottish  chieftans  fighting  side  by 
side  with  Baliol,  William  Wallace  and 
Robert  Bruce.  The  Hayes  family  had  for 
ja.  coat  of  arms,  a  shield,  barred  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  flying  eagle.  There  was  a 
circle  of  stars  about  the  eagle,  while  on  a 
scroll  underneath  was  their  motto,  "Recte." 
Misfortune  overtook  the  family  and  in  1680 
George  Hayes,  the  progenitor  of  the  Ameri- 
can family,  came  to  Connecticut  and  settled 
at  Windsor.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  was 
a  very  delicate  child  at  his  birth  and  was 
not  expected  to  live,  but  he  lived  in  spite  of 
all  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
seven  years  old,  when  he  was  placed  in 
school.  He  wasa  verytractablepupil,  being 
always  very  studious,  and  in  1838  entered 
Kenyon  College,  graduating  from  the  same 
in  1842.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow  at  Colum- 
bus, but  in  a  short  time  he  decided  to  enter 
a  law  school  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
where  for  two  years  he  was  immersed  in  the 


158 


CUMriiXDIL  M   OF   JiJOG/iA/'//r. 


study  of  law.  Mr.  Hayes  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1845  in  .Marietta,  Ohio,  and  very 
soon  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  with  Ralph  P.  Buckhind,  of 
Fremont,  Ohio.  He  remained  there  three 
years,  and  in  1849  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  his  ambition  found  a  new 
stimulus.  Two  events  occurred  at  this 
period  that  had  a  powerful  influence  on  his 
afterlife.  One  was  his  marriage  to  Nfiss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  and  the  other  was  his 
introduction  to  a  Cincinnati  literary  club, 
a  body  embracing  such  men  as  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  John  Pope,  and  Edward  F.  Noyes. 
In  1856  he  was  nominated  for  judge  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  but  declined,  and 
two  years  later  he  was  appointed  city 
solicitor.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion 
Mr.  Hayes  was  appointed  major  of  the 
Twenty-third  Ohio  Infantry,  June  7.  1861, 
and  in  July  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Virginia,  and  October  15,  1861,  saw  him 
promoted  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  his 
regiment.  He  was  made  colonel  of  the 
Seventy-ninth  Ohio  Infantry,  but  refused  to 
leave  his  old  comrades;  and  in  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain  he  was  wounded  very 
severely  and  was  unable  to  rejoin  his  regi- 
ment until  November  30,  1862.  He  had 
been  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the 
regiment  on  October  15,  1862.  In  the 
following  December  he  was  appointed  to 
command  the  Kanawa  division  and  was 
given  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  for 
meritorious  services  in  several  battles,  and 
in  1864  he  was  brevetted  major-general  for 
distinguished  services  in  1864.  during 
which  campaign  he  was  wounded  several 
times  and  five  horses  had  been  shot  under 
him.  Mr.  Hayes'  first  venture  in  politics 
was  as  a  Whig,  and  later  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  unite  with  the  Republican  party.  In 
1864  he  was  elected  from  the  Second  Ohio 


district  to  congress,  re-elected  in  1866. 
and  in  1867  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio 
over  Allen  G.  Thurman,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1869.  Mr.  Hayes  was  elected  to  the 
presidency  in  1876,  for  the  term  of  four 
years,  and  at  its  close  retired  to  private  life, 
and  went  to  his  home  in  Fremont,  Ohio, 
where  he  died  on  January  17,  1893. 


WILLIAM  JENNINGS  BRYAN  became 
a  celebrated  character  as  the  nominee 
of  the  Democratic  and  P(jpulist  parties  for 
president  of  the  United  States  in  1896.  He 
was  born  March  19,  i860,  at  Salem.  Illi- 
nois. He  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
later  on  he  attended  the  Whipple  Academy 
at  Jacksonville.  He  also  took  a  course  in 
Illinois  College,  and  after  his  graduation 
from  the  same  went  to  Chicago  to  study 
law,  and  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law 
a"^  a  student.  He  was  associated  with  the 
late  Lyman  Trumbull,  of  Chicago,  during 
his  law  studies,  and  devoted  considerable 
time  to  the  questions  of  government.  He 
graduated  from  the  college,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  went  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois, 

'  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Baird.  In  1887  Mr.  Bryan  removed 
to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Adolphus  R.  Talbot.  He 
entered  the  field  of  politics,  and  in  1S8S 
was  sent  as  a  delegate  to    the    state  con- 

[  vention,  which  was  to  choose  delegates  to 
the  national  convention,  during  which  he 
made  a  speech  which  immediately  won  him 
a  high  rank  in  political  affairs.    He  declined, 

I  in  the  ne.xt  state  convention,  a  nomination 
for  lieutenant-governor,  and  in  189c  he  was 

I  elected  congressman  from  the  First  district 

;  of  Nebraska,  and  was  the  youngest  member 
of    the    fifty-second    congress.      He    cham- 

I  pioned   the   Wilson   tariff   bill,    and   served 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


\m 


three  terms  in  the  house  of  representatives. 
He  next  ran  for  senator,  but  was  defeated 
by  John  M.  Thurston,  and  in  1896  he  was 
selected  by  the  Democratic  and  Popuhst 
parties  as  their  nominee  for  the  presidency, 
being  defeated  by  William  McKinley. 


MARVIN  HUGHITT,  one  of  America's 
famous  railroad  men,  was  born  in 
Genoa,  New  York,  and  entered  the  railway 
service  in  1856  as  superintendent  of  tele- 
graph and  trainmaster  of  the  St.  Louis,  Al- 
ton &  Chicago,  now  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road. Mr.  Hughitt  was  superintendent  of 
the  soutliern  division  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  from  1862  until  1S64,  and  was, later 
on,  the  general  superintendent  of  the  road 
until  1870.  He  was  then  connected  with 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road as  assistant  general  manager,  and  re- 
tained tliis  position  until  iS/i,  when  he  be- 
came the  general  manager  of  Pullman's 
Palace  Car  Company.  In  1872  he  was  made 
general  superintendent  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad.  He  served  during 
1876  and  up  to  1880  as  general  manager, 
and  from  1880  until  1887  as  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  road  in  1887.  in  recog- 
nition of  his  ability  in  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  i'oad.  He  was  also  chosen 
president  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis &  Omaha  Railway;  the  Fremont,  Elk- 
horn  &  Missouri  Valley  Railroad,  and  the 
Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad, 
and  his  services  in  these  capacities  stamped 
him  as  one  of  the  most  able  railroad  mana- 
gers of  his  day. 


JOSEPH  MEDILL,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  of  American  journalists,  was 
born  ill  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  April  6, 
1823.     In  1 83 1  his  father   moved   to  Stark 


county,  Ohio,  and  until  1841  Joseph  Medill 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  Later  he 
studied  law,  and  began  the  practice  of  that 
profession  in  1846  at  New  Philadelphia, 
Ohio.  But  the  newspaper  field  was  more 
attractive  to  Mr.  Medill,  and  three  years 
later  he  founded  a  free-soil  Whig  paper  at 
Coshocton,  Ohio,  and  after  that  time  jour- 
nalism received  all  his  abilities.  "The 
Leader, "  another  free-soil  Whig  paper,  was 
founded  by  Mr.  Medill  at  Cleveland  in  1852. 
In  that  city  he  also  became  one  of  the  first 
organizers  of  the  Republican  party.  Shortly 
after  that  event  he  removed  to  Chicago  and 
in  1855,  with  two  partners,  he  purchased 
the  "  Chicago  Tribune."  In  the  contest  for 
the  nomination  for  the  presidency  in  i860, 
Mr.  Medill  worked  with  unflagging  zeal  for 
Mr.  Lincoln,  his  warm  personal  friend,  and 
was  one  of  the  president's  stanchest  sup- 
porters during  the  war.  Mr.  Medill  was  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Constitutional  con- 
vention in  1870.  President  Grant,  in  1871, 
appointed  the  editor  a  member  of  the  firr; 
United  States  civil  service  commission,  and 
the  following  year,  after  the  fire,  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Chicago  by  a  great  ma- 
jority. During  1873  and  1874  Mr.  Medill 
spent  a  year  in  Europe.  Upon  his  return 
he  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
'•  Chicago  Tribune." 


CLAUSSPRECKELS,  the  great  "  sugar 
baron,"  and  one  of  the  most  famous 
representatives  of  commercial  life  in  Amer- 
ica, was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1840, 
locating  in  New  York.  He  very  soon  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  a  small  retail  gro- 
cery store  on  Church  street,  and  embarked 
on  a  career  that  has  since  astonished  the 
world.  He  sold  out  his  business  and  went 
to  California   with  the  argonauts  of   1849. 


160 


COM/' J:\DI CM   or    lilOGliAI'Jir 


not  as  a  prospector,  but  as  a  trader,  and  (or 
years  after  his  arrival  on  the  coast  he  was 
still  engaged  as  a  grocer.  At  length,  after  a 
quarter  of  a  century  of  fairly  prosperous 
business  life,  he  found  himself  in  a  position 
where  an  ordinary  man  would  have  retired, 
but  Mr.  Spreckles  did  not  retire;  he  had 
merely  been  gathering  capital  for  the  real 
work  of  his  life.  His  brothers  had  followed 
him  to  California,  and  in  combination  with 
them  he  purchased  for  forty  thousand  dollars 
an  interest  in  the  Albany  Brewery  in  San 
Francisco.  But  the  field  was  not  extensive 
enough  for  the  development  of  his  business 
abilities,  so  Mr.  Sprecklas  branched  out 
extensively  in  the  sugar  business.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  the  entire  output  of 
sugar  that  was  produced  on  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  and  after  1S85  was  known  as 
the  "Sugar  King  of  Sandwich  Islands." 
He  controlled  absolutely  the  sugar  trade  of 
the  Pacific  coast  which  was  known  to  be 
not  less  than  ten  million  dollars  a  year. 


CHARLES  HENRY  PARKHURST, 
famous  as  a  clergyman,  and  for  many 
years  president  of  the  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Crime,  was  born  April  17, 
1842,  at  Framingham.  Massachusetts,  of 
English  descent.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  pupil  in  the  grammar  school  at 
Clinton,  Massachusetts,  and  for  the  ensu- 
ing two  years  was  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods 
store,  which  position  he  gave  up  to  prepare 
himself  for  college  at  Lancaster  academy. 
Mr.  Parkhurst  went  to  Amherst  in  1862, 
and  after  taking  a  thorough  course  he  gradu- 
ated in  1866,  and  in  1867  became  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  Amherst  High  School.  He  re- 
tained this  position  until  1870,  when  he 
visited  Germany  with  the  intention  of  tak- 
ing a  course  in  philosophy  and  theology, 
but  was  forced  to  abandon  this  intention  on 


account  of  illness  in  the  family  causing  his 
early  return  from  Europe.  He  accepted  the 
chair  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  Williston  Semi- 
nary, Easthampton.  Massachusetts,  and  re- 
mained there  two  years.  He  then  accom- 
panied his  wife  to  Europe,  and  devoted  two 
years  to  study  in  Halle,  Leipsic  and  Bonn. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  spent  considerable 
time  in  the  study  of  Sanscrit,  and  in  1874 
he  became  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Lenox,  Massachusetts.  He 
gained  here  his  reputati<jn  as  a  pulpit  ora- 
tor, and  on  March  9,  1S80.  he  became  the 
pastor  of  the  Madison  Square  Presbyterian 
church  of  New  York.  He  was,  in  1 890, 
made  a  member  of  the  Society  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Crime,  and  the  same  year  be- 
came its  president.  He  delivered  a  sermon 
in  1892  on  municipal  corruption,  for  which 
he  was  brought  before  the  grand  jury,  which 
body  declared  his  charges  to  be  without  suffi- 
cient foundation.  But  the  matter  did  not  end 
here,  for  he  immediately  went  to  work  on  a 
second  sermon  in  which  he  substantiated  his 
former  sermon  and  wound  up  by  saying, 
"I  know,  for  I  have  seen."  He  was  again 
summoned  before  that  august  body,  and  as 
a  result  of  his  testimony  and  of  the  investi- 
gation of  the  jurors  themselves,  the  police 
authorities  were  charged  with  incompetency 
and  corruption.  Dr.  Parkhurst  was  the 
author  of  the  following  works:  "The  Forms 
of  the  Latin  Verb,  Illustrated  by  Sanscrit," 
"The  Blind  Man's  Creed  and  Other  Ser- 
mons," "The  Pattern  on  the  Mount,"  and 
"  Three  Gates  on  a  Side." 


HENRY  H1:RGH,  although  a  writer, 
diplomatist  and  government  official, 
was  noted  as  a  philanthropist — the  founder 
of  the  American  Society  for  the  Prevention 
of  Cruelty  to  Animals.  On  his  labors  for 
the    dumb    creation    alone    rests  his   fame. 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BlOCRAPlir. 


161 


Alone,  in  the  face  of  indifference,  opposition 
and  ridicule,  he  began  the  reform  which  is 
now  recognized  as  one  of  the  beneficent 
movements  of  the  age.  Through  his  exer- 
tions as  a  speaker  and  lecturer,  but  above 
all  as  a  bold  worker,  in  the  street,  in  the 
court  room,  before  the  legislature,  the  cause 
he  adopted  gained  friends  and  rapidly  in- 
creased in  power  until  it  has  reached  im- 
mense proportions  and  influence.  The  work 
of  the  society  covers  all  cases  of  cruelty  to 
all  sorts  of  animals,  employs  every  moral 
agency,  social,  legislative  and  personal,  and 
touches  points  of  vital  concern  to  health  as 
well  as  humanity. 

Henry  Bergh  was  born  in  New  York 
City  in  1823,  and  was  educated  at  Colum- 
bia College.  In  1863  he  was  made  secre- 
tary of  the  legation  to  Russia  and  also 
served  as  vice-consul  there.  He  also  de- 
voted some  time  to  literary  pursuits  and  was 
the  author  of  "Love's  Alternative,"  a 
drama;  "Married  Off,"  a  poem;  "'The 
Portentous  Telegram, "  "The  Ocean  Para- 
gon;" "The  Streets  of  New  York,"  tales 
and  sketches. 


HENRY  BENJAMIN  WHIPPLE,  one 
of  the  most  eminent  of  American  di- 
vines, was  born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  county. 
New  York,  February  15,  1822.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
early  in  life  took  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  In  1847  he  became  a  candidate 
for  holy  orders  and  pursued  theological 
studies  with  Rev.  W.  D.  Wilson,  D.  D., 
afterward  professor  in  Cornell  University. 
He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1849,  in  Trinity 
church,  Geneva,  New  York,  by  Rt.  Rev. 
W.  H.  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  and  took  charge 
of  Zion  church,  Rome,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber I,  1849.  In  1850,  our  subject  was  or- 
dained priest    by    Bishop  De    Lancey.     In 


1857  he  became  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  Chicago.  On  the  30th 
of  June,  1859,  he  was  chosen  bishop  of 
Minnesota,  and  took  charge  of  the  interests 
of  the  Episcopal  church  in  that  state,  being 
located  at  F"aribault.  In  i860  Bishop 
Whipple,  with  Revs.  I.  L.  Breck,  S.  W. 
Mauncey  and  E.  S.  Peake,  organized  the 
Bishop  Seabury  Mission,  out  of  which  has 
grown  the  Cathedral  of  Our  Merciful  Savior, 
the  Seabury  Divinity  School,  Shattuck 
School  and  St.  Mary's  Hall,  which  have 
made  Faribault  City  one  of  the  greatest 
educational  centersof  the  northwest.  Bishop 
Whipple  also  became  noted  as  the  friend 
and  defender  of  the  North  American  In- 
dians and  planted  a  number  of  successful 
missions  among  them. 

EZRA  CORNELL  was  one  of  the  greatest 
philanthropists  and  friends  of  education 
the  country  has  known.  He  was  born  at 
Westchester  Landing,  New  York,  January 
II,  1807.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive state  and  became  a  prominent  figure  in 
business  circles  as  a  successful  and  self-made 
man.  Soon  after  the  invention  of  the  elec- 
tric telegraph,  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
that  enterprise,  and  accumulated  an  im- 
mense fortune.  In  1865,  by  a  gift  of  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  he  made  possible 
the  founding  of  Cornell  University,  which 
was  named  in  his  honor.  He  afterward 
made  additional  bequests  amountingto  many 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Ithaca,  New  York,  December  9, 
1874-  

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY,  widely  knowi. 
as  an  author  and  politician,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  November  3, 
1831.  He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  and  graduated  from  the 


COMrEXDllM   OF    B/OG/iA/'J/r. 


Central  High  School  in  1849.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Judge  B.  H.  Brewster, 
and  wus  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852.  In 
the  spring  ol  1X36.  Mr.  Donnelly  emigrated 
to  Minnesota,  then  a  new  territory,  and,  at 
Hastings,  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
partnership  with  A.  M.  Hayes.  In  1857, 
and  again  in  1S58,  he  was  defeated  for  state 
senator,  but  in  1859  he  was  elected  by  the 
Republicans  as  lieutenant-governor,  and  re- 
elected in  1861.  In  1862  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  Second  district  of  Minnesota 
in  congress.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
office  in  1864  and  in  1866.  He  was  an 
abolitionist  and  warmly  supported  President 
Lincoln's  administration,  but  was  strongly 
in  favor  of  leniency  toward  the  people  of 
the  south,  after  the  war.  In  many  ways  he 
was  identified  with  some  of  the  best  meas- 
ures brought  before  the  house  during  his 
presence  there.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  at 
the  request  of  the  Republican  national  com- 
mittee, he  canvassed  New  Hampshire  and 
Connecticut  in  the  interests  of  that  party. 
E.  B.  Washburne  about  this  time  made  an 
attack  on  Donnelly  in  one  of  the  papers  of  | 
Minnesota,  which  was  replied  to  on  the  floor  | 
of  the  house  by  a  fierce  phillipic  that  will  | 
long  be  remembered.  Through  the  inter- 
vention of  the  Washburne  interests  Mr.  Don- 
nelly failed  of  a  re-election  in  1870.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  from 
Dakota  county,  and  continuously  re-elected 
until  1878.  In  1886  he  was  elected  mem- 
ber of  the  house  for  two  years.  In  later 
years  he  identified  himself  with  the  Popu- 
list party. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Donnelly  became  known  as 
an  author,  publishing  his  first  literary  work, 
"Atlantis,  the  Antediluvian  World,"  which 
passed  through  over  twenty-two  editions  in 
America,  several  in  England,  and  was  trans- 
lated into  French.      Thl-^   wi-;   f..Il..wcd  by 


••Ragnarok,  the  Age  of  Fire  and  Gravel," 
which  attained  nearly  as  much  celebrity  as 
the  first,  and  these  two,  in  the  opinion  of 
scientific  critics,  are  sufficient  to  stamp  the 
author  as  a  most  capable  and  painstaking 
student  of  the  facts  he  has  collated  in  them. 
The  work  by  which  he  gained  the  greatest 
notoriety,  however,  was  "The  Great  Cryp- 
togram, or  Francis  Bacons  Cipher  in  the 
Shakespeare  Plays."  " Caesar's  Column," 
"  Dr.  Huguet."  and  other  works  were  pub- 
lished subsequently. 


STEVEN  V.  WHITE,  a  speculator  of 
Wall  Street  of  national  reputation,  was 
born  in  Chatham  county,  North  Carolina, 
August  I,  1 83 1,  and  soon  afterward  re- 
moved to  Illinois.  His  home  was  a  log 
cabin,  and  until  his  eighteenth  year  he 
worked  on  the  farm.  Then  after  several 
years  of  struggle  with  poverty  he  graduated 
from  Kno.x  College,  and  went  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  entered  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe 
house  as  bookkeeper.  He  then  studied  law 
and  worked  as  a  reporter  for  the  "  Missouri 
Democrat."  After  his  admission  to  the  bar 
he  went  to  New  York,  in  1865,  and  became 
a  member  of  the  banking  house  of  Marvm 
&  White.  Mr.  White  enjoyed  the  reputa- 
tion of  having  engineered  the  only  corner 
in  Wall  Street  since  Commodore  'Vander- 
bilt's  time.  This  was  the  famous  Lacka- 
wanna deal  in  1883,  in  which  he  made  a 
profit  of  two  million  dollars.  He  was  some- 
times called  "  Deacon"  White,  and,  though 
a  member  for  many  years  of  the  Plymouth 
church,  he  never  held  that  office.  Mr. 
White  was  one  of  the  most  noted  characters 
of  the  street,  and  has  been  called  an  orator, 
poet,  philanthropist,  linguist,  abolitionist, 
astronomer,  schoolmaster,  plowboy,  and 
trapper.  He  was  a  lawyer,  e.x-congress- 
man,  expert  accountant,  art  critic  andtheo- 


COMPEXniLM   OF    BIOGRAPIIT. 


J  63 


logian.  He  hiid  the  foundation  for  a 
"Home  for  Colored  People."  in  Chatham 
county,  North  Carolina,  where  the  greater 
part  of  his  father's  life  was  spent,  and  in 
whose  memory  the  work  was  undertaken. 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD,  the  twentieth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
November  19,  1831,  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  the  son  of  Abram  and  Eli2a 
(Baliou)  Garfield.  In  1S33  the  father,  an 
industrious  pioneer  farmer,  died,  and  the 
care  of  the  family  devolved  upon  Thomas, 
to  whom  James  became  deeply  indebted  for 
educational  and  other  advantages.  As  James 
grew  up  he  was  industrious  and  worked  on 
the  farm,  at  carpentering,  at  chopping  wood, 
or  anything  else  he  found  to  do,  and  in  the 
meantime  made  the  most  of  his  books. 

Until  he  was  about  si.xteen,  James'  high- 
est ambition  was  to  become  a  sea  captain. 
On  attaining  that  age  he  walked  to 
Cleveland,  and,  not  being  able  to  find  work, 
he  engaged  as  a  driver  on  the  Ohio  &  Penn- 
sylvania canal,  but  quit  this  after  a  short 
time.  He  attended  the  seminary  at  Ches- 
ter for  about  three  years,  after  which  he 
entered  Hiram  Institute,  a  school  started  by 
the  Discif)les  of  Christ  in  1850.  In  order 
to  pay  his  way  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
janitor  and  at  times  taught  school.  After 
completing  his  course  at  the  last  named  edu- 
cational institution  he  entered  Williams  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1856.  He 
afterward  returned  to  Hiram  College  as  its 
president.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1859.  November  11,  1858, 
Mr.  Garfield  and  Lucretia  Rudolph  were 
married. 

In  1859  Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  polit- 
ical speeches,  at  Hiram  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  same  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate. 


On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  i86r, 
he  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Ohio  Infantry,  and,  while  but  a  ne^v 
soldier,  was  given  command  of  four  regi- 
ments of  infantry  and  eight  companies  of 
cavalry,  with  which  he  drove  the  Confeder- 
ates under  Humphrey  Marshall  out  of  Ken 
tucky.  January  II,  1862,  he  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general.  He  participated 
with  General  Buell  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
and  the  operations  around  Corinth,  and  was 
then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the  Fitz  John 
Porter  court-martial.  Reporting  to  General 
Rosecrans,  he  was  assigned  to  the  position 
of  chief  of  staff,  and  resigned  his  position, 
with  the  rank  of  major-general,  when  his 
immediate  superior  was  superseded.  In 
the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
congress  and  remained  in  that  body,  either 
in  the  house  or  senate,  until  1880. 

June  8,  1880,  at  the  national  Republican 
convention,  held  in  Chicago,  General  Gar- 
field was  nominated  for  the  presidency,  and 
was  elected,  He  was  inaugurated  March 
4,  1 88 1,  but,  July  2,  following,  he  was  shot 
and  fatally  wounded  by  Charles  Guiteau  for 
some  fancied  political  slight,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 19,   1 88 1. 


INCREASE  MATHER  was  one  of  the 
1  most  prominent  preachers,  ed  Jcators  and 
authors  of  early  times  in  the  Nev./  England 
states.  He  was  born  at  Dorchester.  Massa- 
chusetts, June  21,  1639,  and  was  g-ven  an 
excellent  education,  graduating  at  Harvard 
in  1656,  and  at  Trinity  College,  Du'nlin, 
two  j-ears  later.  He  was  ordained  a  min- 
ister, and  preached  in  England  and  America, 
and  in  1664  became  pastor  of  the  North 
church,  in  Boston.  In  -1685  he  became 
president  of  Harvard  University,  serving 
until  1 70 1.  In  1692  he  received  the  first 
doctorate  in   divinity    conferred   in  English 


1(M 


COMPE.y/iJUM   OF    BJOGIiAPHr 


speaking  America.  The  same  year  he  pro- 
cured in  England  a  new  charter  for  Massa- 
chusetts, which  conferred  upon  himself  the 
power  of  naming  the  governor,  heutenant- 
governor  and  council.  He  opposed  the 
severe  punishment  of  witchcraft,  and  took 
a  prominent  part  in  all  public  affairs  of  his 
day.  He  was  a  prolific  writer,  and  became 
the  author  of  nearly  one  hundred  publica- 
tions, large  and  small.  His  death  occurred 
August  23,   1723,  at  Boston. 


COTTON  MATHER,  a  celebrated  minis- 
ter in  the  "Puritan  times  "  of  New 
England,  was  born  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, February  12,  1663,  being  a  son  of 
Rev.  Increase  Mather,  and  a  grandson  of 
John  Cotton.  A  biography  of  his  father 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Cotton  Mather  received  his  early  education 
in  his  native  city,  was  trained  by  Ezekiel 
Cheever,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1C7S;  became  a  teacher,  and  in  1684 
was  ordained  as  associate  pastor  of  North 
church,  Boston,  with  his  father,  having  by 
persistent  effort  overcome  an  impediment  in 
his  speech.  He  labored  with  great  zeal  as 
a  pastor,  endeavoring  also,  to  establish  the 
ascendancy  of  the  church  and  ministry  in 
civil  affairs,  and  in  the  putting  down  of 
witchcraft  by  legal  sentences,  a  work  in 
which  he  took  an  active  part  and  through 
which  he  is  best  known  in  history.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  D.  in  i/io,  con- 
ferred by  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and 
F.  R.  S.  in  1713.  His  death  occurred  at 
Boston,  February  13.  1728.  He  was  the 
author  of  many  publications,  among  which 
were  "  Memorable  Providences  Isolating  to 
Witchcraft,"  "Wonders  of  the  Invisible 
World,"  "Essays  to  Do  Good,"  "  Mag- 
nalia  Christi  Americana,"  and  "  Illustra- 
tions of  the   Sacred  Scriptures."     Some  of 


these  works  are  quaint  and  curious,  full  of 
learning,  piety  and  prejudice.  A  well- 
known  writer,  in  summing  up  the  life  and 
character  of  Cotton  Mather,  says:  ' '  Mather, 
with  all  the  faults  of  his  early  years,  was  z 
man  of  great  excellence  of  character.  He 
labored  zealously  for  the  benefit  of  the 
poor,  for  mariners,  slaves,  criminals  and 
Indians.     His  cruelty    and  credulity    were 

j  the  faults  of  his  age,  while  his  philanthro- 
phy  was  far  more  rare  in  that  age  than  in 

'  the  present." 

WILLIAM    A.     PEFFEK,    who  won  a 
national  reputation  during  the  time 
he  was  in  the   L'nited    States    senate,    was 
born    on    a    farm    in    Cumberland    county, 
Pennsylvania,    September     10,     1831.      He 
j  drew  his  education  from  the  public  schools 
j  of  his  native  state  and  at   the  age  of  fifteen 
I  taught  school  in  winter,  working  on  a  farm 
j  in  the  summer.      In  June,  1853,  while  yet  a 
young  man,   he  removed    to    Indiana,    and 
opened   up   a    farm   in    St.  Joseph  county. 
I  In  1859  he  made  his  way  to   Missouri   and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  county,  but  on 
account  of  the  war  and   the  unsettled  state 
of  the  country,  he  moved  to  Illinois  in  Feb- 
ruary,   1862,  and  enlisted  as    a  private  in 
Company  F,  Eighty-third   Illinois  Infantry, 
the  following   August.      He   was   promoted 
to    the    rank     of     second     lieutenant     in 
March,     1863,    and    served    successively  as 
quartermaster,      adjutant,     post    adjutant, 
judge    advocate    of  a  military  commission, 
and    depot   quartermaster  in   the  engineer 
!  department  at  Nashville.      He  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  June  26,   1865.      He  had, 
during  his  leisure  hours  while  in  the  army, 
studied  law,  and  in  August,    1865,  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  that   profession    at 
Clarksville,    TiMinessce.      He    removed    to 
Kansas  in    1870    and    practiced  there  until 


coMPExn/r.u  of  BiOGRArnr. 


165 


1878,  in  the  meantime  establishing  and 
conducting  two  newspapers,  the  "  Fredonia 
Journal  "  and  "  Coffey ville  Journal." 

Mr.  Peffer  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
in  1874  and  was  a  prominent  and  influential 
member  of  several  important  committees. 
He  served  as  a  presidential  elector  in  1880. 
The  year  following  he  became  editor  of  the 
"  Kansas  Farmer,"  which  he  made  a  promi- 
nent and  useful  paper.  In  1S90  Mr.  Peffer 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  as 
a  member  of  the  People's  party  and  took 
his  seat  March  4,  1891.  After  si.x  years  of 
service  Senator  Peffer  was  succeeded  in 
March,  1897,  by  William  A.  Harris. 


ROBERT  MORRIS.— The  name  of  this 
financier,  statesman  and  patriot  is 
closely  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
the  United  States.  He  was  a  native  of 
England,  born  January  20,  1734,  and  came 
to  America  with  his  father  when  thirteen 
years  old.  Until  1754  he  served  in  the 
counting  house  of  Charles  Willing,  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  that  gentleman's 
son,  which  continued  with  great  success  until 
1793.  In  1776  Mr.  Morris  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Continental  congress,  and,  although 
once  voting  against  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, signed  that  paper  on  its  adop- 
tion, and  was  several  times  thereafter  re- 
elected to  congress.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  the  services  of  Robert  Morris 
in  aiding  the  government  during  its  finan- 
cial difficulties  were  of  incalculable  value;  he 
freely  pledged  his  personal  credit  for  sup- 
plies for  the  army,  atonetimeto  the  amount 
of  about  one  and  a  half  million  dollars,  with- 
out which  the  campaign  of  1781  would  have 
been  almost  impossible.  Mr.  Morris  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  finance  in  1781 
and  served  until  1784,  continuing  to  employ 
his  personal  credit  to  facilitate  the  needs  of 


his  department.  He  also  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature,  and 
from  1786  to  1795  was  United  States  sena- 
tor, declining  meanwhile  the  position  of  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury,  and  suggesting  the 
name  of  Ale.xander  Hamilton,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  that  post.  During  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  Mr.  Morris  was  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  China  trade,  and  later  be- 
came involved  in  land  speculations,  which 
ruined  him,  so  that  the  remaining  days  of 
this  noble  man  and  patriot  were  passed 
in  confinement  for  debt.  His  death  occurred 
at  Philadelphia,  May  8,   1806. 


WILLIAM  SHARON,  a  senator  and 
capitalist,  and  mine  owner  of  na- 
tional reputation,  was  born  at  Smithfield, 
Ohio,  January  9,  1821.  He  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  and  in  his  boyhood  given  excel- 
lent educational  advantages  and  in  1842 
entered  Athens  College.  He  remained  in 
that  institution  about  two  years,  after  which 
he  studied  law  with  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  St.  Louis  and 
commenced  practice.  His  health  failing, 
however,  he  abandoned  his  profession  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Carrollton, 
Greene  county,  Illinois.  During  the  time 
of  the  gold  excitement  of  1849,  Mr.  Sharon 
went  to  California,  whither  so  many  went, 
and  engaged  in  business  at  Sacramento. 
The  next  year  he  removed  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  operated  in  real  estate.  Being 
largely  interested  in  its  silver  mines,  he  re- 
moved to  Nevada,  locating  at  Virginia  City, 
and  acquired  an  immense  fortune.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Bank  of 
California,  and  during  the  troubles  that 
arose  on  the  death  of  William  Ralston,  the 
president  of  that  institution,  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  bringing  its  affairs  into  a  satis- 
factory shape. 


LOMPliMJlL  M    UJ-     lUUGli.M'in 


Mr.  Sharon  was  elected  to  represent  the 
state  of  Nevada  in  the  United  States  senate 
in  1875,  and  remained  a  member  of  that 
body  until  1881.  He  was  always  distin- 
guished for  close  application  to  business. 
Senator  Sharon  died  November  13,  1885. 


HENRY  W.  SHAW,  an  American  hu- 
morist who  became  celebrated  under 
the  noii-dc-plniitc  of  "  Josh  Billings,"  gained 
his  fame  from  the  witticism  of  his  writing, 
and  peculiar  eccentricity  of  style  and  spell- 
ing. He  was  born  at  Lanesborough,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1818.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  lived  in  different  parts  of  the  western 
states,  following  various  lines  of  bus'ness, 
including  farming  and  auctioneering,  and  in 
the  latter  capacity  settled  at  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York,  in  1858.  In  18G3  he  began 
writing  humorous  sketches  for  the  news- 
papers over  the  signature  of  "Josh  Bill- 
ings," and  became  immediately  popular 
both  as  a  writer  and  lecturer.  He  pub- 
lished a  number  of  volumes  of  comic 
sketches  and  edited  an  "  Annual  Alimina.x  " 
for  a  number  of  years,  which  had  a  wide  cir- 
culation. His  death  occurred  October  14, 
1885,  at  Monterey,  California. 


JOHN  M.  THURSTON,  well  known 
throughout  this  country  as  a  senator 
and  political  leader,  was  born  at  Mont- 
pelier,  \'ermont,  August  21,  1847,  of  an 
old  Puritan  family  which  dated  back  their 
ancestry  in  this  country  to  1636,  and  among 
whom  were  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and 
of  the  war  of  1812-15. 

Young  Thurston  was  brought  west  by 
the  family  in  1854,  they  settling  at  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  and  two  years  later  at  Beaver 
Dam,  where  John  M.  received  his  schooling 
in  the  public  schools  and  at  Wayland  Uni- 
versity.     His  father  enlisted  as  a  private  in 


the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry  and  died  while 
in  the  service,  in  the  spring  of  1863. 

Young  Thurston,  thrown  on  his  own 
resources  while  attaining  an  education,  sup- 
ported himself  by  farm  work,  driving  team 
and  at  other  manual  labor.  He  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  21,  1S69, 
and  in  October  of  the  satne  year  located  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  city  council  in  1872,  city 
attorney  in  1874  and  a  member  of  the  Ne- 
braska legislature  in  1874.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  national  convention 
of  1884  and  temporary  chairman  of  that  of 
1888.  Taking  quite  an  interest  in  the 
younger  members  of  his  party  he  was  instru- 
mental in  forming  the  Republican  League 
of  the  United  States,  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent for  two  years.  He  was  then  elected  a 
member  of  the  United  States  senate,  in 
1895,  to  represent  the  state  of  Nebraska. 

As  an  attorney  John  M.  Thurston  occu- 
pied a  very  prominent  place,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  held  the  position  of  general 
solicitor  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad  sys- 
tem. 

JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON,  a  celebrated 
American  naturalist,  was  born  in  Louis- 
iana, May  4,  17S0,  and  was  the  son  of  an 
opulent  French  naval  officer  who  owned  a 
plantation  in  the  then  French  colony.  In 
his  childhood  he  became  deeply  interested 
in  the  study  of  birds  and  their  habits.  About 
1794  he  was  sent  to  Paris,  France,  where 
he  was  partially  educated,  and  studied  de- 
signing under  the  famous  painter,  Jacques 
Louis  David.  He  returned  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  about  179S,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  his  father  gave  him,  on  the  Perkiomen 
creek  in  eastern  Pennsylvania.  He  mar- 
ried Lucy  Bakewell  in  1S08,  and,  disposing 
of  his  property,  removed  to  Louisville,  Ken- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGJiAP/ZK 


167 


tucky,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. About  two  years  later  he  began  to 
make  extensive  excursions  through  the  pri- 
meval forests  of  the  southern  and  south- 
western states,  in  the  exploration  of  which 
he  passed  many  years.  He  made  colored 
drawings  of  all  the  species  of  birds  that  he 
found.  For  several  years  he  made  his  home 
with  his  wife  and  children  at  Henderson,  on 
the  Ohio  river.  It  is  said  that  about  this 
time  he  had  failed  in  business  and  was  re- 
duced to  poverty,  but  kept  the  wolf  from  the 
door  by  giving  dancing  lessons  and  in  portrait 
painting.  In  1824,  at  Philadelphia,  he  met 
Charles  Lucien  Bonaparte,  who  encouraged 
him  to  publish  a  work  on  ornithology.  Two 
years  later  he  went  to  England  and  com- 
menced the  publication  of  his  great  work, 
"The  Birds  of  America."  He  obtained  a 
large  number  of  subscribers  at  one  thousand 
dollars  a  copy.  This  work,  embracing  five 
volumes  of  letterpress  and  five  volumes  of 
beautifully  colored  plates,  was  pronounced 
byCuvier  "  the  most  magnificent  monument 
that  art  ever  raised  to  ornithology." 

Audubon  returned  to  America  in  1829, 
and  explored  the  forests,  lakes  and  coast 
from  Canada  to  Florida,  collecting  material 
for  another  work.  This  was  his  "  Ornitho- 
logical Biography;  or.  An  Account  of  the 
Habits  of  the  Birds  of  the  United  States, 
Etc."  He  revisited  England  in  1831,  and 
returned  in  1839,  after  which  he  resioed  on 
the  Hudson,  near  New  York  City,  in  which 
place  he  died  January  27,  185 1.  During 
his  life  he  issued  a  cheaper  edition  of  his 
great  work,  and  was,  in  association  with 
Dr.  Bachman,  preparing  a  work  on  the 
quadrupeds  of  North  America. 


the  superior  British  squadron,  under  Com- 
modore Downie,  September  1 1,  18 14.  Com- 
modore McDonough  was  born  in  Newcastle 
county,  Delaware,  December  23,  1783,  and 
when  seventeen  years  old  entered  the 
United  States  navy  as  midshipman,  serving 
in  the  expedition  to  Tripoli,  under  Decatur, 
in  1803-4.  In  1807  he  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant,  and  in  July,  1813,  was  made  a 
commander.  The  following  year,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  he  gained  the  celebrated  victory 
above  referred  to,  for  which  he  was  again 
promoted;  also  received  a  gold  medal  from 
congress,  and  from  the  state  of  Vermont  an 
estate  on  Cumberland  Head,  in  view  of  the 
scene  of  the  engagement.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  sea,  November  16,  1825,  while  he 
was  returning  from  the  command  of  the 
Mediterranean  squadron. 


COMMODORE    THOMAS    McDON- 
OUGH  gained  his  principal  fame  from 
he  celebrated  victory  which  he  gained  over 


CHARLES  FRANCIS  HALL,  one  of 
America's  most  celebrated  arctic  ex- 
plorers, was  born  in  Rochester,  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1 82 1.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  located  in  Cincinnati,  where  later 
he  became  a  journalist.  For  several  years 
he  devoted  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  cal- 
orics. Becoming  interested  in  the  fate  of  the 
explorer,  Sir  John  Franklin,  he  joined  the 
expedition  fitted  out  by  Henry  Grinnell  and 
sailed  in  the  ship  "George  Henry,"  under 
Captain  Buddington,  which  left  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  in  i860.  He  returned  in 
1862,  and  two  years  later  published  his 
"  Arctic  Researches."  He  again  joined  the 
expedition  fitted  out  by  Mr.  Grinnell,  and 
sailed  in  the  ship,  "  Monticello,"  under 
Captain  Buddington,  this  time  remaining  in 
the  arctic  region  over  four  years.  On  his 
return  he  brought  back  many  evidences  of 
having  found  trace  of  Franklin. 

In  1 87 1  the  "  Polaris  "  was  fitted  out  by 
the  United  States  government,  and  Captain 


C(>MJ'j:\/)/c-.\f  OF  mocRAi'iir. 


Hall  again  sailed  for  the  polar  regions.  He 
died  in  Greenland  in  October,  iS-i,  and  the 
"Polaris"  was  finally  abandoned  by  the 
ciew.  a  portion  of  which,  under  Captain 
Tyson,  drifted  with  the  icebergs  for  one 
hundred  and  ninety-five  days,  until  picked 
up  by  the  "  Tigress,"  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1873.  The  other  portion  of  the  crew  built 
boats,  and.  after  a  perilous  voyage,  were 
picked  up  in  June.  1 873.  by  a  whaling  vessel. 


OLIVER  ELLSWORTH,  the  third  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Windsor.  Connecticut.  April  29.  1745. 
After  graduating  from  Princeton,  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  and  was  licensed 
to  practice  in  1 77 1 .  In  i  jjj  he  wa$  elected 
as  a  delegate  to  the  Continental  congress. 
He  was  judge  of  the  superior  court  of  his 
stale  in  1784.  and  was  chosen  as  a  delegate 
to  the  constitutional  convention  in  1787. 
He  sided  with  the  Federalists,  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  in  1789,  and 
was  a  firm  supporter  of  Washington's  policy. 
He  won  great  distinction  in  that  body,  and 
was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States  by  Washington 
in  1796.  The  relations  between  this  coun- 
try and  France  having  become  violently 
strained,  he  was  sent  to  Paris  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary in  1799,  and  was  instrumental 
in  negotiating  the  treaty  that  averted  war. 
He  resigned  the  following  year,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Chief  Justice  Marshall.  His 
death  occurred  November  26,   1807. 


MELLVILLE  WESTON  FULI-ER,  an 
eminent  American  jurist  and  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
was  born  in  Augusta,  Maine,  in  1833.  His 
education  was  looked  after  in  boyhood,  and 
at  the  age  of  si.xteen  he  entered  Bowdoin 
C"olle!,'e,  and  on  graduation  entered  the  law 


department  of  Harvard  University.  He  then 
entered  the  law  office  of  his  uncle  at  Ban- 
gor, Maine,  and  soon  after  opened  an  office 
for  the  practice  of  law  at  Augusta.  He  was 
an  alderman  from  his  ward,  city  attorney, 
and  editor  of  the  "  Age,"  a  rival  newspaper 
of  the  "Journal,"  which  was  conducted  by 
James  G.  Blaine.  He  soon  decided  to  re- 
move to  Chicago,  then  springing  into  notice 
as  a  western  metropolis.  He  at  once  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  interests  of  the 
new  city,  and  by  this  means  acquired  an 
experience  that  fitted  him  for  his  future 
work.  He  devoted  himself  assiduously  to 
his  profession,  and  had  the  good  fortune  to 
connect  himself  with  the  many  suits  grow- 
ing out  of  the  prorogation  of  the  Illinois 
legislature  in  1863.  It  was  not  long  before 
he  became  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  in 
Chicago.  He  made  a  three  days'  speech  in 
the  heresy  trial  of  Dr.  Cheney,  which  added 
to  his  fame.  He  was  appointed  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  United  States  by  President  Cleve- 
land in  1888,  the  youngest  man  who  ever 
held  that  exalted  position.  His  income  from 
his  practice  had  for  many  years  reached 
thirty  thousand  dollars  annually. 

CHESTER  ALLEN  ARTHUR,  twenty- 
first  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1830.  He  was  educated  at  Union 
College.  Schenectady.  New  York,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  honor,  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school.  After  two  years 
he  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  E.  D. 
Culver,  of  New  York,  as  a  student.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  an  old  room-mate,  Henry  D.  Gar- 
diner, with  the  intention  of  practicing  law 
in  the  west,  but  after  a  few  months'  search 
for  a  location,  they  returned  to  New  York 
and  opened  an  oflice,  and   at  once   entered 


COMPEXDUM   OF   BIOGRAPir] 


1  co- 


upon a  profitable  practice.  He  was  shortly 
afterwards  married  to  a  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Herndon,  of  the  United  States  navy. 
Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  his  nomina- 
tion for  the  vice-presidency.  In  1856  a 
colored  woman  in  New  York  was  ejected 
from  a  street  car  and  retained  Mr.  Arthur 
in  a  suit  against  the  company,  and  obtained 
a  verdict  of  five  hundred  dollars.  It  result- 
ed in  a  general  order  by  all  superintendents 
of  street  railways  in  the  city  to  admit  col- 
ored people  to  the  cars. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  first 
Republican  national  convention,  and  was 
appointed  judge-advocate  for  the  Second 
Brigade  of  New  York,  and  then  chief  engi- 
neer of  Governor  Morgan's  staff.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
iaw  in  New  York.  In  1872  he  was  made 
collector  of  the  port  of  New  York,  which 
position  he  held  four  years.  At  the  Chi- 
cago convention  in  1880  Mr.  Arthur  was 
nominated  for  the  vice-presidency  with 
Garfield,  and  after  an  e.xciting  campaign 
was  elected.  Four  months  after  the  inau- 
guration President  Garfield  was  assassinated, 
and  Mr.  Arthur  was  called  to  take  the  reins 
of  government.  His  administration  of 
affairs  was  generally  satisfactory.  At  its 
close  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York.  His  death  occurred  November  iS, 
1 886. 

1S.AAC  HULL  was  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous and  prominent  naval  officers  in 
the  early  history  of  America.  He  was  born 
at  Derby,  Connecticut,  March  9,  1775,  be- 
mg  the  son  of  a  Revolutionary  officer.  Isaac 
Hull  early  in  life  became  a  mariner,  and 
when  nineteen  years  of  age  became  master 
of  a  merchant  ship  in  the  London  trade. 
In  1798  he  became  a  lieutenant  in  the  United 
States  navy,  and  three  years  later  was  made 


first  lieutenant  of  the  frigate  "Constitution." 
He  distinguished  himself  by  skill  and  valor 
against  the  French  on  the  coast  of  Hayti,  and 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Barbary  e.xpe- 
ditions.  July  12,  181 2,  he  sailed  from 
Annapolis,  in  command  of  the  "Constitu- 
tion," and  for  three  days  was  pursued  by  a 
British  squadron  of  five  ships,  from  which 
he  escaped  by  bold  and  ingenious  seaman- 
ship. In  August  of  the  same  year  he  cap- 
tured the  frigate  "  Guerriere,"  one  of  his 
late  pursuers  and  for  this,  the  first  naval 
advantage  of  that  war,  he  received  a  gold 
medal  from  congress.  Isaac  Hull  was  later 
made  naval  commissioner  and  had  command 
of  various  navy  yards.  His  death  occurred 
February  13,   1843,  ^^  Philadelphia. 

MARCUS  ALONZO  HANNA,  famous 
as  a  prominent  business  man,  political 
manager  and  senator,  was  born  in  New  Lis- 
bon, Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  September 
24,  1837.  He  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Cleveland,  in  the  same  state,  in 
1852,  and  in  the  latter  city,  and  in  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio, 
received  his  education.  He  became  an  em- 
ploye of  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of 
Hanna,  Garrettson  &  Co.,  his  father  being 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm.  The  latter 
died  in  1862,  and  Marcus  represented  his 
interest  until  1867,  when  the  business  was 
closed  up. 

Our  subject  then  became  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Rhodes  &  Co.,  engaged  in  the 
iron  and  coal  business,  but  at  the  expira- 
tion of  ten  years  this  firm  was  changed  to 
that  of  M.  A.  Hanna  &  Co.  Mr.  Hanna 
was  long  identified  with  the  lake  carrying 
business,  being  interested  in  vessels  on  the 
lakes  and  in  the  construction  of  them.  As 
a  director  of  the  Globe  Ship  Manufacturing 
Company,    of    Cleveland,    president   of  the 


170 


COMrE.XDILM   OF    li/OGJiA/'J/r. 


Union  National  Bank, of  Cleveland,  president 
of  the  Cleveland  City  Railway  Company, 
and  president  of  the  Chapin  Nfining  Com- 
pany, oi  Lake  Superior,  he  became  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  business  world. 
He  was  one  of  the  government  directors  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  being  appointed 
to  that  position  in  1885  by  President  Cleve- 
land. 

Mr.  Hanna  was  a  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional Republican  convention  of  1884,  which 
was  his  first  appearance  in  the  political 
world.  He  was  a  deh-gate  to  the  con- 
ventions of  1888  and  1896,  and  was  elect- 
ed chairman  of  the  Republican  national 
committee  the  latter  year,  and  practically 
managed  the  campaign  of  William  McKin- 
ley  for  the  presidency.  In  1897  Mr.  Hanna 
was  appointed  senator  by  Governor  Bush- 
nell,  of  Ohio,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  John  Sherman. 


GEORGE  PEABODY   was  one  of   the  | 
best  known  and  esteemed  of  all  phiian- 
thropists,  whose   munificent  gifts  to  Ameri- 
can   institutions    have  proven    of  so   much 
benefit  to  the  cause  of  humanity.      He  was 
born  February  18,  1795,  at  South  Danvers, 
Massachusetts,   which    is    now    called   Pea-  | 
body  in  honor  of  him.       He  received   but  a 
meager  education,  and  during  his  early  life  j 
he  was  a  mercantile  clerk  at  Thetford,  Ver-  j 
mont,  and  Newburyport,  Massachusetts.    In  i 
1814    he    became    a    partner    with    Elisha 
Riggs.  at  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia, 
and  in  181  5  they  moved  to  Baltimore,  Mary-  ; 
lanJ.     The   business  grew  to  great  propor- 
tions,  and  they  opened  branch   houses    at 
New  York  and  Philadelphia.      Mr.  Peabody 
made    several  voyages  to  Europe  of  com- 
mercial importance,  and  in  1S29  became  the 
head    of  the  firm,    which  was    then   called 
Peabody,  Kiggs  &  Co.,  and  in  1838   he  re- 


moved to  London,  England.  He  retired 
from  the  firm,  and  established  the  cele- 
brated banking  house,  in  which  he  accumu- 
lated a  large  fortune.  He  aided  Mr.  Grin- 
nell  in  fitting  out  Dr.  Kane's  Arctic  e.xpedi- 
tion,  in  1S52,  and  founded  in  the  same  year 
the  Peabody  Institute,  in  his  native  town, 
which  he  afterwards  endowed  with  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Peabody  visited 
the  United  States  in  1857,  and  gave  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  establish- 
ment at  Baltimore  of  an  institute  of  science, 
literature  and  fine  arts.  In  iS62hegave 
two  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars 
for  the  erecting  of  lodging  houses  for  the 
poor  in  London,  and  on  another  visit  to  the 
United  States  he  gave  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  to  establish  at  Harvard  a 
museum  and  professorship  of  American 
archaeology  and  ethnology,  an  equal  sum  for 
the  endowment  of  a  department  of  physical 
science  at  Yale,  and  gave  the  "Southern 
Educational  Fund  "  two  million  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  besides  devoting  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  to  various  objects  of 
public  utility.  Mr.  Peabody  made  a  final 
visit  to  the  United  States  in  1S69,  and  on 
this  occasion  he  raised  the  endowment  of 
the  Baltimore  Institute  one  million  dollars, 
created  the  Peabody  Museum,  at  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  with  a  fund  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  gave  sixty  thou- 
sand dollars  to  Washington  College,  Vir- 
ginia; fifty  thousand  dollars  for  a  ••Peabody 
Museum,"  at  North  Danvers,  thirty  thousand 
dollars  to  Phillips  Academy.  Andover;  twen- 
ty-five thousand  dollars  to  Kenyon  College, 
Ohio,  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  the 
Maryland  Historical  Society.  Mr.  Peabody 
also   endowed    an    art  school  at  Rome,   in 

1868.  He   died   in   London,  November  4, 

1869,  less  then  a  month   after  he  had   re- 
turned   from    the    United    States,    and    his 


COMPEXDILM   OF   BIOGRAPlir. 


171 


remains  were  brought  to  the  United  States 
and  interred  in  his  native  town.  He  made 
several  other  bequests  in  his  will,  and  left 
his  family  about  five  million  dollars. 


M.\TTHE\V  S.  QUAY,  a  celebrated 
public  man  and  senator,  was  born  at 
Dillsburgh,  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  30,  1833,  of  an  old  Scotch-Irish 
family,  some  of  whom  had  settled  in  the 
Keystone  state  in  1715.  Matthew  received 
a  good  education,  graduating  from  the  Jef- 
ferson College  at  Canonsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  then  traveled, 
taught  school,  lectured,  and  studied  law 
under  Judge  Sterrett.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1854,  was  appointed  a  prothon- 
otary  in  1855  and  elected  to  the  same 
office  in  1856  and  1859.  Later  he  was 
made  lieutenant  of  the  Pennsylvania  Re 
serves,  lieutenant-colonel  and  assistant  com- 
missary-general of  the  state,  private  secre- 
tary of  the  famous  war  governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Andrew  G.  Curtin,  colonel  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Pennsylva- 
nia Infantry  (nine  months  men),  military 
state  agent  and  held  other  offices  at  different 
times. 

Mr.  Quay  was  a  member  of  the  house  of 
representatives  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania 
from  1865  to  1 868.  He  filled  the  office  of 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth  from  1872 
to  1878,  and  the  position  of  delegate-at- 
large  to  the  Republican  national  conventions 
of  1872,  1876,  1880  and  1888.  Hewasthe 
editor  of  the  "Beaver  Radical"  and  the 
"Philadelphia  Record"  for  a  time,  and  held 
many  offices  in  the  state  conventions  and  on 
their  committees.  He  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania, 
1869,  and  served  three  years,  and  in  1885 
was  chosen  state  treasurer.  In  1886  his 
great    abilities    pointed    him    out    as    the 


natural  candidate  for  United  States  senator, 
and  he  was  accordingly  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion and  re-elected  thereto  in  1892.  He 
was  always  noted  for  a  genius  for  organiza- 
tion, and  as  a  political  leader  had  but  few 
peers.  Cool,  serene,  far-seeing,  resourceful, 
holding  his  impulses  and  forces  in  hand,  he 
never  quailed  from  any  policy  he  adopted, 
and  carried  to  success  most,  if  not  all,  of 
the  political  campaigns  in  which  he  took 
part. 

JAMES  K.  JONES,  a  noted  senator  and 
political  leader,  attained  national  fame 
while  chairman  of  the  national  e.xecutive 
committee  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1896.  He  was  a 
native  of  Marshall  county,  Mississippi,  and 
was  born  September  29,  1839.  His  father, 
a  well-to-do  planter, settled  in  Dallas  county, 
Arkansas,  in  184S,  and  there  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  received  a  careful  education. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a  private 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  army.  From 
1866  to  1873  he  passed  a  quiet  life  as  a 
planter,  but  in  the  latter  year  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
-A.bout  the  same  time  he  was  elected  to  the 
Arkansas  senate  and  re-elected  in  1874.  In 
1877  he  was  made  president  of  the  senate 
and  the  following  year  was  unsuccessful  in 
obtaining  a  nomination  as  member  of  con- 
gress. In  1880  he  was  elected  representa- 
tive and  his  ability  at  once  placed  him  in  a 
foremost  position.  He  was  re-elected  to 
congress  in  1882  and  in  1884,  and  served  as 
an  influential  member  on  the  committee  of 
ways  and  means.  March  4,  1885,  Mr.  Jones 
took  his  seat  in  the  United  States  senate  to 
succeed  James  D.  Walker,  and  was  after- 
ward re-elected  to  the  same  office.  In  this 
branch  of  the  national  legislature  his  capa- 
bilities had  a  wider  scope,  and  he  was  rec- 


co.\H'i:yJ>ii  M  OF  iijoGiiArnr. 


ognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  leaders  of  his 
party. 

On  the  nomination  of  William  J.  Bryan 
as  its  candidate  for  the  presidency  by  the 
national  convention  of  the  Democratic 
party,  held  in  Chicago  in  1896,  Mr.  Jones 
was  made  chairman  of  the  national  com- 
mittee.  

THEODORE  THOMAS,  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  musical  directors  America 
has  known,  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Han- 
over in  1835,  and  received  his  musical  educa- 
tion from  his  father.  He  was  a  very  apt  scholar 
and  played  the  violin  at  public  concerts  at 
the  age  of  six  years.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  America  in  1845,  and  joined  the 
orchestra  of  the  Italian  Opera  in  New  York 
City.  He  played  the  first  violin  in  the 
orchestra  which  accompanied  Jenny  Lind 
in  her  first  American  concert.  In  1861  Mr. 
Thomas  established  the  orchestra  that  be- 
came famous  under  his  management,  and 
gave  his  first  symphony  concerts  in  New 
York  in  1864.  He  began  his  first  "summer 
night  concerts"  in  the  same  city  in  1868, 
and  in  1869  he  started  on  his  first  tour  of 
the  principal  cities  in  the  United  States, 
which  he  made  every  year  for  many  years. 
He  was  director  of  the  College  of  Music  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but  resigned  in  1880,  after 
having  held  the  position  for  three  years. 

Later  he  organized  one  of  the  greatest 
and  most  successful  orchestras  ever  brought 
together  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  was 
very  prominent  in  musical  affairs  during  the 
World's  Columbian  E.vposition,  thereby  add- 
ing greatly  to  his  fame. 


father  invented  a  reaping  machine.  It  was 
a  rude  contrivance  and  not  successful.  In 
1831  Cyrus  made  his  invention  of  a  reaping 
machine,  and  had  it  patented  three  years 
later.  By  successive  improvements  he  was 
able  to  keep  his  machines  at  the  head  of 
its  class  during  his  life.  In  1 845  he  removed 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later 
located  in  Chicago,  where  he  amassed  a 
great  fortune  in  manufacturing  reapers  and 
harvesting  machinery.  In  1859  he  estab- 
lished the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Northwest  at  Chicago,  an  institution  for  pre- 
paring young  men  for  the  ministry  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  he  afterward  en- 
dowed a  chair  in  the  Washington  and  Lee 
College  at  Lexington,  Virginia.  He  mani- 
fested great  interest  in  educational  and  re- 
ligious matters,  and  by  his  great  wealth  he 
was  able  to  extend  aid  and  encouragement 
to  many  charitable  causes.  His  death  oc- 
curred May  13,   1884. 


D 


CVKUS  HALL  McCORMICK.  the  fa- 
mous inventor  and  manufacturer,  was 
born  at  Walnut  Grove,  Virginia,  February 
I  5,  1809.      When  he  was  seven  years  old  his 


.Wll)  ROSS  LOCKE.— Under  the 
pen  name  of  Petroleum  V.  Nasby,  this 
well-known  humorist  and  writer  made  for 
himself  a  household  reputation,  and  estab- 
lished a  school  that  has  many  imitators. 

The  subject  of  this  article  was  born  at 
Vestal,  Broome  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1833.  After  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  county  of  his  birth  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  "  Democrat,"  at  Cort- 
land, New  York,  where  he  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  He  was  successively  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  "Plymouth  Advei-tiser," 
the  "Mansfield  Herald,"  the  "  Bucyrus 
Journal,"  and  the  "Findlay  Jeffersonian." 
Later  he  became  editor  of  the  "Toledo 
Blade."  In  i860  he  commenced  his 
"  Nasby"  articles,  several  series  of  which 
have  been  given  the  world  in  book  form. 
Under  a  mask  of  misspelling,  and  in  .1  ouaiuC 


COMPEXDIUM   OF   BlOGRAPJir. 


.•3 


and  humorous  style,  a  keen  political  satire 
is  couched — a  most  effective  weapon. 
Mr.  Locke  was  the  author  of  a  num- 
ber of  serious  political  pamphlets,  and 
later  on  a  more  pretentious  work,  "  The 
Morals  of  Abou  Ben  Adhem."  As  a  news- 
paper writer  he  gained  many  laurels  and  his 
works  are  widely  read.  Abraham  Lincoln 
is  said  to  have  been  a  warm  admirer  of  P. 
V.  Nasby,  of  "  Confedrit  X  Roads"  fame. 
Mr.  Locke  died  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  February 
15,  1S88. 

RUSSELL  A.  ALGER,  noted  as  a  sol- 
dier, governor  and  secretary  of  war, 
was  born  in  Medina  count3%  Ohio,  February 
27,  1836,  and  was  the  son  of  Russell  and 
Caroline  (Moulton)  Alger.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  was  left  an  orphan  and  pen- 
niless. For  about  a  year  he  worked  for 
his  board  and  clothing,  and  attended  school 
part  of  the  time.  In  1850  he  found  a  place 
which  paid  small  wages,  and  out  of  his 
scanty  earnings  helped  his  brother  and  sister. 
While  there  working  on  a  farm  he  found 
time  to  attend  the  Richfield  Academy,  and 
by  hard  work  between  times  managed  to  get 
a  fair  education  for  that  time.  The  last 
two  years  of  his  attendance  at  this  institu- 
tion of  learning  he  taught  school  during  the 
winter  months.  In  1857  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1S59.  For  a  while  he  found  employ- 
ment in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  impaired 
health  induced  him  to  remove  to  Grand 
Rapids,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  and,  his  business  suf- 
fering and  his  savings  swept  away,  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  Second  Michigan 
Cavalry.  He  was  promoted  to  be  captain 
the  ioliowing  month,  and  major  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Boonesville,  Mississippi,  July  i. 


1862.  October  16,  1862,  he  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Si.xth  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  in  February,  1863,  colonel  of 
the  F"ifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  rendered 
excellent  service  in  the  Gettysburg  cam- 
paign. He  was  wounded  at  Boonesboro, 
Maryland,  and  on  returning  to  his  command 
took  part  with  Sherman  in  the  campaign  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley.  For  services  ren- 
dered, that  famous  soldier  recommended 
him  for  promotion,  and  he  was  brevetted 
major-general  of  volunteers.  In  1866  Gen- 
eral Alger  took  up  his  residence  at  Detroit, 
and  prospered  exceedingly  in  his  business, 
which  was  that  of  lumbering,  and  grew 
quite  wealthy.  In  1884  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Republican  national  convention,  and 
the  same  year  was  elected  governor  of 
Michigan.  He  declined  a  nomination  for 
re-election  to  the  latter  office,  in  1887,  and 
was  the  following  year  a  candidate  for  the 
nomination  for  president.  In  1889  he  was 
elected  commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  at  different 
times  occupied  many  offices  in  other  or- 
ganizations. 

In   March,    1897,    President     McKinley 
appointed  General  Alger  secretary  of  war. 


CYRUS  WEST  FIELD,  the  father  of 
submarine  telegraphy,  was  the  son  of 
the  Rev.  David  D.  Field,  D.D.,  a  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  was  born  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  November  30,  18 19. 
He  was  educated  in  his  native  town,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  became  a  clerk  in  a 
store  in  New  York  City.  Being  gifted  with 
excellent  business  ability  Mr.  Field  pros- 
pered and  became  the  head  of  a  lar,'ife  mer- 
cantile house.  In  1853  he  spent  about  six 
months  in  travel  in  South  America.  On  his 
return  he  became  interested  in  ocean  teleg- 
raphy.    Being  solicited  to  aid  in  the  cui- 


174 


coM/'i:\/)i(  .u  or  BiocRArin: 


struction  of   a  land   telegraph  across  New  j 
Foundland  to  receive  the  news  from  a  line  ' 
of  fast  steamers  it  was  proposed  to  run  from 
from  Ireland  to  St.   Johns,  the  idea  struck 
him  to  carry  the  line   across  the   broad  At- 
lantic.     In  1850  Mr.  Field  obtained  a  con- 
cession from  the  legislature   of  Newfound- 
land, giving  him  the  sole  right  for  fifty  years 
to  land  submarine  cables  on  the  shores  of 
that  island.     In  company  wiih  Peter  Cooper, 
Moses    Taylor,    Marshall    O.    Roberts   and  : 
Chandler  White,   he   organized  a  company 
under    the  name    of    the  New  York,   New-  \ 
foundland  &   London  Telegraph  Company.   | 
In  two  years  the  line  from  New  York  across  | 
Newfoundland  was  built.     The  first   cable 
connecting  Cape    Breton  Island  with  New-  \ 
foundland  having  been  lost  in  a  storm  while  1 
being  laid  in  1S55,  another  was  put  down  in  [ 
1856.      In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Field  went  to  1 
London    and   organized  the  Atlantic  Tele-  1 
graph  Company,  furnishing  one-fourth  of  the 
capital  himself.      Both  governments  loaned  \ 
ships  to  carry  out  the  enterprise.    Mr.  Field 
accompanied   the  expeditions  of    1S57  and 
two  in  1S58.      The  first  and   second   cables 
were  failures,  and  the  third  worked  but  a  | 
short  time  and  then  ceased.     The  people  of 
both  continents  became  incredulous  of    the  1 
feasibility  of  laying  a  successful  cable  under  i 
so  wide    an  e.xpanse  of   sea,    and  the  war 
breaking  out  shortly  after,  nothing  was  done 
until    1865-66.      Mr.    Field,  in    the    former 
year,  again  made  the  attempt,  and  the  Great 
Eastern  laid  some  one   thousand  two  hun- 
dred miles  when  the  cable  parted  and  was 
lost.     The  following  year   the  same  vessel 
succeeded  in  laying  the  entire  cable,  and 
picked  up  the  one  lost  the  year  before,  and 
both  were  carried  to  America's  shore.    After 
thirteen  years  of  care  and  toil  Mr.  Field  had 
his  reward.      He  was  the  recipient  of  many 
medals   and   honors  from    both   home   and 


abroad.  He  gave  his  attention  after  this 
to  establishing  telegraphic  communication 
throughout  the  world  and  many  other  large 
enterprises,  notably  the  construction  of  ele- 
vated railroads  in  New  York.  Mr.  Field 
died  July  1 1,  1S92. 


GKOVER  CLEVELAND,  the  twenty- 
second  president  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Caldwell,  Essex  county.  New 
Jersey,  March  18.  1837,  and  was  the  son 
of  Rev.  Richard  and  Annie  (Neale;  Cleve- 
land. The  father,  of  distinguished  New 
England  ancestry,  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister in  charge  of  the  church  at  Caldwell  at 
the  time. 

When  Grover  was  about  three  years  of 
age  the  family  removed  to  Fayetteville, 
Onondaga  county.  New  York,  where  he 
attended  the  district  school,  and  was  in  the 
academy  for  a  short  time.  His  father  be- 
lieving that  boys  should  early  learn  to  labor, 
Grover  entered  a  village  store  and  worked 
for  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  for  the  first  year. 
While  he  was  thus  engaged  the  family  re- 
moved to  Clinton,  New  York,  and  there 
young  Cleveland  took  up  h's  studies  at  the 
academy.  The  death  of  his  father  dashed 
all  his  hopes  of  a  collegiate  education,  the 
family  being  left  in  straightened  circum- 
stances, and  Grover  started  out  to  battle 
for  himself.  After  acting  for  a  year  (1S53- 
54)  as  assistant  teacher  and  bookkeeper  in 
the  Institution  for  the  Blind  at  New  York 
City,  he  went  to  Buffalo.  A  short  time 
after  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  that  city,  and  after  a 
hard  struggle  with  adverse  circumstances, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S59.  Hebe- 
came  confidential  and  managing  clerk  for 
the  firm  under  whom  he  had  studied,  and 
remained  with  them  until  1863.  In  the  lat- 
ter year  he  was  appointed  district  attorney 


COMPEXDIL'M   OF   BIOGRAPIir. 


17J 


of  Erie  county.  It  was  during  his  incum- 
bency of  this  office  that,  on  being  nominated 
by  the  Democrats  for  supervisor,  he  came 
wiihin  thirteen  votes  of  election,  although 
the  district  was  usually  Republican  by  two 
hundred  and  fifty  majority.  In  1 866  Grover 
Cleveland  formed  a  partnership  with  Isaac 
V.  Vanderpoel.  The  most  of  the  work  here 
fell  upon  the  shoulders  of  our  subject,  and 
he  soon  won  a  good  standing  at  the  bar  of 
the  state.  In  1869  Mr.  Cleveland  associated 
himself  in  business  with  A.  P.  Laning  and 
Oscar  Folsom,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Laning,  Cleveland  &  Folsom  soon  built  up  a 
fair  practice.  In  the  fall  of  1870  Mr.  Cle\e- 
land  was  elected  sheriff  of  Erie  county,  an 
office  which  he  filled  for  four  years,  after 
which  he  resumed  his  profession,  with  L.  K. 
Bass  and  Wilson  S.  Bissell  as  partners. 
This  firm  was  strong  and  popular  and 
shortly  was  in  possession  of  a  lucrative 
practice.  Mr.  Bass  retired  from  the  firm 
in  1S79,  and  George  J.  Secard  was  admit- 
ted a  member  in  1 88 1.  In  the  latter  year 
Mr.  Cleveland  was  elected  mayor  of  Buffalo, 
and  in  1882  he  was  chosen  governor  by 
the  enormous  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-two  thousand  votes.  July  11,  1884, 
he  was  nominated  for  the  presidency  by  the 
Democratic  national  convention,  and  in 
November  following  was  elected. 

Mr.  Cleveland,  after  serving  one  term  as 
president  of  the  United  States,  in  1888  was 
nominated  bj'  his  party  to  succeed  himself, 
but  he  failed  of  the  election,  being  beaten 
b}'  Benjamin  Harrison.  In  1892.  however, 
being  nominated  again  in  opposition  to  the 
then  incumbent  of  the  presidency,  ^fr.  Har- 
rison, Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  pres- 
ident for  the  second  time  and  served  for  the 
usual  term  of  four  years.  In  1897  Mr. 
Cleveland  retired  from  the  chair  of  the  first 
n^pgistrate  of  the  nation,  and  in  New  York 


City  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  in  which 
city  he  had  established  himself  in  1889. 

June  2,  1886,  Grover  Cleveland  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances  Fol- 
som, the  daughter  of  his  former  partner. 


ALEX.\NDER  WINXHELL.  for  many 
years  one  of  the  greatest  of  American 
scientists,  and  one  of  the  most  noted  and 
prolific  writers  on  scientific  subjects,  was 
born  in  Duchess  county.  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1824.  He  received  a  thorough  col- 
legiate education,  and  graduated  at  the 
Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Connect- 
icut, in  1847.  His  mind  took  a  scientific 
turn,  which  manifested  itself  while  he  was 
yet  a  boy,  and  in  1S48  he  became  teacher 
of  natural  sciences  at  the  Armenian  Semi- 
nary, in  his  native  state,  a  position  which 
he  filled  for  three  years.  In  1851-3  he  oc- 
cupied the  same  position  in  the  Mesopo- 
tamia Female  Seminar}',  in  Alabama,  after 
which  he  was  president  of  the  Masonic  Fe- 
male Seminar}-,  in  .Alabama.  In  1853  he 
became  connected  with  the  University  of 
Michigan,  at  .Ann  Arbor,  at  which  institu- 
tion he  perform.ed  the  most  important  work 
of  his  life,  and  gained  a  wide  reputation  as 
a  scientist.  He  held  many  important  posi- 
tions, among  which  were  the  following; 
Professor  of  physics  and  civil  engineering  at 
the  University  of  Michigan,  also  of  geology, 
zoology  and  botany,  and  later  professor  of 
geology  and  palzeontology  at  the  same  insti- 
tution. He  also,  for  a  time,  was  president 
of  the  Michigan  Teachers'  Association,  and 
state  geologist  of  Michigan.  Professor 
Winchell  was  a  very  prolific  writer  on  scien- 
tific subjects,  and  published  many  standard 
works,  his  most  important  and  widely  known 
being  those  devoted  to  geology.  He  also 
contributed  a  large  number  of  articles  tc 
scientific  and  popular  journals. 


170 


COMPESDILM   OF   IHOGliAI'Jli: 


ANDREW  HULL  FOOTE.  of  the 
United  States  navy,  was  a  native  of 
New  England,  born  at  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, May  4,  1808.  He  entered  the 
navy,  as  a  midshipman,  December  4,  1822. 
He  slowly  rose  in  his  chosen  profession,  at- 
taining the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  1830,  com- 
mander in  1852  and  captain  in  1861. 
Among  the  distinguished  men  in  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war,  but  few  stood  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  his  brother  officers  than 
Foote,  and  when,  in  the  fall  of  1S61.  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  flotilla 
then  building  on  the  Mississippi,  the  act 
gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  service. 
Although  embarrassed  by  want  of  navy 
yards  and  supplies,  Foote  threw  himself  into 
his  new  work  with  unusual  energy.  He 
overcame  all  obstacles  and  in  the  new,  and, 
until  that  time,  untried  experiment,  of  creat- 
ing and  maintaining  a  navy  on  a  river, 
achieved  a  success  beyond  the  expectations 
of  the  country.  Great  incredulity  e.xisted  as 
to  the  possibility  of  carrying  on  hostilities 
on  a  river  where  batteries  from  the  shore 
might  bar  the  passage.  But  in  spite  of  all, 
Foote  soon  had  a  navy  on  the  great  river, 
and  by  the  heroic  qualities  of  the  crews  en- 
trusted to  him,  demonstrated  the  utility  of 
this  new  departure  in  naval  architecture. 
All  being  prepared,  February  6,  1862,  Foote 
took  Fort  Henry  after  a  hotly-contested 
action.  On  the  14th  of  the  same  month, 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  engaged  the  batteries 
of  Fort  Donelson,  with  four  ironclads  and 
two  wooden  gunboats,  thereby  dishearten- 
ing the  garrison  and  assisting  in  its  capture. 
April  7th  of  the  same  year,  after  several 
hotly-contested  actions.  Commodore  Foote 
received  the  surrender  of  Island  No.  lO,  one 
of  the  groat  strongholds  of  the  Confederacy 
on  the  Mississippi  river.  Foote  having  been 
wounded  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  by  neglect 


it  having  become  so  serious  as  to  endanger 
his  life,  he  was  forced  to  resign  his  command 
and  return  home.  June  16,  1862.  he  re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  congress  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  rear  admiral.  He  was 
appointed  chief  of  the  bureau  of  equipment 
and  recruiting.  June  4,  1863,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  fleet  off  Charleston,  to  super- 
cede Rear  Admiral  Dupont,  but  on  his  way 
to  that  destination  was  taken  sick  at  New 
York,  and  died  June  26,  1863. 


NELSON  A. MILES,  the  well-known  sol- 
dier, was  born  at  Westminster,  Massa- 
chusetts, August  8, 1 S39.  His  ancestors  set- 
tled in  that  state  in  1643  among  the  early 
pioneers,  and  their  descendants  were,  many 
of  them,  to  be  found  among  those  battling 
against  Great  Britain  during  Revolutionary 
times  and  during  the  war  of  1812.  Nelson 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  received  an  academic 
education,  and  in  early  manhood  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits    in   Boston.      Early    in 

1861  he  raised  a  company  and  offered  hi? 
services  to  the  government,  and  although 
commissioned  as  captain,  on  account  of  his 

j  youth    went  out   as   first  lieutenant  in  the 
I  Twenty-second  Massachusetts  Infantry.     In 

1862  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
and  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first  New  York  In- 
fantry. At  the  request  of  Generals  Grant 
and  Meade  he  was  made  a  brigadier  by 
President  Lincoln.  He  participated  in  all 
but  one  of  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  until  the  close  of  the  war.  During 
the  latter  part  of  the  time  he  commanded 
the  first  division  of  the  Second  Corps. 
General  Miles  was  wounded  at  the  battles 
of  Fair  Oaks,  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  received  four  brevets  for 
distinguished  service.  During  the  recon- 
struction period  he  commanded  in  North 
Carolina,  and  on   the   reorganization  of  the 


COMPEXDILM   OF    B/OGRAPJ/r. 


regular  army  he  was  made  colonel  of  in- 
fantry. In  1880  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  in  1890  to 
that  of  major-general.  He  successfully  con- 
ducted several  campaigns  among  the  In- 
dians, and  his  name  is  known  among  the 
tribes  as  a  friend  when  they  are  peacefully 
inclined.  He  many  times  averted  war 
with  the  red  men  by  judicious  and  humane 
settlement  of  difficulties  without  the  military 
power.  In  1S92  General  Miles  was  given 
command  of  the  proceedings  in  dedicating 
the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  and  m  the 
summer  of  1894,  during  the  great  railroad 
strike  at  the  same  cit3\  General  Miles,  then 
in  command  of  the  department,  had  the 
disposal  of  the  troops  sent  to  protect  the 
United  States  mails.  On  the  retirement  of 
General  J.  M.  Schofield,  in  1895,  General 
Miles  became  the  ranking  major-general  of 
the  United  States  army  and  the  head  of  its 
forces. 

JUNIUS  BRUTUS  BOOTH,  the  great 
U  actor,  though  born  in  London  ( 17963,  is 
more  intimately  connected  with  the  Amer- 
ican than  with  the  English  stage,  and  his 
popularity  in  America  was  almost  un- 
bounded, while  in  England  he  was  not  a 
prime  favorite.  He  presented  "  Richard  III." 
in  Richmond  on  his  first  appearance  on  the 
American  stage  in  182 1.  This  was  his 
greatest  role,  and  in  it  he  has  never  had  an 
equal.  In  October  of  the  same  year  he 
appeared  in  New  York.  After  a  long  and 
successful  career  he  gave  his  final  perform- 
ance at  New  Orleans  in  1852.  He  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold,  and  for  lack  of  proper 
medical  attention,  it  resulted  in  his  death 
on  November  30th  of  that  year.  He  was, 
without  question,  one  of  the  greatest  tra- 
gedians that  ever  lived.  In  addition  to  his 
professional   art  and  genius,  he  was  skilled 


in  languages,  drawing,  painting  and  sculp- 
ture. In  his  private  life  he  was  reserved, 
and  even  eccentric.  Strange  stories  are 
related  of  his  peculiarities,  and  on  his  farm 
near  Baltimore  he  forbade  the  use  of  animal 
food,  the  taking  of  animal  life,  and  even  the 
felling  of  trees,  and  brought  his  butter  and 
eggs  to  the  Baltimore  markets  in  person. 

Junius  Brutus  Booth,  known  as  the  elder 
Booth,  gave  to  the  world  three  sons  of  note: 
Junius  Brutus  Booth,  Jr.,  the  husband  of 
.\gnes  Booth,  the  actress;  John  Wilkes 
Booth,  the  author  of  the  greatest  tragedy 
in  the  life  of  our  nation;  Edwin  Booth,  in 
his  day  the  greatest  actor  of  America,  if  not 
of  the  world. 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY  BAILEY,  fa- 
mous as  the  "Danbury  News  Man," 
was  one  of  the  best  known  American  humor- 
ists, and  was  born  September  25,  1841,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  adopted  journalism  as  a 
profession  and  started  in  his  chosen  work  on 
the  "Danbury  Times,"  which  paper  he  pur- 
chased on  his  return  from  the  war.  Mr. 
Bailey  al^o  purchased  the  '-JeSersonian," 
another  paper  of  Danbury,  and  consolidated 
them,  forming  the  "Danbury  News,"  which 
paper  soon  acquired  a  celebrit3'  throughout 
the  United  States,  from  an  incessant  flow  of 
rich,  healthy,  and  original  humor,  which  the 
pen  of  the  editor  imparted  to  its  columns, 
and  he  succeeded  in  raising  the  circulation 
of  the  paper  from  a  few  hundred  copies  a 
week  to  over  forty  thousand.  The  facilities 
of  a  country  printing  office  were  not  so  com- 
plete in  those  days  as  they  are  now,  but  Mr. 
Bailey  was  resourceful,  and  he  put  on  re- 
lays of  help  and  ran  his  presses  night  and 
day,  and  always  prepared  his  matter  a  week 
ahead  of  time.  The  "Danbury  News  Man" 
was  a  new  figure  in  literature,  as  his  humor 
was  so  different  from  that  of  the  newspaper 


178 


tuMPhy  JJJLM 


,RAI'Hr 


wits — who  had  preceded  him,  and  he  maybe 
cailc'd  ihe  pioneer  of  that  school  now  so 
familiar.  Mr.  Bailey  published  in  book 
form  'Life  in  Danbury"  and  "The  Danbury 
News  Man's  Almanac. "  One  of  his  most 
admirable  traits  was  philanthrophy,  as  he 
gave  with  unstinted  generosity  to  all  comers, 
and  died  comparatively  poor,  notwithstand- 
ing his  ownership  of  a  very  profitable  busi- 
ness which  netted  him. an  income  of  $40,000 
a  year.      He  died  March  4,  1894. 

M.ATTHEW  H.ALE  CARPENTER,  a 
famous  lawyer,  orator  and  senator, 
was  born  in  Moretown,  \'ermont,  Decetnber 
22,  1S24.  After  receiving  a  common-school 
education  he  entered  the  United  States 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  but  only 
remained  two  years.  On  returning  to  his 
home  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
Paul  Dillingham,  afterwards  governor  of 
Vermont,  and  whose  daughter  he  married. 
In  1.S47  he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the 
bar  in  Vermont,  but  he  went  to  Boston  and 
for  a  time  studied  with  Ruf  us  Choate.  In  1848 
he  moved  wes-t,  settling  at  Beloit,  Wisconsin, 
and  commencing  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion soon  obtained  a  wide  reputation  for 
ability.  In  1S56  Mr.  Carpenter  removed  to 
Milwaukee,  where  he  found  a  wider  field  for 
his  now  increasing  powers.  During  the 
Civil  war,  although  a  strong  Democrat,  he 
was  loyal  to  the  government  and  aided  the 
Union  cause  to  his  utmost.  In  1868  he 
was  counsel  for  the  government  in  a  test 
case  to  settle  the  legality  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion act  before  the  United  States  supreme 
court,  and  won  his  case  against  Jeremiah  S. 
Black.  This  gave  him  the  election  for  sen- 
ator from  Wisconsin  in  1869.  and  he  served 
until  1875,  during  part  of  which  time  he  was 
president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate.  Failing 
01  a  re-election  Mr.  Carpenter  resumed  the 


practice  of  law,  and  when  William  W. 
Belknap,  late  secretary  of  war,  was  im- 
peached, entered  the  case  for  General 
Belknap,  and  secured  an  acquittal.  During 
the  sitting  of  the  electoral  commission  of 
1877,  Mr.  Carpenter  appeared  for  Samuel 
J.  Tilden.  although  the  Republican  man- 
agers had  intended  to  have  him  represent 
R.  B.  Hayes.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  again  in  1879, 
and  remained  a  member  of  that  body  until 
the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  iSSt. 

Senator  Carpenter's  real  name  was  De- 
catur Merritt  Hammond  Carpenter  but  about 
1852  he  changed  it  to  the  one  by  which  he 
was  universally  known. 


THOMAS  E.  WATSON,  lawyer  and 
congressman,  the  well-known  Geor- 
gian, whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch,  made  himself  a  place  in  the  his- 
tory of  our  country  by  his  ability,  energy 
and  fervid  oratory.  He  was  born  in  Col- 
umbia (now  McDuffie)  county,  Georgia, 
September  5,  1856.  He  had  a  common- 
school  education,  and  in  1872  entered  Mer- 
cer University,  at  Macon,  Georgia,  as  fresh- 
man, but  for  want  of  money  left  the  college 
at  the  end  of  his  sophomore  year.  He 
taught  school,  studying  law  at  the  same 
time,  until  1875,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  opened  an  office  and  com- 
menced practice  in  Thomson,  Georgia,  in 
November,  1 876.  He  carried  on  a  success- 
ful business,  and  bought  land  and  farmed  on 
an  extensive  scale. 

Mr.  Watson  was  a  delegate  to  the  Demo- 
cratic state  convention  of   1880,  and  was  a 
member  of  the   house  of  representatives  of 
the  legislature  of  his  native  state  in  1S82 
In  1 888  he  was   an  elector-at-large  on  the 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BlOGRAPin: 


179 


Cleveland  ticket,  and  in  1890  was  elected 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  fifty-second 
congress.  This  latter  election  is  said  to  have 
been  due  entirely  to  Mr.  Watson's  "dash- 
ing display  of  ability,  eloquence  and  popular 
power."  In  his  later  years  he  championed 
the  alliance  principles  and  policies  until  he 
became  a  leader  in  the  movement.  In  the 
heated  campaign  of  1896,  Mr.  Watson  was 
nominated  as  the  candidate  for  vice-presi- 
dent on  the  Bryan  ticket  by  that  part  of  the 
People's  party  that  would  not  endorse  the 
nominee  for  the  same  position  made  by  the 
Democratic  party. 

FREDERICK  A.  P.  BARNARD,  mathe- 
matician, physicist  and  educator,  was 
born  in  Sheffield,  Massachusetts,  May  5, 1809. 
He  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1828,  and 
in  1830  became  a  tutor  in  the  same.  From 
1837  to  1848  he  was  professor  of  mathe- 
matics and  natural  philosophy  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Alabama,  and  from  1848  to  1850, 
professor  of  chemistry  and  natural  history 
in  the  same  educational  institution.  In 
1854  he  became  connected  with  the  Univer- 
sity of  Mississippi,  of  which  he  became 
president  in  1856,  and  chancellor  in  1858. 
In  1854  he  took  orders  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church.  In  1861  Professor  Barnard 
resigned  his  chancellorship  and  chair  in  the 
university,  and  in  1863  and  1864  was  con- 
nected with  the  United  States  coast  survey 
in  charge  of  chart  printing  and  lithography. 
In  May,  1864,  he  was  elected  president  of 
Columbia  College,  New  York  City,  which 
he  served  for  a  number  of  years. 

Professor  Barnard  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Jefferson  College, 
Mississippi,  in  1855,  and  from  Yale  College 
in  1859;  also  the  degree  of  S.  T.  D.  from 
the  University  of  Mississippi  in  1861,  and 
that  of  L.  H.  D.  from   the  regents    of   the 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1 872. 
In  i860  he  was  a  member  of  the  eclipse 
party  sent  by  the  United  States  coast  sur- 
vey to  Labrador,  and  during  his  absence 
was  elected  president  of  the  American  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Advancement  of  Science.  la 
the  act  of  congress  establishing  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences  in  1863,  he  was  named 
as  one  of  the  original  corporators.  In  1867 
he  was  one  of  the  United  States  commis- 
sioners to  the  Paris  E.xposition.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society,  associate  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and 
many  other  philosophical  and  scientific 
societies  at  home  and  abroad.  Dr.  Barnard 
was  thoroughly  identified  with  the  progress 
of  the  age  in  those  branches.  His  published 
works  relate  wholly  to  scientific  or  educa- 
tional subjects,  chief  among  which  are  the 
following:  Report  on  Collegiate  Education; 
Art  Culture;  History  of  the  American  Coast 
Survey;  University  Education;  Undulatory 
Theory  of  Light;  Machinery  and  Processes 
of  the  Industrial  Arts,  and  Apparatus  of  the 
Exact  Sciences,  Metric  System  of  Weights 
and  Measures,  etc. 


EDWIN  McMASTERS  STANTON,  the 
secretary  of  war  during  the  great  Civil 
war,  was  recognized  as  one  of  America's 
foremost  public  men.  He  was  born  Decem- 
ber 19,  1 8 14,  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  where 
he  received  his  education  and  studied  law. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1836,  and 
was  reporter  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio 
from  1842  until  1845.  He  removed  to 
Washington  in  1856  to  attend  to  his  prac- 
tice before  the  United  States  supreme 
court,  and  in  1858  he  went  to  California  as 
counsel  for  the  government  in  certain  land 
cases,  which  he  carried  to  a  successful 
conclusion.      Mr.    Stanton    was    appointed 


ISO 


COMPEXDIVM   or  lUOGRAPJ/V. 


attorney-general  of  the  United  States  in 
December,  i860,  by  President  Buchanan. 
On  March  4,  1861,  Mr.  Stanton  went  with 
the  outKoing  administration  and  returneil  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
appointed  secretar>'  of  war  by  President 
Lincoln  January  20,  1862,  to  succeed  Simon 
Cameron.  After  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  and  the  accession  of  Johnson 
to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Stanton  was  still  in 
the  same  office.  He  held  it  for  three  years, 
and  by  his  strict  adherence  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  he  antagonized  President  John- 
son, who  endeavored  to  remove  him.  On 
August  5,  1867,  the  president  requested  him 
to  resign,  and  appointed  General  Grant  to 
succeed  him,  but.  when  congress  convened 
in  December  the  senate  refused  to  concur  in 
the  suspension.  Mr.  Stanton  returned  to 
his  post  until  the  president  again  removed 
him  from  office,  but  was  again  foiled  bj' 
congress.  Soon  after,  however,  he  retired 
voluntarily  from  office  and  took  up  the 
practice  of  law,  in  which  he  engaged  until 
his  death,  on  December  24,  1869. 


ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL,  the  eminent 
theologian  and  founder  of  the  church 
known  as  Disciples  of  Christ,  was  born  in 
the  country  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  June, 
1788,  and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Campbell,  a  Scoth-Irish  "Seceder. "  After 
studying  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  he, 
in  company  with  his  father,  came  to  America 
in  1808,  and  both  began  labor  in  western 
Pennsylvania  to  restore  Christianity  to 
apostolic  simplicity.  They  organized  a 
church  at  Brush  Run,  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  181 1,  which,  however,  the 
year  following,  adopted  Baptist  views,  and 
in  1813.  with  other  congregations  joined  a 
Baptist  association.  Some  of  the  under- 
lying principles  and   many   practices    of  the 


Campbells  and  their  disciples  were  repug- 
nant to  the  Baptist  church  and  considerable 
friction  was  the  result,  and  1827  saw  the 
separation  of  that  church  from  the  Church 
of  Christ,  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  The 
latter  then  reorganized  themselves  anew. 
They  reject  all  creeds,  professing  to  receive 
the  Bible  as  their  only  guide.  In  most  mat- 
ters of  faith  they  are  essentially  in  accord  with 
the  other  Evangelical  Christian  churches, 
especially  in  regard  to  the  person  and  work 
of  Christ,  the  resurrection  and  judgment. 
They  celebrate  the  Lords  Supper  weekly, 
hold  that  repentance  and  faith  should  precede 
baptism,  attaching  much  importance  to  the 
latter  ordinance.  On  all  other  points  they 
encourage  individual  liberty  of  thought.  In 
1 841,  Alexander  Campbell  founded  Bethany 
College.  West  Virginia,  of  which  he  was 
president  for  many  years,  and  died  March  4, 
1866. 

The  denomination  which  they  founded 
is  quite  a  large  and  important  church  bodj' 
in  the  United  States.  They  support  quite 
a  number  of  institutions  of  learning,  among 
which  are:  Bethany  College,  West  Virginia; 
Hiram  College.  Hiram.  Ohio;  Northwestern 
Christian  University,  Indianapolis.  Indiana; 
Eureka  College.  Illinois;  Kentucky  Univer- 
sity. Lexington,  Kentucky;  Oskaloosa 
College,  Iowa;  and  a  number  of  seminaries 
and  schools.  They  also  support  several 
monthly  and  quarterly  religious  periodicals 
and  many  papers,  both  in  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  and  her  dependencies. 


WILLIAM  L.WILSON,  the  noted  West 
Virginian,  who  was  postmaster-gener- 
al under  President  Cleveland's  second  ad- 
ministration, won  distinction  as  the  father 
of  the  famous  "  Wilson  bill,"  which  became 
a  law  umlcr  the  same  administration.  Mr. 
'wiisoii  was  born    May  3.    1S43,   in    Jeffcr- 


COMPENnU'M   OF   BlOGRAPJir. 


181 


son  county.  West  Virginia,  and  received 
a  good  education  at  the  Charlestovvn 
Academy,  where  he  prepared  himself  for 
college.  He  attended  the  Columbian  Col- 
lege in  the  District  of  Columbia,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  i860,  and  then 
attended  the  University  of  Virginia.  Mr. 
Wilson  served  in  the  Confederate  army  dur- 
ing the  war,  after  which  he  was  a  professor 
in  Columbian  College.  Later  he  entered 
into  the  practice  of  law  at  Charlestown. 
He  attended  the  Democratic  convention 
held  at  Cincinnati  in  1880,  as  a  delegate. 
and  later  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  electors 
for  the  state-at-large  on  the  Hancock 
ticket.  In  the  Democratic  convention  at 
Chicago  in  1892,  Mr.  Wilson  was  its  per- 
manent president.  He  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  West  Virginia  University  in 
1882,  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office 
on  September  6,  but  having  received  the 
nomination  for  the  forty-seventh  congress 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  he  resigned  the 
presidency  of  the  university  in  June,  1883, 
to  take  his  seat  in  congress.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  honored  by  the  Columbian  Uni- 
versity and  the  Hampden-Sidney  College, 
both  of  which  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  LL.  D.  In  1884  he  was  appointed 
regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  at 
Washington  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  was  re-appointed.  He  was 
elected  to  the  forty-seventh,  forty-ninth, 
fiftieth,  fifty-first,  fifty-second  and  fifty- 
third  congresses,  but  was  defeated  for  re- 
election to  the  fifty-fourth  congress.  Upon 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Bisseil  from  the  office 
of  postmaster-general,  Mr.  W^ilson  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy  by  President 
Cleveland.  Hi.-  many  years  of  public  serv- 
ice and  the  pro'.^i:!ent  part  he  took  in  the 
discussion  of  public  questions  gave  him  a 
national  reputation. 


CALVIN  S.  BRICE,  a  successful  and 
noted  financier  and  politician,  was 
born  at  Denmark,  Ohio,  September  17, 
1845,  of  an  old  Maryland  family,  who  trace 
their  lineage  from  the  Bryces,  or  Braces,  of 
Airth,  Scotland.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  prominent  Presbyterian  clergyman, 
who  removed  to  Ohio  in  1812.  Calvin  S. 
Brice  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen entered  the  preparatory  department  of 
Miami  University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  the 
following  year  entered  the  freshman  class. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
although  but  fifteen  years  old,  he  enlisted  in 
a  company  of  three-months  men.  He  re- 
turned to  complete  his  college  course,  but 
re-enlisted  in  Company  A,  Eighty-sixth 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  in  the  Virginia 
campaign.  He  then  returned  to  college, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1863.  In  1S64 
he  organized  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Eightieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  hostilities,  in. the  western 
armies. 

On  big  return  home  Mr.  Brice  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  in  1 866  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Cincinnati.  In  the  winter  of  1870- 
71  he  went  to  Europe  in  the  interests  of  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Louisville  Railroad  and  pro- 
cured a  foreign  loan.  This  road  became 
the  Lake  Erie  &  Western,  of  which,  in 
1887,  Mr.  Brice  became  president.  This 
was  the  first  railroad  in  which  he  had  a 
personal  interest.  The  conception,  build- 
ing and  sale  of  the  New  York,  Chicago  & 
St.  Louis  Railroad,  known  as  the  "Nickel 
Plate,"  was  largely  due  to  him.  He  was 
connected  with  many  other  railroads,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  following: 
Chicago  &  Atlantic;  Ohio  Central;  Rich- 
mond &  Danville;  Richmond  &  West  Point 


1S2 


com/'j:\/>/im  of  n/oanA/'j/r 


Terminal;    East     Tennessee,     Virginia    & 

Georgia;  Memphis  &  Charleston;  Mobile  & 
BirminRham;  Kentucky  Central;  Duluth, 
South  Shore  &  Atlantic,  and  the  Marquette, 
Houghton  &  Ontonagon.  In  1S90  he  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  Ohio. 
Notwithstanding  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests. Senator  Brice  gave  a  considerable 
time  to  political  matters,  becoming  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  and  one 
of  the  most  widely  known  men  in  the 
country. 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON,  twenty-third 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  August  20,  1833,  at  North  Bend, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  the  house  of  his 
grandfather.  General  Williatn  Henry  Har- 
rison, afterwards  president  of  the  United 
States.  His  great-grandfather,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  was  a  member  of  the  Continental 
congress,  signed  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, and  was  three  times  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  Farm- 
ers College  at  an  early  age,  and  two  years 
later  entered  Miami  University,  at  Oxford, 
Ohio.  Upon  graduation  he  entered  the 
office  of  Stover  &  Gwyne,  of  Cincinnati,  as  a 
law  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
two  years  later,  and  having  inherited  about 
eight  hundred  dollars  worth  of  property,  he 
married  the  daughter  of  Doctor  Scott,  pres- 
ident of  a  female  school  at  Oxford,  Ohio, 
and  selected  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  to  begin 
practice.  In  i860  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  as  candidate  for  state 
supreme  court  reporter,  and  did  his  first 
political  speaking  in  that  campaign.  He 
was  elected,  and  after  two  years  in  that 
position  he  organized  the  Se\entieth  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  of  which  he  was  made  colonel, 
and  with  his  rcgini-'iii  i..ii,.-,l   (",,n,.rit  sh,!. 


man's  army.     For  bravery  displayed  at  Re- 

saca  and  Peach  Tree  Creek  he  was  made  a 

brigadier-general.      In    the    meantime    the 

office  of  supreme  court   reporter   had  been 

declared  vacant,  and  another  party  elected 

I  to  fill  it.      In  the  fall  of    1S64.  having  been 

j  nominated  for  that  office.  General  Harrison 

obtained  a  thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  went 

!  to    Indiana,   canvassed    the  state    and   was 

elected.      As    he    was    about  to    rejoin    his 

command  he  was  stricken  dosvn  by  an  attack 

of    fever.      After    his    recovery    he  joined 

General  Sherman's  army  and  participated  in 

the  closing  events  of  the  war. 

In   1868   General   Harrison  declined    to 

be  a    candidate    for  the    office    of  supreme 

court  reporter,  and  returned  to  the  practice 

of  the  law.      His  brilliant  campaign   for  the 

office    of    governor    of    Indiana    in    1876, 

I  brought  him  into  public  notice,  although  he 

was  defeated.      He  took  a  prominent  part 

I  in  the  presidential  canvass  of  1880.  and  was 

\  chosen  United  States  senator  from  Indiana, 

serving  six  years.      He  then  returned  to  the 

practice  of  his  profession.      In   188S  he  was 

selected   by  the   Republican   convention  at 

I  Chicago  as  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and 

I  after  a  heated  campaign    was  elected   over 

:  Cleveland.      He  was  inaugurated   March  4, 

1   1889,  and  signed  the  McKinley  bill  October 

i   I,  1890.  perhaps  the  most  distinctive  feature 

of    his    administration.      In     1892    he    was 

!  again  the  nominee  of  the  Republican  party 

for  president,  but  was  defeated   by  Grover 

Cleveland,    the  Democratic  candidate,  and 

j  again  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Indian- 

{  apolis. 

JOHN      CRAIG      H.WEMEYER,     the 
celebrated  merchant  and  sugar  refiner, 
was  born  in    New  York  City  in    1833.      His 
!  father,  William  F.  Havemeyer,  and  grand- 
f  iiht-r,  William  Havemeyer.  were  both  sugar 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BIOG AW /'//]'. 


refiners.  The  latter  named  came  from 
Buckeburg,  German^',  in  1799.  and  settled 
in  New  York,  establishing  one  of  the  first 
refineries  in  that  city.  William  F.  succeeded 
his  father,  and  at  an  early  age  retired  from 
business  with  a  competency.  He  was  three 
times  mayor  of  his  native  city,  New  York. 
John  C.  Havemeyer  was  educated  in 
private  schools,  and  was  prepared  for  college 
at  Columbia  College  grammar  school. 
Owing  to  failing  eyesight  he  was  unable  to 
finish  his  college  course,  and  began  his 
business  career  in  a  wholesale  grocery  store, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1854, 
after  a  year's  travel  abroad,  he  assumed  the 
responsibility  of  the  office  work  in  the  sugar 
refiner}-  of  Havemeyer  &  ^folter,  but  two 
years  later  etablished  a  refinery  of  his  own 
in  Brooklyn.  This  afterwards  developed  into 
the  immense  business  of  Havemeyer  &  Elder. 
The  capital  was  furnished  by  his  father, 
and,  chafing  under  the  anxiety  caused  by  the 
use  of  borrowed  money,  he  sold  out  his 
interest  and  returned  to  Havemeyer  & 
Molter.  This  firm  dissolving  the  next  year, 
John  C.  declined  an  offer  of  partnership 
from  the  successors,  not  wishing  to  use 
borrowed  money.  For  two  years  he  remain- 
ed with  the  house,  receiving  a  share  of  the 
profits  as  compensation.  For  some  years 
thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  the  commission 
business,  until  failing  health  caused  his 
retirement.  In  1871,  he  again  engaged  in 
the  sugar  refining  business  at  Greenport, 
Long  Island,  with  his  brother  and  another 
partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Havemeyer 
Brothers  &  Co.  Here  he  remained  until 
1880,  when  his  health  again  declined. 
During  the  greater  part  of  his  life  Mr. 
Havemeyer  was  identified  with  many  benev- 
olent societies,  including  the  New  York 
Port  Society,  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  American  Bible  Society, 


New  York  Sabbath  School  Society  and 
others.  He  was  active  in  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  work  in  New  York, 
and  organized  and  was  the  first  president  of 
an  affiliated  society  of  the  same  at  Yonkers. 
He  was  director  of  several  railroad  corpo- 
rations and  a  trustee  of  the  Continental  Trust 
Company  of  New  York. 


WALTER  QUINTIN  GRESHAM.  an 
eminent  American  statesman  and 
jurist,  was  born  March  17,  1833,  near  Cory- 
don,  Harrison  county,  Indiana.  He  ac- 
quired his  education  m  the  local  schools  of 
the  county  and  at  Bloomington  Academy, 
akhough  he  did  not  graduate.  After  leav- 
ing college  he  read  law  with  Judge  Porter 
at  Corydon,  and  just  before  the  war  he  be- 
gan to  take  an  interest  in  politics.  Mr. 
Gresham  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from 
Harrison  county  as  a  Republican;  previous 
to  this  the  district  had  been  represented  by 
a  Democrat.  At  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  Thirty-eighth  Indiana  Infantry,  but 
served  in  that  regiment  only  a  short  time, 
when  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Fifty- 
third  Indiana,  and  served  under  General 
Grant  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  as  brigadier- 
general.  Later  he  was  under  Sherman  in 
the  famous  "March  to  the  Sea,"  and  com- 
manded a  division  of  Blair's  corps  at  the 
siege  of  Atlanta  where  he  was  so  badly 
wounded  in  the  leg  that  he  was  compelled 
to  return  home.  On  his  way  home  he  was 
forced  to  stop  at  New  Albany,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year  before  he  was  able  to  leave. 
He  was  brevetted  major-general  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  While  at  New  Albany,  Mr. 
Gresham  was  appointed  state  agent,  his 
duty  being  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  state 
debt  in  New  York,  and  he  ran  twice  for 
I  congress    against  ex-Speaker  Iverr,  but  was 


184 


COMPEXDIIM   OF   BIOGRAPJir. 


defeated  in  both  cases,  although  he  greatly 
reduced  the  Democratic  majority.  He  was 
held  in  hif^h  esteem  by  President  Grant, 
who  offered  him  the  portfolio  of  the  interior 
but  Mr.  Gresham  declined,  but  accepted 
the  appointment  of  United  States  judge  for 
Indiana  to  succeed  David  McDonald. 
Judge  Gresham  served  on  the  United  States 
district  court  bench  until  1883,  when  he 
was  appointed  .postmaster-general  by  Presi- 
dent Arthur,  but  held  that  office  only  a  few 
months  when  he  was  made  secretary  of  the 
treasury.  Near  the  end  of  President 
Arthur's  term.  Judge  Gresham  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  United  States  circuit 
court  of  the  district  composed  of  Indiana, 
Illinois  and  contiguous  states,  which  he  held 
until  i.*^93.  Judge  Gresham  was  one  of  the 
presidential  possibilities  in  the  National  Re- 
publican convention  in  1888,  when  General 
Harrison  was  nominated,  and  was  also  men- 
tioned for  president  in  1892.  Later  the 
People's  party  made  a  strenuous  effort  to 
induce  him  to  become  their  candidate  for 
president,  he  refusing  the  offer,  however, 
and  a  few  weeks  before  the  election  he  an- 
nounced that  he  would  support  Mr.  Cleve- 
land, the  Democratic  nominee  for  president. 
Upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Cleveland  in  the 
fall  of  1892,  Judge  Gresham  was  made  the 
secretary  of  state,  and  filled  that  position 
until  his  death  on  May  28,  1895,  at  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia. 

ELISHA  B.  ANDREWS,  noted  as  an  ed- 
ucator and  college  president,  was  born 
at  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire,  January  10, 
1844.  his  father  and  mother  being  Erastus 
and  Elmira  (Bartlett)  Andrews.  In  1861, 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment as  private  and  non-commissioned 
officer  in  the  First  Connecticut  Heavy  Ar- 
iill.Tv     :uul  in    is^;    vv;is  promoted   tt>  tin- 


rank  of  second  lieutenant.  Returning  home 
he  was  prepared  for  college  at  Powers  In- 
stitute and  at  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  and 
entered  Brown  University.  From  here  he 
was  graduated  in  1870.  For  the  succeeding 
two  years  he  was  principal  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Literarj-  Institute  at  Suffield, Connecticut. 
Completing  a  course  at  the  Newton  Theo- 
logical Institute,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  at  Beverly,  Massa- 
chusetts, July  2,  1874.  The  following 
year  he  became  president  of  the  Denison 
University,  at  Granville,  Ohio.  In  1879 
he  accepted  the  professorship  of  homiletics, 
pastoral  duties  and  church  polity  at  Newton 
Theological  Institute.  In  1882  he  was 
elected  to  the  chair  of  history  and  political 
economy  at  Brown  University.  The  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska  honored  him  with  an 
LL.  D.  in  1884,  and  the  same  year  Colby 
University  conferred  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
In  1888  he  'oecame  professor  of  political 
economy  and  public  economy  at  Cornell 
University,  but  the  next  year  returned  to 
Brown  University  as  its  president.  From 
the  time  of  his  inauguration  the  college  work 
broadened  in  many  ways.  Many  timely 
and  generous  donations  from  friends  and 
alumni  of  the  college  were  influenced  by 
him,  and  large  additions  made  <o  the  same. 
Professor  .\ndrevvs  published,  in  1887, 
"Institutes  of  General  History,"  and  in 
1888,  "  Institutes  of  Economics." 


JOHN  WILLIAM  DRAPER,  the  subject 
of  the  present  biography,  was,  during  his 
life,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  chemists 
and  scientific  writers  in  America.  He  was 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  born  at  Liverpool, 
May  5,  181 1,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
land,  receiving  an  excellent  education, 
graduating  at  the  University  of  London.  In 
iS;;    in?    crime    to    the    United     States,  aiul 


UBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUMOIS 


COMPEXDIi'M    OF    BIOGRAPHY 


187 


settled  first  in  Pennsylvania.  He  graduated 
in  medicine  at  the  University  of  Philadel- 
phia, in  1S36,  and  for  three  years  following 
was  professor  of  chemistry  and  physiology 
at  Hampden-Sidney  College.  He  then  be- 
came professor  of  chemistry  in  the  New  York 
University,  with  which  institution  he  was 
prominently  connected  for  many  years.  It 
is  stated  on  e.xcellent  authority  that  Pro- 
fessor Draper,  in  1839,  took  the  first  photo- 
graphic picture  ever  taken  from  life.  He 
was  a  great  student,  and  carried  on  many 
important  and  intricate  experiments  along 
scientific  lines.  He  discovered  many  of  the 
fundamental  facts  of  spectrum  analysis, 
which  he  published.  He  published  a  number 
of  works  of  great  merit,  many  of  which  are 
recognized  as  authority  upon  the  subjects  of 
which  they  treat.  Among  his  work  were: 
"Human  Physiolog}-,  Statistical  and  Dyna- 
mical of  the  Conditions  and  Cause  of  Life 
in  Man."  "History  of  Intellectual  Develop- 
ment of  Europe,"  "History  of  the  Ameri- 
can Civil  War,"  besides  a  number  of  works 
on  chemistry,  optics  and  mathematics.  Pro- 
fessor Draper  continued  to  hold  a  high  place 
among  the  scientific  scholars  of  America 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  January, 


GEORGE  W.  PECK,  ex-governor  of 
the  state  of  Wisconsin  and  a  famous 
journalist  and  humorist,  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  New  York,  September  28,  1840. 
When  he  was  about  three  years  of  age  his 
parents  removed  to  Wisconsin,  settling  near 
Whitewater,  where  young  Peck  received  his 
education  at  the  public  schools.  At  fifteen 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  "Whitewater 
Register."  where  he  learned  the  printer's 
art.  He  helped  start  the  "Jefferson  County 
Republican"  later  on,  but  sold  out  his 
interest  therein  and  set  type  in  the  office  of 


the  "State  Journal,"  at  Madison.  .\t  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  Wisconsin  Cavalry  as  a  private,  and 
after  serving  four  years  returned  a  second 
lieutenant.  He  then  started  the  "  Ripon 
Representative,"  which  he  sold  not  long 
after,  and  removing  to  New  York,  was  on 
the  staff  of  Mark  Pomeroy's  "Democrat." 
Going  to  La  Crosse,  later,  he  conducted  the 
La  Crosse  branch  paper,  a  half  interest  in 
which  he  bought  in  1874.  He  next  started 
"Peck's  Sun,"  which  four  years  later  he 
removed  to  Milwaukee.  While  in  l^ 
Crosse  he  was  chief  of  police  one  year,  and 
also  chief  clerk  of  the  Democratic  assembly 
in  1874.  It  was  in  1878  that  Mr.  Peck 
took  his  paper  to  Milwaukee,  and  achieved 
his  first  permanent  success,  the  circulation 
increasing  to  80,000.  For  ten  years  he  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  original,  versa- 
tile and  entertaining  writers  in  the  country, 
and  he  has  delineated  every  phase  of 
country  newspaper  life,  army  life,  domestic 
experience,  travel  and  city  adventure.  Up 
to  1890  Mr.  Peck  took  but  little  part  in 
politics,  but  in  that  year  was  elected  mayor 
of  Milwaukee  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
The  following  August  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Wisconsin  by  a  large  majority, 
the  "Bennett  School  Bill"  figuring  to  a 
large  extent  in  his  favor. 

Mr.  Peck,  besides  many  newspaper  arti- 
cles in  his  peculiar  vein  and  numerous  lect- 
ures, bubbling  over  with  fun,  is  known  to 
fame  by  the  following  books:  "Peck's  Bad 
Boy  and  his  Pa,"  and  "The  Grocery  Man 
and  Peck's  Bad  Boy.  " 


CHARLES  OCONOR,  who  was  for 
many  years  the  acknowledged  leader 
of  the  legal  profession  of  New  York  City, 
was  also  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  greatest 
lawyers   America  has  produced.      He  was 


cuMi'i:.\Dii  M  or  liiuaiiArny. 


born  in  New  York  City  in    1804.  his  father  j 
being  an  educated  Irish  gentleman.     Charles  ^ 
received    a  coniinon-school  education,  and 
early  took  up  the  study   of   law.  being  ad- 
mitted to  practice   in  1824.      His  close  ap-  i 
plication  and  untiring  energy  and   industry  | 
soon  placed  him   in   the   front  rank   of  the 
profession,  and   within  a   few  years  he  was 
handling  many  of  the  most  important  cases. 
One  of  the  first  great  cases  he  had  and  which 
gained  him  a  wide   reputation,  was  that  of  ] 
••Jack, the  Fugitive  Slave,"  in  1835,  in  which 
his  masterful  argument  before  the  supreme  1 
court   attracted   wide   attention    and  com- 
ment.    Charles  O'Conor  was  a  Democrat  1 
all  his  life.     He    did    not    aspire  to   office-  I 
holding,  however,  and  never  held  any  office  | 
e.xcept  that  of  district  attorney  under  Presi-  ! 
dent  Pierce's  administration,  which  he  only 
retained  a  short  time.      He   took   an  active 
interest,  however,  in  public  questions,   and 
was  a  member  of  the  state  (New  York)  con- 
stitutional convention  in  1864.      In  1868  "he 
was  nominated   for  the  presidency  by  the 
"  Extreme  Democrats."    His  death  occurred 
in  May,  1884.   

SIMON  BOLIVAR  BUCKNER,  a  noted 
American  officer  and  major-general  in 
the  Confederate  army,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1823.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1844,  served  in 
ttie  United  States  infantry  and  was  later  as- 
signed to  commissary  duty  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  He  served  several  years  at  fron- 
tier posts,  and  was  assistant  professor  in  the 
military  academy  in  1846.  He  was  with 
General  Scott  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  en- 
gaged in  all  the  battles  from  Vera  Cruz  to 
the  capture  of  the  Mexican  capital.  He 
was  wounded  at  Cherubusco  and  brcvetted 
first  lieutenant,  and  at  Molino  del  Rey  was 
bruvfUcd  captain.      After  the  close   of  the 


Mexican  war  he  returned  to  West  Point  as 
assistant  instructor,  and  was  then  assigned 
to  commissary  duty  at  New  York.  He  re- 
signed in  1855  and  became  superintendent 
of  construction  of  the  Chicago  custom  house. 
He  was  made  adjutant-genenal,  with  the 
rank  of  colonel,  of  Illinois  militia,  and  was 
colonel  of  Illinois  volunteers  raised  for  the 
Utah  expedition,  but  was  not  mustered  into 
service.  In  i860  he  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Louisville 
and  became  inspector-general  in  command 
of  the  Kentucky  Home  Guards.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  joined  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  was  given  command  at 
Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  which  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  after  the  capture  of 
Fort  Henry.  He  then  retired  to  Fort  Don- 
elson,  and  was  there  captured  with  sixteen 
thousand  men.  and  an  immense  store  of  pro- 
visions, by  General  Grant,  in  February, 
1862.  He  was  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war 
at  Fort  Warren  until  August  of  that  year. 
He  commanded  a  division  of  Hardee's  corps 
in  Bragg's  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was 
afterward  assigned  to  the  third  division  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
and  Murfreesboro.  He  was  with  Kirby 
Smith  when  that  general  surrendered  his 
army  to  General  Canby  in  May,  1865.  He 
was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency  on  the  Gold  Democratic  ticket 
with  Senator  John  M.  Palmer  in  1896. 


SIMON  KENTON,  one  of  the  famous  pio- 
neers and  scouts  whose  names  till  the 
pages  of  the  early  history  of  our  country, 
was  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia, 
April  3,  1755.  In  consequence  of  an  affray, 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  young  Kenton  went 
to  Kentucky,  then  the  '"Dark  and  Bloody 
Ground,"  and  became  associated  with  Dan- 
iel Boone  and  other  pioneers  of  that  region. 


COMPEXDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPIir. 


For  a  short  time  he  acted  as  a  scout  and 
spy  for  Lord  Dunmore,  the  British  governor 
of  Virginia,  but  afterward  taking  the  side 
of  the  struggling  colonists,  participated  in 
the  war  for  independence  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies.  In  1784  he  returned  to  Virginia, 
but  did  not  remain  there  long,  going  back 
with  his  family  to  Kentucky.  From 
that  time  until  1793  he  participated  in  all 
the  combats  and  battles  of  that  time,  and 
until  "Mad  Anthony"  Wayne  swept  the 
Valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  settled  the  suprem- 
acy of  the  whites  in  that  region.  Kenton 
laid  claim  to  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  new 
country  he  had  helped  to  open  up,  but 
through  ignorance  of  law.  and  the  growing 
value  of  the  land,  lost  it  all  and  was  reduced 
to  poverty.  During  the  war  with  England 
in  1812-15,  Kenton  took  part  in  the  inva- 
sion of  Canada  with  the  Kentucky  troops 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
He  finally  bad  land  granted  him  by  the 
legislature  of  Kentucky,  and  received  a  pen- 
sion from  the  United  States  government. 
He  died  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  April  29, 
1836.  

ELIHU  BENJAMIN  WASHBURNE,  an 
American  statesman  of  eminence,  was 
born  in  Livermore,  Maine,  September  23, 
1 8 16.  He  learned  the  trade  of  printer,  but 
abandoned  that  calling  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een and  entered  the  Kent's  Hill  Academy  at 
Reading,  Maine,  and  then  took  up  the  study 
of  law,  reading  in  Hallowell,  Boston,  and  at 
the  Harvard  Law  School.  He  began  prac- 
tice at  Galena,  Illinois,  in  1840.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1852,  and  represented 
his  district  in  that  body  continuously  until 
March,  1869,  and  at  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment he  had  served  a  greater  number  of 
consecutive  terms  than  any  other  member 
of  the  house.      In  1873  President  Grant  ap- 


pointed him  secretary  of  state,  which  posi- 
tion he  resigned  to  accept  that  of  minister 
to  France.  During  the  Franco-Prussian 
war,  including  the  siege  of  Paris  and  the 
reign  of  the  Commune,  Mr.  Washburne  re- 
mained at  his  post,  protecting  the  lives  and 
property  of  his  countrymen,  as  well  as  that 
of  other  foreign  residents  in  Paris,  while  the 
ministers  of  all  other  powers  abandoned 
their  posts  at  a  time  when  they  were  most 
needed.  As  far  as  possible  he  extended 
protection  to  unfortunate  German  residents, 
who  were  the  particular  objects  of  hatred  of 
the  populace,  and  his  firmness  and  the  suc- 
cess which  attended  his  efforts  won  the  ad- 
miration of  all  Europe.  Mr.  Washburne 
died  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  October  22,   1887. 


WILLIAM  CRAMP,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  shipbuilders  of  this  coun- 
try, was  born  in  Kensington,  then  a  suburb, 
now  a  part  of  Philadelphia,  in  1806.  He 
received  a  thorough  English  education,  and 
when  he  left  school  was  associated  with 
Samuel  Grice,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
naval  architects  of  his  day.  In  1830,  hav- 
ing mastered  all  the  details  of  shipbuilding, 
Mr.  Cramp  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account.  By  reason  of  ability  and  e.xcel- 
lent  work  he  prospered  from  the  start,  until 
now,  in  the  hands  of  his  sons,  under  the 
name  of  William  Cramp  &  Sons'  Ship  and 
Engine  Building  Company,  it  has  become  the 
most  complete  shipbuilding  plant  and  naval 
arsenal  in  the  western  hemisphere,  and  fully 
equal  to  any  in  the  world.  As  Mr.  Cramp's 
sons  attained  manhood  they  learned  their 
father's  profession,  and  were  admitted  to  a 
partnership.  In  1872  the  firm  was  incor- 
porated under  the  title  given  above.  Until 
i860  wood  was  used  in  building  vessels,  al- 
though pace  was  kept  with  all  advances  in 
the  art  of  shipbuilding.     At  the  opening  of 


190 


co.\n'i:.\nn.M  of  JUocuM'/ir. 


the  war  came  an  unexpected  demand  (or 
war  vessels,  which  they  promptly  met.  The 
sea-Koing  ironclad  "New  Ironsides"  was 
built  by  them  in  1862,  followed  by  a  num- 
ber of  formidable  ironclads  and  the  cruiser 
"Chattanooga."  They  subsequently  built 
several  war  vessels  for  the  Russian  and 
other  governments  which  added  to  their 
reputation.  When  the  American  steamship 
line  was  established  in  1S70,  the  Cramps 
were  comn)issioned  to  build  for  it  four  first- 
class  iron  steamships,  the  "  Pennsylvania," 
"Ohio,"  "Indiana"  and  "Illinois,"  which 
they  turned  out  in  rapid  order,  some  of  the 
finest  specimens  of  the  naval  architecture  of 
their  day.  William  Cramp  remained  at  the 
head  of  the  great  company  he  had  founded 
•  until  his  death,  which  occurred  January  6, 
1879. 

Charles  H.  Cramp,  the  successor  of  his 
father  as  head  of  the  William  Cramp  & 
Sons'  Ship  and  Engine  Building  Company, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  May  9,  1829,  and 
received  an  excellent  education  in  his  native 
city,  which  he  sedulously  sought  to  sup- 
plement by  close  study  until  he  became 
an  authority  on  general  subjects  and  the 
best  naval  architect  on  the  western  hemis- 
phere. Many  of  the  best  vessels  of  our 
new  navy  were  built  by  this  immense  con- 
cern.   

WASHINGTON  ALLSTON,  probably 
the  greatest  American  painter,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina  in  1779.  He  was 
sent  to  school  at  the  age  of  seven  years  at 
Ne%vport,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  met  Ed- 
ward Malbone,  two  years  his  senior,  and 
who  later  became  a  painter  of  note.  The 
friendship  that  sprang  up  between  them  un- 
doubtedly influenced  young  Allston  in  the 
choice  of  a  profession.  He  graduated  from 
Harvard  in   1800,  and  went  to  England  the 


following  year,  after  pursuing  his  studies  for 
a  year  under  his  friend  Malbone  at  his  home 
in  South  Carolina.  He  became  a  student 
at  the  Royal  Academy  where  the  great 
American,  Benjamin  West,  presided,  and 
who  became  his  intimate  friend.  Allston 
later  went  to  Paris,  and  then  to  Italy,  where 
four  years  were  spent,  mostly  at  Rome.  In 
1809  he  returned  to  America,  but  soon  after 
returned  to  London,  having  married  in  the 
meantime  a  sister  of  Dr.  Channing.  In 
a  short  time  his  first  great  work  appeared, 
"The  Dead  Man  Restored  to  Life  by  the 
Bones  of  Elisha,"  which  took  the  British 
Association  prize  and  firmly  established  his 
reputation.  Other  paintings  followed  in 
quick  succession,  the  greatest  among  which 
were  "Uriel  in  the  Center  of  the  Sun," 
"Saint  Peter  Liberated  by  the  Angel,  "  and 
"Jacob's  Dream."  supplemented  bj-  many 
smaller  pieces.  Hard  work,  and  grief  at  the 
death  of  his  wife  began  to  tell  upon  his  health, 
and  he  left  London  in  181S  for  America. 
The  same  year  he  was  elected  an  associate 
of  the  Royal  Academy.  During  the  ne.xt 
few  years  he  painted  "Jeremiah,"  "Witch 
ofEndor,"  and  "Beatrice."  In  1830  Alls- 
ton  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Dana,  and 
went  to  Cambridge,  which  was  his  home 
until  his  death.  Here  he  produced  the 
"Vision  of  the  Bloody  Hand,"  "Rosalie," 
and  many  less  noted  pieces,  and  had  given 
one  week  of  labor  to  his  unfinished  master- 
piece, "Belshazzar's  Feast,"  when  death 
ended  his  career  July  9,  1843. 


JOHN  ROACH,  ship  builder  and  manu- 
facturer, whose  career  was  a  marvel  of 
industrial  labor,  and  who  impressed  his  in- 
dividuality and  genius  upon  the  times  in 
which  he  lived  more,  perhaps,  than  any 
other  manufacturer  in  America.  He  was 
born   at    Mitchelstown,   County  Cork,   Ire- 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


191 


land,  December  25,  181 5,  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  merchant.'  He  attended  school 
until  he  was  thirteen,  when  his  father  be- 
came financially  embarrassed  and  failed 
and  shortly  after  died;  John  determined  to 
come  to  America  and  carve  out  a  fortune 
for  himself.  He  landed  in  New  York  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  soon  obtained  employ- 
ment at  the  Howell  Iron  Works  in  New  Jer- 
sey, at  twenty-five  cents  a  day.  He  soon 
made  himself  a  place  in  the  world,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  years  had  saved  some 
twelve  hundred  dollars,  which  he  lost  by 
the  failure  of  his  employer,  in  whose  hands 
it  was  left.  Returning  to  New  York  he 
began  to  learn  how  to  make  castings  for 
marine  engines  and  ship  work.  Having 
again  accumulated  one  thousand  dollars,  in 
company  with  three  fellow  workmen,  he 
purchased  a  small  foundry  in  New  York, 
but  soon  became  sole  proprietor.  At  the 
end  of  four  years  he  had  saved  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  besides  enlarging  his  works. 
In  1856  his  works  were  destroyed  by  a 
boiler  explosion,  and  being  unable  to  collect 
ths  insurance,  was  left,  after  paying  his 
debts,  without  a  dollar.  However,  his 
credit  and  reputation  for  integrity  was  good, 
and  he  built  the  Etna  Iron  Works,  giving  it 
capacity  to  construct  larger  marine  engines 
than  any  previously  built  in  this  country. 
Here  he  turned  out  immense  engines  for 
the  steam  ram  Dunderberg,  for  the  war  ves- 
sels Winooski  and  Neshaning,  and  other 
large  vessels.  To  accommodate  his  increas- 
ing business,  Mr.  Roach,  in  1869,  pur- 
chased the  Morgan  Iron  Works,  one  of  the 
largest  in  New  York,  and  shortly  after  sev- 
eral others.  In  1871  he  bought  the  Ches- 
ter ship  yards,  which  he  added  to  largely, 
erecting  a  rolling  mill  and  blast  furnace,  and 
providing  every  facility  for  building  a  ship 
out  of  the  ore  and  timber.      This  immense 


plant  covered  a  large  area,  was  valued  at 
several  millions  of  dollars,  and  was  known 
as  the  Delaware  River  Iron  Shipbuilding 
and  Engine  Works,  of  which  Mr.  Roach 
was  the  principal  owner.  He  built  a  large 
percentage  of  the  iron  vessels  now  Hying 
the  American  flag,  the  bulk  of  his  business 
being  for  private  parties.  In  1875  he  built 
the  sectional  dry  docks  at  Pensacola.  He, 
about  this  time,  drew  the  attention  of  the 
government  to  the  use  of  compound  marine 
engines,  and  thus  was  the  means  of  im- 
proving the  speed  and  economy  of  the  ves- 
sels of  our  new  navy.  In  1883  Mr.  Roach 
commenced  work  on  the  three  cruisers  for 
the  government,  the  "Chicago,"  "Boston" 
and  "Atlanta,"  and  the  dispatch  boat 
"  Dolphin."  For  some  cause  the  secretary 
of  the  navy  refused  to  receive  the  latter  and 
decided  that  Mr.  Roach's  contract  would 
not  hold.  This  embarrassed  Mr.  Roach, 
as  a  large  amount  of  his  capital  was  in- 
volved in  these  contracts,  and  for  the  pro- 
tection of  bondsmen  and  creditors,  July  18, 
1885,  he  made  an  assignment,  but  the 
financial  trouble  broke  down  his  strong  con- 
stitution, and  January  10,  1887,  he  died. 
His  son,  John  B.  Roach,  succeeded  to  the 
shipbuilding  interests,  while  Stephen  W. 
Roach  inherited  the  Morgan  Iron  Works  at 
New  York. 

JOHN  SINGLETON  COPLEY,  one  of 
the  two  great  painters  who  laid  the 
foundation  of  true  American  art,  was  born 
in  Boston  in  1737,,  one  year  earlier  than  his 
great  contemporary,  Benjamin  West.  His 
education  was  limited  to  the  common  schools 
of  that  time,  and  his  training  in  art  he  ob- 
tained by  his  own  observation  and  experi- 
ments solely.  When  he  was  about  seven- 
teen years  old  he  had  mapped  out  his  future, 
however,  by  choosing  painting  as  his  pro- 


192 


coM/'i£.\/)/L'.u  OF  liioaii.xrnr. 


fession.  If  he  ever  studied  under  any 
teacher  in  his  early  efforts,  we  have  no  au- 
thentic account  of  it,  and  tradition  credits 
the  young  artist's  wonderful  success  en- 
tirely to  his  own  talent  and  untiring  effort. 
It  is  almost  incredible  that  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years  his  income  from  his 
works  aggregated  fifteen  hundred  dollars 
per  annum,  a  very  great  sum  in  those  days. 
In  1774  he  went  to  Europe  in  search  of  ma- 
terial for  study,  which  was  so  rare  in  his 
native  land.  After  some  timespent  in  Italy 
he  finally  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  England.  In  1783  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber ol  the  Royal  Academy,  and  later  his 
son  had  the  high  honor  of  becoming  lord 
chancellor  of  England  and  Lord  Lyndhurst. 
Many  specimens  of  Copley's  work  are  to 
be  found  in  the  Memorial  Hall  at  Harvard 
and  in  the  Boston  Museum,  as  well  as  a  few 
of  the  works  upon  which  he  modeled  his 
style.  Copley  was  essentially  a  portrait 
painter,  though  his  historical  paintings  at- 
tained great  celebrity,  his  masterpiece 
being  his  "  Death  of  Major  Pierson,"  though 
that  distinction  has  by  some  been  given  to 
his  "Death  of  Chatham."  It  is  said  that 
he  never  saw  a  good  picture  until  he  was 
thirty-five  years  old,  yet  his  portraits  prior 
to  that  period  are  regarded  as  rare  speci- 
mens.     He  died  in  1815. 


He  went  south  in  1853  and  established  ex- 
press lines  on  various  southern  railways,  and 
in  1861  organized  the  Southern  Express 
Co.,  and  became  its  president.  In  1S79  he 
purchased,  with  others,  the  Atlantic  &  Gulf 
Railroad  of  Georgia,  and  later  reorganized 
the  Savannah,  Florida  &  Western  Railroad, 
of  which  he  became  president.  He  pur- 
chased and  rebuilt,  in  iSSo.  the  Savannah 
&  Charleston  Railroad,  now  Charleston  & 
Savannah.  Not  long  after  this  he  organ- 
ized the  Plant  Investment  Co..  to  control 
these  railroads  and  advance  their  interests 
generally,  and  later  established  a  steamboat 
line  on  the  St.  Johns  river,  in  Florida. 
From  1S53  until  i860  he  was  general 
superintendent  of  the  southern  division  of 
the  .^dains  Express  Co.,  and  in  1867  be- 
came president  of  the  Texas  £.\press  Co. 
The  "Plant  system"  of  railway,  steamer 
and  steamship  lines  is  one  of  the  greatest 
business  corporations  of  the  southern  states. 


HENRY  B.  PLANT,  one  of  the  greatest 
railroad  men  of  the  country,  became 
famous  as  president  of  the  Plant  system  of 
railway  and  steamer  lines,  and  also  the 
Southern  &  Texas  Express  Co.  He  was 
born  in  October,  1819,  at  Branford, 
Connecticut,  and  entered  the  railroad  serv- 
ice in  1.S44.  serving  as  express  messenger 
on  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  until 
1853,  during  which  time  he  had  entire 
charge  of  the  expr'>i:»  jusiness  of  that  road. 


WADE  HAMPTON,  a  noted  Confeder- 
ate officer,  was  born  at  Columbia. 
South  Carolina,  in  1 818.  He  graduated 
from  the  South  Carolina  College,  took  an 
active  part  in  politics,  and  was  twice  elected 
to  the  legislature  of  his  state.  In  1861  he 
joined  the  Confederate  army,  and  command- 
ed the  "  Hampton  Legion  "  at  the  first  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run,  in  July.  1861.  He  did 
meritorious  service,  was  wounded,  and  pro- 
moted to  brigadier-general.  He  command- 
ed a  brigade  at  Seven  Pines,  in  1862.  and 
was  again  wounded.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Antietam  in  September  of  the 
same  year,  and  participated  in  the  raid  into 
Pennsylvania  in  October.  In  1S63  he  was 
with  Lee  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was 
wounded  for  the  third  time.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  and 
commanded    a    troop   of   cavalry   in    Lee's 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPlir. 


army  during  1864,  and  was  in  numerous  en- 
giigements.  In  1865  he  was  in  South  Car- 
oHna,  and  commanded  the  cavalry  rear 
guard  of  the  Confederate  army  in  its  stub- 
born retreat  before  General  Sherman  on  his 
advance  toward  Richmond. 

After  the  war  Hampton  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  was  a  prominent  figure 
at  the  Democratic  national  convention  in 
1868,  which  nominated  Seymour  and  Blair 
for  president  and  vice-president.  He  was 
governor  of  South  Carolina,  and  took  his 
seat  in  the  United  States  senate  in  1879, 
where  he  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
national  affairs. 


NIKOLA  TESLA,  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated electricians  America  has  known, 
was  born  in  1857,  at  Smiljau,  Lika,  Servia. 
He  descended  from  an  old  and  representative 
family  of  that  country.  His  father  was  a 
a  minister  of  the  Greek  church,  of  high  rank, 
while  his  mother  was  a  woman  of  remarka- 
ble skill  in  the  construction  of  looms,  churns 
and  the  machinery  required  in  a  rural  home. 
N.kola  received  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Gospich,  when  he  was 
sent  to  the  higher  "Real  Schule"  at  Karl- 
stadt,  where,  after  a  three  years'  course, 
he  graduated  in  1S73.  He  devoted  him- 
self to  experiments  in  electricity  and 
magnetism,  to  the  chagrin  of  his  father, 
who  had  destined  him  for  the  ministry, 
but  giving  way  to  the  boy's  evident  genius 
he  was  allowed  to  continue  his  studies  in 
the  polytechnic  school  at  Gratz.  He  in- 
herited a  wonderful  intuition  which  enabled 
him  to  see  through  the  intricacies  of  ma- 
chinery, and  despite  his  instructor's  demon- 
stration that  a  dynamo  could  not  be  oper- 
ated without  commutators  or  brushes, 
began  experiments  which  finally  resulted  in 
his  rotating  field  motors.     After  the  study 


of  languages  at  Prague  and  Buda-Pesth,  he 
became  associated  with  M.  Puskas,  who 
had  introduced  the  telephone  into  Hungary. 
He  invented  several  improvements,  but 
being  unable  to  reap  the  necessary  benefit 
from  them,  he,  in  search  of  a  wider  field, 
went  to  Paris,  where  he  found  employment 
with  one  of  the  electric  lighting  companies 
as  electrical,  engineer.  Soon  he  set  his  face 
westward,  and  coming  to  the  United  States 
for  a  time  found  congenial  employment  wfth 
Thomas  A.  Edison.  Finding  it  impossible, 
overshadowed  as  he  was,  to  carry  out  his 
own  ideas  he  left  the  Edison  works  to  join 
a  company  formed  to  place  his  own  inven- 
tions on  the  market.  He  perfected  his 
rotary  field  principle,  adapting  it  to  circuits 
then  in  operation.  It  is  said  of  him  that 
some  of  his  proved  theories  will  change  the 
entire  electrical  science.  It  would,  in  an 
article  of  this  length,  be  impossible  to  ex- 
plain all  that  Tesla  accomplished  for  the 
practical  side  of  electrical  engineering. 
His  discoveries  formed  the  basis  of  the  at- 
tempt to  utilize  the  water  power  of  Niagara 
Falls.  His  work  ranges  far  beyond  the 
vast  department  of  polyphase  currents  and 
high  potential  lighting  and  includes  many 
inventions  in  arc  lighting,  transformers, 
pyro  and  thermo- magnetic  motors,  new 
forms  of  incandescent  lamps,  unipolar  dyna- 
mos and  many  others. 


CHARLES  B.  LEWIS  won  fame  as  an 
American  humorist  under  the  name  of 
"  M.  Quad."  It  is  said  he  owes  his 
celebrity  originally  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
once  mixed  up  in  a  boiler  explosion  on  the 
Ohio  river,  and  the  impressions  he  received 
from  the  event  he  set  up  from  his  case  when 
he  was  in  the  composing  room  of  an  ob- 
scure Michigan  paper.  His  style  possesses  a 
peculiar  quaintness,  and  there  runs  mrougb 


134 


COMPEXDIL  M   OF   niOGA'AJ'J/r. 


it  a  vein  of  philosophy.  Mr.  Lewis  was 
born  in  1844,  near  a  town  called  Liverpool, 
Ohio.  He  was,  however,  raised  in  Lansing, 
Michigan,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  an  agri- 
cuitural  college,  going  from  there  to  the 
composing  room  of  the  "Lansing  Demo- 
crat." At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed in  the  service,  remained  during  the 
entire  war,  and  then  returned  to  Lansing. 
The  e.xplosion  of  the  boiler  that  "  blew  him 
into  fame,"  took  place  two  years  later,  while 
he  was  on  his  way  south.  When  he  re- 
covered physically,  he  brought  suit  for  dam- 
ages against  the  steamboat  company,  which 
he  gained,  and  was  awarded  a  verdict  of 
twelve  thousand  dollars  for  injuries  re- 
ceived. It  was  while  he  was  employed  by 
the  "  Jacksonian  "  of  Pontiac,  Mich., that  he 
set  up  his  account  of  how  he  felt  while  being 
blown  up.  He  says  that  he  signed  it  "M 
Quad,"  because  "a  bourgeoise  em  quad  is 
useless  except  in  its  own  line — it  won't 
justify  with  any  other  type."  Soon  after, 
because  of  the  celebrity  he  attained  by  this 
screed,  Mr.  Lewis  secured  a  place  on  the 
staff  of  the  "  Detroit  Free  Press,"  and  made 
for  that  paper  a  wide  reputation.  His 
sketches  of  the  "Lime  Kiln  Club"  and 
"  Brudder  Gardner"  are  perhaps  the  best 
known  of  his  humorous  writings. 


HIK.\M  S.  MAXIM,  the  famous  inventor, 
was  born  in  Sangersville,  Maine, 
I'ebruary  5,  1 840,  the  son  of  Isaac  \V. 
and  Harriet  li.  Maxim.  The  town  of  his 
birth  was  but  a  small  place,  in  the 
woods,  on  the  confines  of  civilization, 
and  the  family  endured  many  hardships. 
They  were  without  means  and  entirely 
dependent  on  themselves  to  make  out  of 
raw  materials  all  they  needed.  The  mother 
was  an  expert  spinner,  weaver,  dyer  and 
seamstress  and  the  father  a  trapper,  tanner, 


miller,  blacksmith,  carpenter,  mason  and 
farmer.  Amid  such  surroundings  young 
Maxim  gave  early  promise  of  remarkable 
aptitude.  With  the  universal  Yankee  jack- 
knife  the  products  of  his  skill  excited  the 
wonder  and  interest  of  the  locality.  His 
parents  did  not  encourage  his  latent  genius 
but  apprenticed  him  to  a  coach  builder. 
Four  years  he  labored  at  this  uncongenial 
trade  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  forsook 
it  and  entered  a  machine  shop  at  Fitchburg, 
Massachusetts.  Soon  mastering  the  details 
of  that  business  and  that  of  mechanical 
drawing,  he  went  to  Boston  as  the  foreman 
of  the  philosophical  instrument  manufactory. 
From  thence  he  went  to  New  York  and  with 
the  Novelty  Iron  Works  Shipbuilding  Co. 
he  gained  experience  in  those  trades.  His 
inventions  up  to  this  time  consisted  of 
improvements  in  steam  engines,  and  an 
automatic  gas  machine,  which  came  into 
general  use.  In  1877  he  turned  his  attention 
to  electricity,  and  in  1878  produced  an 
incandescent  lamp,  that  would  burn  1,000 
hours.  He  was  the  first  to  design  a  process 
for  flashing  electric  carbons,  and  the  first 
to  "standardize"  carbons  for  electric  light- 
ing. In  1880  he  visited  Europe  and  exhibit- 
ing, at  the  Paris  Exposition  of  1881,  a  self- 
regulating  machine,  was  decorated  with  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  In  1883  he  returned  to 
London  as  the  European  representative  of  the 
United  States  Electric  Light  Co.  An  incident 
of  his  boyhood,  in  which  the  recoil  of  a  rifle 
was  noticed  by  him,  and  the  apparent  loss 
of  power  shown,  in  188 1-2  prompted  the 
invention  of  a  gun  which  utilizes  the  recoil  to 
automatically  load  and  (ire  seven  hundred 
and  seventy  shots  per  minute.  The  Maxim- 
Nordenfelt  Gun  Co.,  with  a  capital  of  nine 
million  dollars,  grew  from  this.  In  1883  he 
patented  his  electric  training  gear  for  large 
guns.     And  later  turned  his  attention  to  fly- 


COMPENDIUM    OF   niOGRAP/ir. 


195 


ing  machines,  which  he  claimed  were  not  an 
impossibility.  He  took  out  over  one  hundred 
patents  for  smokeless  gunpowder,  and  for  pe- 
troleum and  other  motors  and  autocycles. 


JOHN  DAVISON  ROCKEFELLER, 
one  of  America's  very  greatest  financiers 
and  philanthropists,  was  born  in  Richford, 
Tioga  county.  New  York,  July  8,  1839.  He 
received  a  common-school  education  in  his 
native  place,  and  in  1853,  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  entered  the 
high  school  of  that  city.  After  a  two-years' 
course  of  diligent  work,  he  entered  the  com- 
mission and  forwarding  house  of  Hewitt  & 
Tuttle,  of  Cleveland,  remaining  with  the 
firm  some  years,  and  then  began  business 
for  himself,  forming  a  partnership  with 
Morris  B.  Clark.  Mr.  Rockefeller  was  then 
but  nineteen  j'ears  of  age,  and  during  the 
year  i860,  in  connection  with  others,  they 
started  the  oil  refining  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Andrews,  Clark  &  Co.  Mr. 
Rockefeller  and  Mr.  Andrews  purchased  the 
interest  of  their  associates,  and,  after  taking 
William  Rockefeller  into  the  firm, established 
offices  in  Cleveland  under  the  name  of 
William  Rockefeller  &  Co.  Shortly  after 
this  the  house  of  Rockefeller  &  Co.  was  es- 
tablished in  New  York  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  a  market  for  their  products, -and  two 
years  later  all  the  refining  companies  were 
consolidated  under  the  firm  name  of  Rocke- 
feller, Andrews  &  Flagler.  This  firm  was 
succeeded  in  1870  by  the  Standard  Oil 
Company  of  Ohio,  said  to  be  the  most 
gigantic  business  corporation  of  modern 
times.  John  D.  Rockefeller's  fortune  has 
been  variously  estimated  at  from  one  hun- 
dred million  to  two  hundred  million  dollars. 
Mr.  Rockefeller's  philanthropy  mani- 
fested itself  principally  through  the  American 
Baptist  Educational  Societj'.      He  donated 


the  building  for  the  Spelman  Institute  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  negroes.  His  other  gifts  were  to  the 
University  of  Rochester,  Cook  Academy, 
Peddie  Institute,  and  Vassar  College,  be- 
sides smaller  gifts  to  many  institutions 
throughout  the  country.  His  princely  do- 
nations, however,  were  to  the  University  of 
Chicago.  His  first  gift  to  this  institution 
was  a  conditional  offer  of  si.\  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  in  1889,  and  when  this  amount 
was  paid  he  added  one  million  more.  Dur- 
ing 1892  he  made  it  two  gifts  of  one  million 
each,  and  all  told,  his  donations  to  this  one 
institution  aggregated  between  seven  and 
eight  millions  of  dollars. 

JOHN  M.  PALMER.— For  over  a  third 
kJ  of  a  century  this  gentleman  occupied  a 
prominent  place  in  the  political  world,  both 
in  the  state  of  Illinois  and  on  the  broader 
platform  of  national  issues. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  born  at  Eagle  Creek, 
Scott  county,  Kentucky,  September  13. 
18 17.  The  family  subsequently  removed 
to  Christian  county,  in  the  same  state,  where 
he  acquired  a  common-school  education,  and 
made  his  home  until  183 1.  His  father  was 
opposed  to  slavery,  and  in  the  latter  year 
removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Alton. 
In  1834  John  entered  Alton  College,  or- 
ganized on  the  manual-labor  plan,  but  his 
funds  failing,  abandoned  it  and  entered  a 
cooper  shop.  He  subsequently  was  en- 
gaged in  peddling,  and  teaching  a  district 
school  near  Canton.  In  1838  he  began  the 
study  of  law,  and  the  following  year  re- 
moved toCarlinville,  where,  in  December  of 
that  year,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
was  shortly  after  defeated  for  county  clerk. 
In  1843  he  was  elected  probate  judge.  In 
the  constitutional  convention  of  1847,  ^'f. 
Palmer  was  a   delegate,  and  from  1849  to 


100 


coMrHXDiLM  or  jiJOGRArin: 


I&5I  he  was  county  judge.  In  1852  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  state  senate,  but  not 
being  with  his  party  on  the  slavery  question 
he  resigned  that  office  in  1854.  In  1856 
Mr.  Palmer  was  chairman  of  the  first  Re- 
publican state  convention  held  in  Illinois, 
and  the  same  year  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention.  In  18C0  he  was  an 
elector  on  the  Lincoln  ticket,  and  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  entered  the  service 
as  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infan- 
try, but  w:is  shortly  after  brevetted  brigadier- 
general.  In  August,  1862,  he  organized 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  but  in  September  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  first  division  of 
the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  afterward  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general.  In 
1865  he  was  assigned  to  the  military  ad- 
mii'istration  in  Kentucky.  In  1867  General 
Palmer  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  and 
STved  four  years.  In  1872  he  went  with 
the  Liberal  Republicans,  who  supported 
Horace  Greeley,  after  which  time  he  was 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  In 
1890  he  was  elected  United  States  senator 
from  Illinois,  and  served  as  such  for  si.\ 
years.  In  1S96,  on  the  adoption  of  the  sil- 
ver plank  in  the  platform  of  the  Democratic 
party.  General  Palmer  consented  to  lead, 
as  presidential  candidate,  the  National  Dem- 
01  -^als,  or  Gold  Democracy. 


WILLIAM  H.  BEARD,  the  humorist 
among  American  painters,  was  born 
at  Painesville,  Ohio,  in  1821.  His  father. 
James  H.  Beard,  was  also  a  painter  of  na- 
tional reputation.  William  H.  Beard  be- 
gan his  career  as  a  traveling  portrait 
painter.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  New 
York,  and  later  removed  to  Buffalo,  where 
he  achieved  reputation.      He   then    wont  ^^^ 


Italy  and  after  a  short  stay  returned  to  New 
York  and  opened  a  studio.  One  of  his 
earliest  paintings  was  a  small  picture  called 
"Cat  and  Kittens, "  which  was  placed  in 
the  National  Academy  onexhibition.  Among 
his  best  productions  are  "Raining  Cats  and 
Dogs,"  "The  Dance  of  Silenus,"  "Bears 
on  a  Bender,"  "Bulls  and  Bears,"  "  Whoo!" 
"  Grimalkin's  Dream,"  "  Little  Red  Riding 
Hood,"  "The  Guardian  of  the  Flag."  His 
animal  pictures  convey  the  most  ludicrous 
and  satirical  ideas,  and  the  intelligent, 
human  expression  in  their  faces  is  most 
comical.  Some  artists  and  critics  have  re- 
fused to  give  Mr.  Beard  a  place  among  the 
first  circles  in  art,  solely  on  account  of  the 
class  of  subjects  he  has  chosen. 


WW.  CORCORAN,  the  noted  philan- 
throphist,  was  born  at  Georgetown, 
District  of  Columbia.  December  27,  179S. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  entered  the 
banking  business  in  Washington,  and  in 
time  became  very  wealthy.  He  was 
noted  for  his  magnificent  donations  to  char- 
ity. Oak  Hill  cemetery  was  donated  to 
Georgetown  in  1847,  and  ten  years  later  the 
Corcoran  Art  Gallery,  Temple  of  Art,  was 
presented  to  the  city  of  Washington.  The 
uncompleted  building  was  utilized  by  the 
government  as  quartermaster's  headquar- 
ters during  the  war.  The  building  was 
completed  after  the  war  at  a  cost  of  a  mil- 
lion and  a  half  dollars,  all  the  gift  of  Mr. 
Corcoran.  The  Louise  Home  for  Women 
is  another  noble  charity  to  his  credit.  Its 
object  is  the  care  of  women  of  gentle  breed- 
ing who  in  declining  years  are  without 
means  of  support.  In  addition  to  this  he 
gave  liberally  to  many  worthy  institutions 
of  learning  and  charity.  He  died  at  Wash- 
ini^ton  Ffbriiarv  2.\.   i  SSS. 


COMPEXDIi\^f   OF    UIOGRArnr. 


197 


ALBERT  BIERSTADT,  the  noted  paint- 
er of  American  landscape,  was  born  in 
Dusseldorf,  Germany,  in  1829,  and  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  He  received  his  early 
education  here,  but  returned  to  Dusseldorf 
to  study  painting,  and  also  went  to  Rome. 
On  his  return  to  America  he  accompanied 
Lander's  expedition  across  the  continent,  in 
1858,  and  soon  after  produced  his  most 
popular  work,  "The  Rocky  Mountains — 
Lander's  Peak. "  Its  boldness  and  grandeur 
were  so  unusual  that  it  made  him  famous. 
The  picture  sold  for  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars.  In  1867  Mr.  Bierstadt  went  to 
Europe,  with  a  government  commission, 
and  gathered  materials  for  his  great  historic- 
al work.  "Discovery  of  the  North  River 
by  Hendrik  Hudson."  Others  of  his  great 
works  were  "Storm  in  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains," "Valley  of  the  Yosemite,"  "North 
Fork  of  the  Platte,"  "Diamond  Pool," 
"Mount  Hood,"  "Mount  Rosalie,"  and 
"The  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains."  His 
"Estes  Park'  sold  for  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  and  "Mount  Rosalie"  brought 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  His  smaller 
Rocky  mountain  scenes,  however,  are  vast- 
ly superior  to  his  larger  works  in  execution 
and  coloring. 

ADDISON  CAMMACK,  a  famous  mill- 
ionaire Wall  street  speculator,  was 
born  in  Kentucky.  When  sixteen  years  old 
he  ran  away  from  home  and  went  to  New 
Orleans,  where  he  went  to  work  in  a  ship- 
ping house.  He  outlived  and  outworked 
all  the  partners,  and  became  the  head  of  the 
firm  before  the  opening  of  the  war.  At 
that  time  he  htted  out  small  vessels  and  en- 
gaged m  running  the  blockade  of  southern 
ports  and  carrying  ammunition,  merchan- 
dise,  etc.,   to  the    southern    people.     This 


made  him  a  fortune.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  quit  business  and  went  to  New 
York.  For  two  years  he  did  not  enter  any 
active  business,  but  seemed  to  be  simply  an 
on-looker  in  the  great  speculative  center  of 
America.  He  was  observing  keenly  the 
methods  and  financial  machinery,  however, 
and  when,  in  1867,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  the  popular  Charles  J.  Osborne,  the 
firm  began  to  prosper.  He  never  had  an 
office  on  the  street,  but  wandered  into  the 
various  brokers'  offices  and  placed  his  orders 
as  he  saw  fit.  In  1873  he  dissolved  his 
partnership  with  Osborne  and  operated 
alone.  He  joined  a  band  of  speculative 
conspirators  known  as  the  "Twenty-third 
party,"  and  was  the  ruling  spirit  in  that  or- 
ganization for  the  control  of  the  stock  mar- 
ket. He  was  always  on  the  • '  bear  "  side  and 
the  only  serious  obstacle  he  ever  encoun- 
tered was  the  persistent  boom  in  industrial 
stocks,-  particularly  sugar,  engineered  by 
James  R.  Keane.  Mr.  Cammack  fought 
Keane  for  two  years,  and  during  tl:e  time  is 
said  to  have  lost  no  less  than  two  million 
dollars  before  he  abandoned  the  fight. 


WALT.  WHITMAN.— Foremost  among 
the  lesser  poets  of  the  latter  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  adorns  the  head  of  this  article  takes 
a  conspicuous  place. 

Whitman  was  born  at  West  Hills,  Long 
Island,  New  York,  May  13,  1809.  In  the 
schools  of  Brooklyn  he  laid  the  foundation 
of  his  education,  and  early  in  life  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  For  a  time  he  taught  coun- 
try schools  in  his  native  state.  In  1846-7 
he  was  editor  of  the  "Brooklyn  Eagle," 
but  in  1848-9  was  on  the  editorial  staff  of 
the  "Crescent,"  of  New  Orleans.  He 
made  an  extended  tour  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  returned  to 


m 


COMrEXDlCM   OF    lilOGRArnr. 


Brooklyn,  where,  in  1850,  he  published  the 
"Freeman.  "  For  some  years  succeeding 
•his  he  was  engaged  as  carpenter  and  builder. 
During  the  Civil  war.  Whitman  acted  as 
a  volunteer  nurse  in  the  hospitals  at 
Washington  and  vicinity  and  from  the  close 
of  hostilities  until  1873  he  was  employed 
in  various  clerkships  in  the  government 
offices  in  the  nation's  capital.  In  the  latter 
year  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis  as  a 
result  of  his  labors  in  the  hospital,  it  is 
said,  and  being  partially  disabled  lived  for 
many  years  at  Camden.    New  Jersey. 

The  first  edition  of  the  work  which  was 
to  bring  him  fame,  "Leaves  of  Grass,  "  was 
published  in  1855  and  was  but  a  small 
volume  of  about  ninety-four  pages.  Seven 
or  eight  editions  of  "Leaves  of  Grass"  have 
been  issued,  each  enlarged  and  enriched  with 
new  poems.  "Drum  Taps,"  at  first  a 
separate  publication,  has  been  incorporated 
with  the  others.  This  volume  and  one 
prose  writing  entitled  "  Specimen  Days  and 
Collect,"  constituted  his  whole  work. 

Walt.  Whitman  died  at  Camden,  New 
Jersey,  March  26,  1S92. 


during  the  war  as  major-general  command- 
ing the  Home  Guards.  He  died  August  8, 
1889.  His  son,  Henry  A.  Dupont,  also  was 
a  native  of  Delaware,  and  was  born  July  30, 
1838.  After  graduating  from  West  Point 
in  1 86 1,  he  entered  the  army  as  second 
lieutenant  of  engineers.  Shortly  after  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Artillery  as  first 
lieutenant.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  captain  in  1864,  serving  in  camp  and 
garrison  most  of  the  time.  He  was  in  com- 
mand of  a  battery  in  the  campaign  of 
1863-4.  Aschief  of  artillery  of  the  army  of 
West  Virginia,  he  figured  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  being  in  the  battles  of  Opequan, 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  besides 
many  minor  engagements.  He  afterward 
acted  as  instructor  in  the  artillery  school  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  on  special  duty  at 
West  Point.  He  resigned  from  the  army 
March  i,  1875. 


HENRY  DUPONT,  \yho  became  cele- 
brated as  America's  greatest  manufact- 
urer of  gunpowder,  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware, born  August  8,  1812.  He  received 
his  education  in  its  higher  branches  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  from  which  he  graduated  and  entered 
the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of  artillery  in 
1833.  In  1S34  he  resigned  and  became 
proprietor  of  the  e.xtensive  gunpowder 
manufacturing  plant  that  bears  his  name, 
near  Wilmington.  Delaware.  His  large 
business  interests  interfered  with  his  tak- 
ing any  active  participation  in  political 
life,  although  for  many  years  he  served 
as  adjutant-general  of  his  native  state,  and 


WILLIAM  DEERING,  one  of  the  fa- 
mous manufacturers  of  America,  and 
also  a  philanthropist  and  patron  of  educa- 
tion, was  born  in  Maine  in  1826.  His  an- 
cestors were  English,  having  settled  in  New 
England  in  1634.  Early  in  life  it  was  Will- 
iam's intention  to  become  a  physician,  and 
after  completing  his  common-school  educa- 
tion, when  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  with  a  physician. 
A  short  time  later,  however,  at  the  request 
of  his  father,  he  took  charge  of  his  father's 
business  interests,  which  included  a  woolen 
mill,  retail  store  and  grist  mill,  after  which 
he  became  agent  for  a  dry  goods  commission 
house  in  Portland,  where  he  was  married. 
Later  he  becanie  partner  in  the  firm,  and 
removed  to  New  York.  The  business  pros- 
pered, and  after  a  ninnber  of  years,  on  ac- 
count of  f.Tiling  health,  Mr.  Deering  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner,  a  Mr.  Milner.     The 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


business  has  since  made  Mr.  Milner  a  mill- 
ionaire many  times  over.  A  few  years 
later  Mr.  Deering  located  in  Chicago.  His 
beginning  in  the  manufacture  of  reapers, 
which  has  since  made  his  name  famous, 
was  somewhat  of  an  accident.  He  had 
loaned  money  to  a  man  in  that  business, 
and  in  1878  was  compelled  to  buy  out  the 
business  to  protect  his  interests.  The  busi- 
ness developed  rapidly  and  grew  to  immense 
proportions.  The  factories  now  cover  sixty- 
two  acres  of  ground  and  employ  many  thou- 
sands of  men. 


JOHN  McAllister  schofield,  an 
American  general,  was  born  in  Chautau- 
qua county.  New  York,  September  29,  1831. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1853,  and 
was  for  five  years  assistant  professor  of  nat- 
ural philosophy  in  that  institution.  In  1861 
he  entered  the  volunteer  service  as  major  of 
the  First  Missouri  Volunteers,  and  was  ap- 
pointed chief  of  staff  by  General  Lyon,  under 
whom  he  fought  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek.  In  November,  i86t,  he  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Missouri 
militia  until  November.  1862,  and  of  the 
army  of  the  frontier  from  that  time  until 
1863.  In  1862  he  was  made  major-general 
of  volunteers,  and  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  1864 
of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio.  During  the 
campaign  through  Georgia  General  Scho- 
field was  in  command  of  the  Twenty-third 
Army  Corps,  and  was  engaged  in  most  of  the 
fighting  of  that  famous  campaign.  Novem- 
ber 30,  1864,  he  defeated  Hood's  army  at 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  then  joined  Gen- 
eral Thomas  at  Nashville.  He  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Nashville,  where  Hood's  army 
was  destroyed.  In  January,  1S65,  he  led 
his   corps    into    North     Carolina,    captured 


Wilmington,  fought  the  battle  of  Kingston, 
and  joined  General  Sherman  at  Goldsboro 
March  22,  1865.  He  e.xecuted  the  details 
of  the  capitulation  of  General  Johnston  to 
Sherman,  which  practically  closed  the  war. 
In  June,  1868,  General  Schofield  suc- 
ceeded Edwin  M.  Stanton  as  secretary  of 
war,  but  was  the  next  year  appointed  major- 
general  of  the  United  States  army,  and  order- 
ed to  the  Department  of  the  Missouri.  From 
1870  to  1876  he  was  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Pacific;  from  1876  to  1881 
superintendent  of  the  West  Point  Military 
Academy;  in  1883  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  1886  of 
the  division  of  the  Atlantic.  In  1888  he 
became  general-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
army,  and  in  February,  1895,  was  appoint- 
ed lieutenant-general  by  President  Cleve- 
land, that  rank  having  been  revived  by  con- 
gress. In  September,  1895,  he  was  retired 
from  active  service. 


LEWIS  WALLACE,  an  American  gen- 
eral and  famous  author,  was  born  i^. 
Brookville,  Indiana,  April  10,  1827.  He 
served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  first  lieutenant 
of  a  company  of  Indiana  Volunteers.  After 
his  return  from  Mexico  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  practiced  law  in  Covington  and 
Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  until  1861.  At  the 
opening  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  ad- 
jutant-general of  Indiana,  and  soon  after  be- 
came colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers. He  defeated  a  force  of  Confeder- 
ates at  Roinney,  West  Virginia,  and  was 
made  brigadier-general  in  September,  1861. 
At  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  in  1862  he 
commanded  a  division,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  second  day's  fight  at  Shiloh.  In  1863 
his  defenses  about  Cincinnati  saved  that  city 
from  capture  by  Kirby  Smith.  At  Monoc- 
acy   in   July,    1S64,    he    was  defeated,   but 


200 


coMf/:x/>irAf  or  luoGRAi'iir. 


his  resistance  delayed  the  advance  of  Gen- 
eral Early  and  thus  saved  Washington  from 
capture. 

General  Wallace  was  a  member  of  the 
court  that  tried  the  assassins  of  President 
Lincoln,  and  also  of  that  before  whom  Cap- 
tain Henry  Wirtz.  who  had  charge  of  the 
Andersonviile  prison,  was  tried.  In  1881 
General  Wallace  was  sent  as  minister  to 
Turkey.  When  not  in  official  service  he 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  literature. 
Among  his  better  known  works  are  his 
"Fair  God,"  "Ben  Hur,"  "Prince  of 
India."  and  a  "  Life  of  Benjamin  Harrison." 


THOMAS  FRANCIS  B.WARD,  an  Ameri-  ! 
can  statesman  and  diplomat,  was  born  I 
at  Wilmington.  Delaware.  October  29.  1828. 
He  obtained  his  education  at  an  Episcopal 
academy  at  Flushing,  Long  Island,  and 
after  a  short  service  in  a  mercantile  house  in 
New  York,  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and 
entered  his  father's  law  office  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  practice  of  that  profession. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  185 1.  He 
was  appointed  to  the  office  of  United  States 
district  attorney  for  the  state  of  Delaware, 
serving  one  year.  In  1 869  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate,  and  continuously 
represented  his  state  in  that  body  until  1SS5. 
and  in  1881,  when  Chester  A.  Arthur  entered 
the  presidential  chair.  Mr.  Bayard  was 
chosen  president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate. 
He  had  also  served  on  the  famous  electoral 
commission  that  decided  the  Hayes-Tilden 
contest  in  1876-7.  In  1885  President  Cleve- 
land appointed  Mr.  Bayard  secretary  of 
state.  At  the  beginning  of  Cleveland's  sec- 
ond term,  in  1893.  Mr.  Bayard  was  selected 
for  the  post  of  ambassador  at  the  court  of 
St.  James.  London,  and  was  the  first  to  hold 
that  rank  in  American  diplomacy,  serving 
until  the  beginning  of  the  McKinley  admin- 


istration. The  questions  for  adjustment  at 
that  time  between  the  two  governments 
were  the  Behring  Sea  controversy  and  the 
Venezuelan  boundary  question.  He  was 
very  popular  in  England  because  of  his 
tariff  views,  and  because  of  his  criticism  of 
the  protective  policy  of  the  United  States 
in  his  public  speeches  delivered  in  London. 
Edinburgh  and  other  places,  he  received,  in 
March.  1896.  a  vote  of  censure  in  the  lower 
house  of  congress. 

JOHN  WORK  GARRETT,  for  so  many 
years  at  the  head  of  the  great  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  railroad  system,  was  born   in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  July  31,  1S20.    His  father, 
Robert   Garrett,  an  enterprising  merchant, 
had  amassed   a   large  fortune   from  a  small 
beginning.      The  son  entered  Lafayette  Col- 
lege in  1834.  but  left  the  following  year  and 
entered  his  father's  counting  room,  and  in 
1839    became    a  partner.     John  W.    Gar- 
rett took  a  great   interest  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.    He 
was  elected  one  of  the  directors  in   1S57. 
and  was  its  president   from    1858  until  his 
death.     When  he  took  charge   of   the  road 
it   was  in    an   embarrassed    condition,    but 
j  within  a  year,  for  the  first  time  in  its  exist- 
'  ence.  it  paid  a  dividend,  the  increase  in  its 
net  gains  being  $725,385-     After  the  war. 
!  during  which  the  road  suffered  much  damage 
'  from  the  Confederates,  numerous  branches 
and  connecting  roads  were  built  or  acquired, 
until  it  reached  colossal  proportions.     Mr. 
Garrett  was  also  active  in  securing  a  regular 
line   of  steamers    between    Baltimore    and 
Bremen,  and  between   the   same  port  and 
Liverpool.      He  was  one  of  the  most  active 
trustees  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  and  a 
j  liberal    contributor    to    the    Young    Mens 
'  Christian    Association  of   Baltimore.        He 
1  died  September  26,  1884. 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPJIT. 


201 


Robert  Garrett,  the  son  of  John  W. 
Garrett,  was  born  in  Baltimore  April  9, 
1847,  and  graduated  from  Princeton  in  1867. 
He  received  a  business  education  in  the 
banking  house  of  his  father,  and  in  1871 
becama  president  of  the  Valley  Railroad  of 
Virginia.  He  was  made  third  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  in 
1879,  and  first  vice-president  in  188 1.  He 
succeeded  his  father  as  president  in  1884. 
Robert  Garrett  died  July  29,  1896. 


CARL  SCHURZ,  a  noted  German-Ameri- 
can statesman,  was  born  in  Liblar,  Prus- 
sia, March  2,  1829.  He  studied  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Bonn,  and  in  1849  was  engaged  in 
an  attempt  to  excite  an  insurrection  at  that 
place.  After  the  surrende'r  of  Rastadt  by 
the  revolutionists,  in  the  defense  of  which 
Schurz  took  part,  he  decided  to  emigrate  to 
America.  He  resided  in  Philadelphia  three 
years,  and  then  settled  in  Watertown,  Wis- 
consin, and  in  1859  removed  to  Milwaukee, 
where  he  practiced  law.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  he  became  a 
leader  of  the  German  element  and  entered 
the  campaign  for  Lincoln  in  i860.  He  was 
appointed  minister  to  Spain  in  1861,  but  re- 
signed in  December  of  that  year  to  enter 
the  army.  He  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  in  1862,  and  participated  in  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  also  at 
Chancellorsviile.  At  Gettysburg  he  had 
temporary  command  of  the  Eleventh  Army 
Corps,  and  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga. 

After  the  war  he  located  at  St.  Louis, 
and  in  1869  was  elected  United  States  sena- 
tor from  Missouri.  He  supported  Horace 
Greeley  for  the  presidency  in  1872,  and  in 
the  campaign  of  1876,  having  removed  to 
New  York,  he  supported  Hayes  and  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  and   was  appointed  secre- 


tary of  the  interior  in  1877.  In  1881  he 
became  editor  of  the  "New  York  Evening 
Post,"  and  in  1884  was  prominent  in  his 
opposition  to  James  G.  Blaine,  and  became 
a  leader  of  the  "Mugwumps,"  thus  assist- 
ing in  the  election  of  Cleveland.  In  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1896  his  forcible 
speeches  in  the  interest  of  sound  money 
wielded  an  immense  influence.  Mr.  Schurz 
wrote  a  "Life  of  Henry  Clay,"  said  to  be 
the  best  biography  ever  published  of  that 
eminent  statesman. 


GEORGE  F.  EDMUNDS,  an  American 
statesman  of  national  reputation,  was 
born  in  Richmond,  Vermont,  February  i, 
1828.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  and  from  the  instructions  of 
a  private  tutor.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  practiced  law,  and  served  in  the  state 
legislature  from  iS54to  1859,  during  three 
years  of  that  time  being  speaker  of  the  lower 
house.  He  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
and  acted  as  president  pro  tempore  of  that 
body  in  1861  and  1862.  He  became  promi- 
nent for  his  activity  in  the  impeachment 
proceedings  against  President  Johnson,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  United  States  senate 
to  fill  out  the  une.xpired  term  of  Solomon 
Foot,  entering  that  body  in  1866.  He  was 
re-elected  to  the  senate  four  times,  and 
served  on  the  electoral  commission  in  1877. 
He  became  president  pro  tempore  of  the 
senate  after  the  death  of  President  Garfield, 
and  was  the  author  of  the  bill  which  put  an 
end  to  the  practice  of  polygamy  in  the  ter- 
ritory of  Utah.  In  November,  1 89 1,  owing 
to  impaired  health,  he  retired  from  the  sen- 
ate and  again  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 


LUCIUS   Q.    C.    LAMAR,    a    prominent 
political  leader,   statesman    and  jurist, 
was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Georgia,  Sep- 


"202 


LOMI'EXDILM   OF    BlOGRAI'Iir 


temberj;,  1825.  He  graduated  from  Emory 
College  in  1845,  studied  law  at  Macon  under 
Hon.  A.  H.  Chappell,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1847.  He  moved  to  Oxford, 
Mississippi,  in  1849,  and  was  elected  to  a 
professorship  in  the  State  University.  He 
resigned  the  next  year  and  returned  to  Cov- 
ington. Georgia,  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the 
Georgia  Legislature,  and  in  1854  he  removed 
to  his  plantation  in  Lafayette  county,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  was  elected  to  represent  his 
district  in  the  thirty-fifth  and  thirty-sixth 
congresses.  He  resigned  in  i860,  and  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  secession  conven- 
tion of  the  state.  He  entered  the  Confed- 
erate service  in  1861  as  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Nineteenth  Regiment,  and  was  soon 
after  made  colonel.  In  1863  President 
Davis  appointed  him  to  an  important  diplo- 
matic mission  to  Russia.  In  1866  he  was 
elected  professor  of  political  economy  and 
social  science  in  the  State  University,  and 
was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  the  pro- 
fessorship of  the  law  department.  He  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  forty-third  and 
forty-fourth  congresses,  and  was  elected 
United  States  senator  from  Mississippi  in 
1877,  and  re-elected  in  1882.  In  1885,  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  his  term,,  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Cleveland  as  secre- 
tary of  the  interior,  which  position  he  held 
until  his  appoiiit-ricnt  as  associate  justice  of 
the  United  States  supreme  court,  in  1888, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  until  his  death, 
January  23,  1894. 


where  he  secured  employment  in  a  printing 
office,  and  from  there  he  went  to  Demerara, 
Guiana,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  com- 
positor in  1835  37.  In  1840  he  became 
connected  with  the  "Boston  Post,"  and 
acquired  quite  a  reputation  as  a  humorist 
by  his  "Sayings  of  Mrs.  Partington."  He 
remained  as  editor  of  the  paper  until  1850, 
when  he  printed  and  edited  a  paper  of  his 
own  called  the  "Pathfinder,"  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1852.  Mr.  Shillaber  be- 
came editor  and  proprietor  of  the  "Carpet 
Bag,"  which  he  conducted  during  1850-52, 
and  then  returned  to  the  "Boston  Post," 
with  which  he  was  connected  until  1856. 
During  the  same  time  he  was  one  of  the 
editors  of  the  "Saturday  livening  Gazette," 
and  continued  in  this  line  after  he  severed 
his  connection  with  the  "Post,"  for  ten 
years.  After  1866  Mr.  Shillaber  wrote  for 
various  newspapers  and  periodicals,  and 
during  his  life  published  the  following 
books:  "Rhymes  with  Reason  and  Without," 
"Poems,  '  "Life  and  Sayings  of  Mrs.  Part- 
ington," "Knitting  Work,"  and  others. 
His  death  occurred  at  Chelsea,  Massachu- 
setts, November  25,  1890. 


Bi:nj.\min  penhallow  shilla- 
BliK  won  fame  in  the  world  of 
humorists  iiiuier  the  name  of  "Mrs.  Parting- 
ton." He  was  born  in  1 841  at  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  and  started  out  in  life  as  a 
printer.      Mr.     Shillaber    went    to    Dover, 


EASTMAN  JOHNSON  stands  first  among 
painters  of  American  country  life.  He 
was  born  in  Lovell.  Maine,  in  1S24,  and  be- 
gan his  work  in  drawing  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years.  His  first  works  were  portraits, 
and,  as  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Wash- 
ington, the  most  famous  men  of  the  nation 
were  his  subjects.  In  1S46  he  went  to  Bos- 
ton, and  there  made  crayon  portraits  of 
Longfellow,  Emerson,  Sunmer,  Hawthorne 
and  other  noted  men.  In  1S49  he  went  to 
Europe.  He  studied  at  Dusseldorf,  Ger- 
many; spent  a  year  at  the  Royal  Academy, 
and  thence  to  The  Hague,  where  he  spent 
four  years,  producing  there  his  first  pictures 


COMPEXDILM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


of  consequence,  "The  Card-Players  "  and 
"The  Savoyard.  "  He  then  went  to  Paris, 
but  was  called  home,  after  an  absence  from 
America  of  six  years.  He  lived  some  time 
in  Washington,  and  then  spent  two  years 
among  the  Indians  of  Lake  Superior.  In 
1S5S  he  produced  his  famous  picture,  "The 
Old  Kentucky  Home."  He  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  at  New  York  at  that 
time.  His  "Sunday  Morning  in  Virginia" 
is  a  work  of  equal  merit.  He  was  espe- 
cially successful  in  coloring,  a  master  of 
drawing,  and  the  expression  conveys  with 
precision  the  thought  of  the  artist.  His 
portrayal  of  family  life  and  child  life  is  un- 
equalled. Among  his  other  great  works  are 
"The  Confab,"  "Crossing  a  Stream,' 
"Chimney  Sweep,"  "Old  Stage  Coach," 
"The  New  Bonnet,"  "  The  Drummer  Boy," 
"Childhood  of  Lincoln,"  and  a  great  vari- 
ety of  equally  familiar  subjects. 


PIERCE  GUST  AVE  TOUTANT  BEAU- 
REGARD, one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished generals  in  the  Confederate  army, 
was  born  near  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
May  28,  181 8.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1838,  and  was 
made  second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  He 
was  with  General  Scott  in  Mexico,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Vera  Cruz,-  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  the  battles  near  the  City  of 
Mexico,  for  which  he  was  twice  brevetted. 
After  the  Mexican  war  closed  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  defenses  about  New  Orleans, 
and  in  i860  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point.  He  held  this  position  but  a 
few  months,  when  he  resigned  February  20, 
1 861,  and  accepted  a  commission  of  briga- 
dier-general in  the  Confederate  army.  He 
directed  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  the 
first  engagement  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was 
12 


in  command  of  the  Confederates  at  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  for  this  victory  was 
made  general.  In  1862  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  planned  the  attack  upon  General  Grant 
at  Shiloh,  and  upon  the  death  of  General 
Johnston  he  took  command  of  the  army 
and  was  only  defeated  by  the  timely  arrival 
of  General  Buell  with  reinforcements.  He 
commanded  at  Charleston  and  successfully 
defended  that  city  against  the  combined  at- 
tack by  land  and  sea  in  1863.  In  1864  he 
was  in  command  in  Virginia,  defeating  Gen- 
eral Butler,  and  resisting  Grant's  attack 
upon  Petersburg  until  reinforced  from  Rich- 
mond. During  the  long  siege  which  fol- 
lowed he  was  sent  to  check  General  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea,  and  was  with  Gen- 
eral Joseph  E.  Johnston  when  that  general 
surrendered  in  1865.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  largely  interested  in  railroad 
management.  In  1866  he  was  offered  chief 
command  of  the  Army  of  Roumania,  and  in 
1869,  that  of  the  Army  of  Egypt.  He  de- 
clined these  offers.  His  death  occurred 
February  20,  1893. 


HENRY  GEORGE,  one  of  America's 
most  celebrated  political  economists, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
September  2,  1839.  He  received  acommon- 
school  education  and  entered  the  high 
school  in  1853,  and  then  went  into  a  mer- 
cantile office.  He  made  several  voyages  on 
the  sea,  and  settled  in  California  in  1858. 
He  then  worked  at  the  printers  trade  for  a 
number  of  years,  which  he  left  to  follow  the 
editorial  profession.  He  edited  in  succession 
several  daily  newspapers,  and  attracted  at- 
tention by  a  number  of  strong  essays  and 
speeches  on  political  and  social  questions. 
In  1 87 1  he  edited  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Oui 
Land  and  Policy,"  in  which  he  outlined  a 


204 


COM/'/:\/)/L.\f   OF    BIOGRAl'lir. 


iicory,  which  has  since  made  him  so  widely  | 
known.  This  was  developed  in  "  Process 
and  Poverty,  "  a  book  which  soon  attained  a  . 
iart;e  circulation  on  both  sides  of  tlie  Atlan- 
tic, which  has  been  extensively  translated. 
In  1880  Mr.  George  located  in  New  York, 
where  he  made  his  home,  though  he  fre- 
quently addressed  audiences  in  Great  Britain, 
Ireland.  Australia,  and  throughout  the 
United  States.  In  1 886  he  was  nominated 
by  the  labor  organizations  for  mayor  of  New 
York,  and  made  a  campaign  notable  for  its 
development  of  unexpected  power.  In  1887  he 
was  candidate  of  the  Union  Labor  party  for 
secretary  of  state  of  New  York.  These  cam- 
paigns served  to  formulate  the  idea  of  a  single 
tax  and  popularize  the  Australian  ballot  sys- 
tem. Mr.  George  became  a  free  trader  in 
1888.  and  in  1892  supported  the  election  of 
Grover  Cleveland.  His  political  and  eco- 
nomic ideas,  known  as  the  "single  tax," 
nave  a  large  and  growing  support,  but  are 
not  confined  to  this  country  alone.  He 
wrote  numerous  miscellaneous  articles  in 
support  of  his  principles,  and  also  published: 
••The  Land  Question,"  "Social  Problems." 
"Protection  or  Free  Trade."  "The  Condi- 
tion of  Labor,  an  Open  Letter  to  Pope  Leo 
XIII.."  and  "  Perplexed  Philosopher." 


THOMAS  ALEXANDER  SCOTT.  —This 
name  is  indissolubly  connected  with 
the  history  and  development  of  the  railway 
systems  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Scott 
was  born  December  28,  1823,  at  London. 
Franklin  county.  Pennsylvania.  He  was  first 
regularly  employed  by  Major  James  Patton, 
the  collector  of  tolls  on  the  state  road  be- 
tween Philadelphia  and  Columbia,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  entered  into  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  in  1850, 
and  went  through  all  the  different  branches 
of  work  until  he  had  mastered  all  the  details 


of  the  office  work,  and  in  1858  he  was  ap- 
pointed general  superintendent.  Mr.  Scott 
was  the  next  year  chosen  vice-president  of 
the  road.  This  position  at  once  brought 
him  before  the  public,  and  the  enterprise 
and  ability  displayed  by  him  in  its  manage- 
ment marked  him  as  a  leader  among  the 
railroad  men  of  the  country.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  rebellion  in  1S61,  Mr.  Scott 
was  selected  by  Governor  Ciirtin  as  a  mem- 
ber of  his  staff,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the 
equipment  and  forwarding  of  the  state  troops 
to  the  seat  of  war.  On  April  27.  1861.  the 
secretary  of  war  desired  to  establish  a  new 
line  of  road  between  the  national  capital 
and  Philadelphia,  for  the  more  expeditious 
transportation  of  troops.  He  called  upon 
Mr.  Scott  to  direct  this  work,  and  the  road 
by  the  way  of  Annapolis  and  Perryville  was 
completed  in  a  marvelously  short  space  of 
time.  On  May  3,  i86i,  he  was  commis- 
sioned colonel  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  23d 
of  the  same  month  the  government  railroads 
and  telegraph  lines  were  placed  in  his  charge. 
Mr.  Scott  was  the  first  assistant  secretary 
of  war  ever  appointed,  and  he  took  charge 
of  this  new  post  August  i,  1861.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1862,  he  was  directed  to  organize 
transportation  in  the  northwest,  and  in 
March  he  performed  the  same  ser\  ice  on 
the  western  rivers.  He  resigned  June  i, 
1862,  and  resumed  his  direction  of  affairs  on 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Colonel  Scott 
directed  the  policy  that  secured  to  his  road 
the  control  of  the  western  roads,  and  be- 
came the  president  of  the  new  company  to 
operate  these  lines  in  1871.  For  one  year, 
from  March,  1871.  he  was  president  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  and  m  1874  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  presidency  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Company.  He  projected  the  Texas 
Pacific  Railroad  and  was  for  many  years  its 
president.     Colonel    Scott's    health    failed 


COMPEXDJiM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


205 


him  and  he  resigned  the  presidency  of  the 
road  June  i,  1880,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Darby,  Pennsylvania,  May  21,  1881. 


ROBERT  TOOMBS,  an  American  states- 
man of  note,  was  born  in  Wilkes  coun- 
ty, Georgia,  July  2,  1810.  He  attended 
the  Uni%'ersity  of  Georgia,  and  graduated 
from  Union  College.  Schenectady,  New 
York,  and  then  took  a  law  course  at  the 
University  of  Virginia.  In  1830,  before  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  special  act  of  the  legislature, 
and  rose  rapidly  in  his  profession,  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  leading  statesmen  and 
judges  of  that  time.  He  raised  a  volunteer 
company  for  the  Creek  war.  and  served  as 
captain  to  the  close.  He  was  elected  to  the 
slate  legislature  in  1837.  re-elected  in  1842, 
and  in  1S44  was  elected  to  congress.  He 
had  been  brought  up  as  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  but  voted  for  Harrison  in  1840 
and  for  Clay  in  1844.  He  made  his  first 
speech  in  congress  on  the  Oregon  question, 
and  immediately  took  rank  with  the  greatest 
debaters  of  that  body.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and 
again  in  1859,  but  when  his  native  state 
seceded  he  resigned  his  seat  in  the  senate 
and  was  elected  to  the  Confederate  con- 
gress. It  is  stated  on  the  best  authority 
that  had  it  not  been  for  a  misunderstanding 
which  could  not  be  explained  till  too  late  he 
would  have  been  elected  president  of  the 
Confederacy.  He  was  appointed  secretary 
of  state  by  President  Davis,  but  resigned 
after  a  few  months  and  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  in  the  Confederate  army. 
He  won  distinction  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  and  at  Sharpsburg,  but  resigned 
his  commission  soon  after  and  returned  to 
Georgia.  He  organized  the  militia  of 
Georgia  to  resist  Sherman,   and  was  made 


brigadier-general  of  the  state  troops.  He 
left  the  country  at  the  close  of  the  war  and 
did  not  return  until  1867.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 15,   1885.     

AUSTIN  CORBIN,  one  of  the  greatest 
railway  magnates  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  July  11,  1827,  at  Newport,  New 
Hampshire.  He  studied  law  with  Chief 
Justice  Gushing  and  Governor  Ralph  Met- 
calf,  and  later  took  a  course  in  the  Harvard 
Law  School,  where  he  graduated  in  1849. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practiced 
law,  with  Governor  Metcalf  as  his  partner, 
until  October  12,  1851.  Mr.  Corbin  then 
removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1865.  In  1854  he  was  a  part- 
ner in  the  banking  firm  of  Macklot  &  Cor- 
bin, and  later  he  organized  the  First  Na- 
tional bank  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  which 
commenced  business  June  29,  1863,  and 
which  was  the  first  national  bank  open  for 
business  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Corbin 
sold  out  his  business  in  the  Davenport  bank, 
and  removed  to  New  York  in  1865  and  com- 
menced business  with  partners  under  the 
style  of  Corbin  Banking  Company.  Soon 
after  his  removal  to  New  York  he  became 
interested  in  railroads,  and  became  one  of 
the  leading  railroad  men  of  the  country. 
The  development  of  the  west  half  of  Coney 
Island  as  a  summer  resort  first  brought  him 
into  general  prominence.  He  built  a  rail- 
road from  New  York  to  the  island,  and 
built  great  hotels  on  its  ocean  front.  He 
next  turned  his  attention  to  Long  Island, 
and  secured  all  the  railroads  and  consoli- 
dated them  under  one  management,  became 
president  of  the  system,  and  under  his  con- 
trol Long  Island  became  the  great  ocean 
suburb  of  New  York.  His  latest  public 
achievement  was  the  rehabilitation  of  the 
Reading    Railroad,    of    Pennsylvania,     and 


2CMJ 


CUM/'EXDJLM    OF    lilOGIiAl' U V. 


during  the  same  time  he  and  his  friends 
purchased  the  controlling  interest  of  the 
New  Jersey  Central  Railroad.  He  took  it 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  receiver,  and  in 
three  years  had  it  on  a  dividend-paying 
basis.  Mr.  Corbin's  death  occurred  June 
4.  1896.  

JAMES  GORDON  BENNETT.  Sr.. 
was  one  of  the  greatest  journalists  of 
America  in  his  day.  He  was  born  Septem- 
ber I,  1795.  at  New  Mill,  near  Keith,  Scot- 
land. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  sent 
to  Aberdeen  to  study  for  the  priesthood, 
but,  convinced  that  he  was  mistaken  in  his 
vocation,  he  determined  to  emigrate.  He 
landed  at  Halifax.  Nova  Scotia,  in  18 19, 
where  he  attempted  to  earn  a  living  by 
teaching  bookkeeping.  Failing  in  this  he 
went  to  Boston  and  found  employment  as  a 
proof  reader.  Mr.  Bennett  went  to  New 
York  about  1822  and  wrote  for  the  news- 
papers. Later  on  he  became  assistant 
editor  in  the  office  of  the  "Charleston 
Courier.'but  returned  to  New  York  in  1824 
and  endeavored  to  start  a  commercial 
school,  but  was  unsuccessful  in  this,  and 
again  returned  to  newspaper  work.  He 
continued  in  newspaper  work  with  varying 
success  until,  at  his  suggestion,  the  "En- 
quirer" was  consolidated  with  another 
paper,  and  became  the  "Courier  and  En- 
quirer," with  James  Watson  Webb  as 
editor  and  Mr.  Bennett  for  assistant.  At 
this  time  this  was  the  leading  American 
newspaper.  He,  however,  severed  his  con- 
nection with  this  newspaper  and  tried, 
without  success,  other  ventures  in  the  line 
of  journalism  until  May  6,  1835,  when  he 
issued  the  first  number  of  the  "New  York 
Herald."  Mr.  Bennett  wrote  the  entire 
paper,  and  made  up  for  lack  of  news  by  his 
own  imagination.     The  paper  became  popu- 


lar, and  in  1838  he  engaged  European  jour- 
nalists as  regular  correspondents.  In  1841 
the  income  derived  from  his  paper  was  at 
least  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  the  "  Herald  "  had  on  its 
staff  sixty-three  war  correspondents  and  the 
circulation  was  doubled.  Mr.  Bennett  was 
interested  with  John  W.  Mackay  in  that  great 
enterprise  which  is  now  known  as  the  Mac- 
kay-Bennett  Cable.  He  had  collected  for  use 
in  his  paper  over  fifty  thousand  biographies, 
sketches  and  all  manner  of  information  re- 
garding every  well-known  man,  which  are 
still  kept  in  the  archives  of  the  "Herald" 
office.  He  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  in 
1872,  and  left  to  his  son,  James  Gordon, 
Jr.,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  profitable 
journals  in  the  United  States,  or  even  in  the 
world. 

OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES,  a 
noted  American,  won  distinction  in  the 
field  of  literature,  in  which  he  attained  a 
world-wide  reputation.  He  was  born  at 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  August  29,  1809. 
He  received  a  collegiate  education  and  grad- 
uated from  Harvard  in  1829,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law  and 
later  studied  medicine.  Dr.  Holmes  at- 
tended several  years  in  the  hospitals  of 
Europe  and  received  his  degree  in  1836. 
He  became  professor  of  anatomy  and  phys- 
iology in  Dartmouth  in  1838,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1847,  when  he  was 
called  to  the  Massachusetts  Medical  School 
at  Boston  to  occupy  the  same  chair,  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1882.  The  first 
collected  edition  of  his  poems  appeared  in 
1836,  and  his  "Phi  Beta  Kappa  Poems," 
"Poetry,"  in  1836;  "Terpsichore,"  in  1843; 
"Urania,"  in  1846,  and  "Astra;a,"  won  for 
him  many  fresh  laurels.  His  series  of 
papers  in  the  "Atlantic    Monthly,"    were: 


coyrPENDiu.\r  of  BioGRAi'in'. 


207 


"Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table,"  "Pro- 
fessor at  the  Breakfast  Table,"  "Poet  at 
the  Breakfast  Table,"  and  are  a  series  of 
masterly  wit,  humor  and  pathos.  Among 
his  medical  papers  and  addresses,  are:  "Cur- 
rents and  Counter-currents  in  the  Medical 
Science,"  and  "Borderland  in  Some  Prov- 
inces of  Medical  Science."  Mr.  Holmes 
edited  quite  a  number  of  works,  of  which 
we  quote  the  following:  "Else  Venner," 
"Songs  in  Many  Keys,"  "Soundings  from 
the  Atlantic,"  "Humorous  Poems,"  "The 
Guardian  Angel,"  "Mechanism  in  Thoughts 
and  Morals,"  "Songs  of  Many  Seasons," 
"John  L.  Motley" — a  memoir,  "The  Iron 
Gate  and  Other  Poems,"  "Ralph  Waldo 
Emerson,"  "A  Moral  Antipathy."  Dr. 
Holmes  visited  England  for  the  second  time, 
and  while  there  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University 
of  Edinburgh.  His  death  occurred  October 
7.  1894-  

RUFUS  CHOATE,  one  of  the  most  em- 
inent of  America's  great  lawyers,  was 
born  October  i,  1799,  at  Essex,  Massachu- 
setts. He  entered  Dartmouth  in  18 15, 
and  after  taking  his  degree  he  remained  as 
a  teacher  in  the  college  for  one  year.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  law  in  Cambridge,  and 
subsequently  studied  under  the  distinguished 
lawyer,  Mr.  Wirt,  who  was  then  United 
States  attorney-general  at  Washington.  Mr. 
Choatebegan  the  practice  of  law  in  Danvers, 
Massachusetts,  and  from  there  he  went  to 
Salem,  and  afterwards  to  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. While  living  at  Salem  he  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1832,  and  later,  in 
1841,  he  was  chosen  United  States  senator 
to  succeed  Daniel  Webster,  Mr.  Webster 
having  been  appointed  secretary  of  state 
under  William  Henry  Harrison. 

After  the  death  of  Webster.  Mr-  Choate 


was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts bar,  and  was  looked  upon  by  the 
younger  members  of  the  profession  with  an 
affection  that  almost  amounted  to  a  rever- 
ence. Mr.  Choate's  powers  as  an  orator 
were  of  the  rarest  order,  and  his  genius 
made  it  possible  for  him  to  enchant  and  in- 
terest his  listeners,  even  while  discussing  the 
most  ordinary  theme.  He  was  not  merely 
eloquent  on  the  subjects  that  were  calculated 
to  touch  the  feelings  and  stir  the  passions 
of  his  audience  in  themselves,  but  could  at 
all  times  command  their  attention.  He  re- 
tired from  active  life  in  1858,  and  was  on 
his  way  to  Europe,  his  physician  having 
ordered  a  sea  voyage  for  his  health,  but  had 
only  reached  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  when 
he  died,  July    13.   1858. 


D WIGHT  L.  MOODY,  one  of  the  most 
noted  and  effective  pulpit  orators  and 
evangelists  America  has  produced,  was  born 
in  Northfield,  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, February  5,  1837.  He  received  but 
a  meager  education  and  worked  on  a  farm 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
came clerk  in  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in 
Boston.  Soon  after  this  he  joined  the  Con- 
gregational church  and  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  zealously  engaged  in  missionary 
work  among  the  poor  classes.  He  met 
with  great  success,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
he  built  up  a  Sunday-school  which  numbered 
over  one  thousand  children.  When  the 
war  broke  out  he  became  connected  with 
what  was  known  as  the  "Christian  Com- 
mission," and  later  became  city  missionary 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at 
Chicago.  A  church  was  built  there  for  his 
converts  and  he  became  its  unordained  pas- 
tor. In  the  Chicago  fire  of  1871  the  church 
and  Mr.  Moody's  house  and  furniture,  which 
had  been  given  him,  were  destroyed.      The 


COM  r  ESDI  I  M   OF   B/OGh\l/'//r. 


church  edifice  was  afterward  replaced  by  a 
new  church  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one.  In  1873,  accompanied  by  Ira  D. 
Sankey,  Mr.  Moody  went  to  Europe  and 
excited  great  reh'gious  awakenings  through- 
out England,  Ireland  and  Scotland.  In 
1875  they  returned  to  America  and  held 
large  meetings  in  various  cities.  They 
afterward  made  another  visit  to  Great 
Britain  for  the  same  purpose,  meeting  with 
great  success,  returning  to  the  United  States 
in  18S4.  Mr.  Moody  afterward  continued 
his  evangelistic  work,  meeting  everywhere 
with  a  warm  reception  and  success.  Mr. 
Moody  produced  a  number  of  works,  some 
of  which  had  a  wide  circulation. 


JOHN  PIERPONT  MORGAN,  a  financier 
of  world-wide  reputation,  and  famous 
as  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  banking 
houses  in  the  world,  was  born  April  17, 
1837,  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  English 
high  school,  in  Boston,  and  later  supple- 
mented this  with  a  course  in  the  University 
of  Gnttingen,  Germany.  He  returned  to 
the  United  States,  in  1857,  and  entered  the 
banking  firm  of  Duncan,  Sherman  &  Co., 
of  New  York,  and,  in  i860,  he  became 
agent  and  attorney,  in  the  United  States,  for 
George  Peabody  &  Co.,  of  London.  He 
became  the  junior  partner  in  the  banking 
firm  of  Dabney,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1864, 
and  that  of  Dre.xel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1871. 
This  house  was  among  the  chief  negotiators 
of  railroad  bonds,  and  was  active  in  the  re- 
organization of  the  West  Shore  Railroad, 
and  its  absorption  by  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad.  It  was  conspicuous  in  the  re- 
organization of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad,  in  18.S7,  which  a  syndicate  of 
capitalists,  formed  by  Mr.  Morgan,  placed 
on  a  sound  financial  basis.     After  that  time 


many  other  lines  of  railroad  and  gigantic 
financial  enterprises  were  brought  under  Mr. 
Morgan's  control,  and  in  some  respects  it 
may  be  said  he  became  the  foremost  financier 
of  the  century. 


THOMAS  BRACKETT  REED,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  of  American  states- 
men, was  born  October  18.  1839,  at  Port- 
land. Maine,  where  he  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
city,  and  prepared  himself  for  college.  Mr. 
Reed  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  in 
i860,  and  won  one  of  the  highest  honors  of 
the  college,  the  prize  for  excellence  in  Eng- 
lish composition.  The  following  four  years 
were  spent  by  him  in  teaching  and  in  the 
study  of  law.  Before  his  admission  to  the 
bar,  however,  he  was  acting  assistant  pay- 
master in  the  United  States  navy,  and 
served  on  the  "tin-clad  "  Sybil,  which  pa- 
trolled the  Tennessee,  Cumberland  and 
Mississippi  rivers.  After  his  discharge  in 
1865,  he  returned  to  Portland,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  entered  into  political  life, 
and  in  186S  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  Maine  as  a  Republican,  and  in  1S69  he 
was  re-elected  to  the  house,  and  in  1870 
was  made  state  senator,  from  which  he 
passed  to  attorney-general  of  the  state. 
He  retired  from  this  office  in  1873,  and 
until  1877  he  was  solicitor  for  the  city 
of  Portland.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to 
the  forty-fifth  congress,  which  assembled 
in  1877.  Mr.  Reed  sprung  into  prominence 
in  that  body  by  one  of  the  first  speeches 
which  he  delivered,  and  his  long  service  in 
congress,  coupled  with  his  ability,  gave  him 
a  national  reputation.  His  influence  each 
year  became  more  strongly  marked,  and  the 
leadership  of  his  party  was  finally  conceded 
to  him,  and  in  the  forty-ninth  and  fiftieth 


COMPEXDILM   OF    BIOGRAriir. 


congresses  the  complimentary  nomination 
for  the  speakership  was  tendered  him  by  the 
Republicans.  That  party  having  obtained 
tlie  ascendency  in  the  fifty-first  congress  he 
was  elected  speaker  on  the  first  ballot,  and 
he  was  again  chosen  speaker  of  the  fifty- 
fourth  and  fifth-fifth  congresses.  As  a 
writer,  Mr.  Reed  contributed  largely  to  the 
magazines  and  periodicals,  and  his  book 
upon  parliamentary  rules  is  generally  rec- 
ognized as  authority  on  that  subject. 


CL.ARA  BARTON  is  a  celebrated  char- 
acter among  what  might  be  termed  as 
the  highest  grade  of  philanthropists  Amer- 
ica has  produced.  She  was  born  on  a  farm 
at  Oxford,  Massachusetts,  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Stephen  Barton,  and  was  educated 
at  Clinton,  New  York.  She  engaged  in 
teaching  early  in  life,  and  founded  a  free 
school  at  Bordentown,  the  first  in  New  Jer- 
sey. She  opened  with  si.x  pupils,  but  the 
attendance  had  grown  to  six  hundred  up  to 
1854.  when  she  went  to  Washington.  She 
was  appointed  clerk  in  the  patent  depart- 
ment, and  remained  there  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war,  when  she  resigned 
her  position  and  devoted  herself  to  the  al- 
leviation of  the  sufferings  of  the  soldiers, 
serving,  not  in  the  hospitals,  but  on  the  bat- 
tle field.  She  was  present  at  a  number  of 
battles,  and  after  the  war  closed  she  origi- 
nated, and  for  some  time  carried  on  at  her 
own  expense,  the  search  for  missing  soldiers. 
She  then  for  several  years  devoted  her  time 
to  lecturing  on  "Incidents  of  the  War." 
About  1868  she  went  to  Europe  for  her 
health,  and  settled  in  Switzerland,  but  on  the 
outbreak  of  the  Franco-German  war  she  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  of  the  grand  duchess 
of  Baden  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  her 
hospitals,  »r:d  Miss  Barton  afterward  fol- 
lowed the  German  army      She  was   deco- 


rated with  the  golden  cross  by  the  grand 
duke  of  Baden,  and  with  the  iron  cross  by 
the  emperor  of  Germany.  She  also  served 
for  many  years  as  president  of  the  famous 
Red  Cross  Society  and  attamed  a  world- 
wide reputation. 


CARDINAL  JAMES  GIBBONS,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  Catholic  clergymen 
in  America,  was  born  in  Baltimore.  Mary- 
land, July  23,  1834.  He  was  given  a 
thorough  education,  graduated  at  St.  Charles 
College,  Maryland,  in  1857.  and  studied 
theology  in  St.  Marj''s  Seminary,  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  In  1861  he  became  pastor  of 
St.  Bridget's  church  in  Baltimore,  and  in 
1868  was  consecrated  vicar  apostolic  of 
North  Carolina.  In  1872  our  subjeci  be- 
came bishop  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  and 
five  years  later  was  made  archbishop  of  Bal- 
timore. On  the  30th  of  June,  1886,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  full  degree  of  cardinal 
and  primate  of  the  American  Catholic 
church.  He  was  a  fluent  writer,  and  his 
book,  "Faith  of  Our  Fathers,'  had  a  wide 
circulation. 


CHAUNCEY  MITCHELL  DEPEW.— 
This  name  is,  without  doubt,  one  of 
the  most  widely  known  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Depew  was  born  April  23,  1834,  at 
Peekskill,  New  York,  the  home  of  the  Depew 
family  for  two  hundred  years.  He  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
where  he  prepared  himself  to  enter  college. 
He  began  his  collegiate  course  at  Yale  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  and  graduated  in  1856. 
He  early  took  an  active  interest  in  politics 
and  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  for- 
mation. He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
and  went  into  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Will- 
iam Nelson,  of  Peekskill,  for  that  purpose, 
and  in  1858  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 


210 


COM  J'/:. \D/ CM  OF   DIOC.liArHr 


He  was  sent  as  a  delegate  by  the  new  party 
to  ttie  Republican  state  convention  of  that 
year.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  1859,  but  though  he  was  a  good 
worker,  his  attention  was  detracted  by  thn 
campaign  of  i860,  in  which  he  took  an  act- 
ive part.  During  this  campaign  he  gained 
his  first  laurels  as  a  public  speaker.  Ntr. 
Depew  was  elected  assemblyman  in  1862 
from  a  Democratic  district.  In  1863  he  se- 
cured the  nomination  for  secretary  of  state, 
and  gained  that  post  by  a  majority  of  thirty 
thousand.  In  1866  he  left  the  field  of  pol- 
itics and  entered  into  the  active  practice 
of  his  law  business  as  attorney  for  the 
New  York  &  Harlem  Railroad  Company, 
and  in  1869  when  this  road  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  New  York  Central,  and 
called  the  New  York  Central  &  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  he  was  appointed  the  attor- 
ney for  the  new  road.  His  rise  in  the  rail- 
road business  was  rapid,  and  ten  years  after 
his  entrance  into  the  Vanderbilt  system  as 
attorney  for  a  single  line,  he  was  the  gen- 
eral counsel  for  one  of  the  largest  railroad 
systems  in  the  world.  He  was  also  a 
director  in  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern,  Michigan  Central,  Chicago  & 
Northwestern,  St.  Paul  &  Omaha,  West 
Shore,  and  Nickel  Plate  railroad  companies. 
In  1874  Mr.  Depew  was  made  regent  of 
the  State  University,  and  a  member  of  the 
commission  appointed  to  superintend  the 
erection  of  the  capitol  at  Albany.  In  1882, 
on  the  resignation  of  W.  H.  Vanderbilt 
from  the  presidency  of  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral and  the  accession  to  that  office  by 
James  H.  Rutter.  Mr.  Depew  was  made 
second  vice-president,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  the  death  of  Mr.  Rutter  in  1885. 
In  this  year  Mr.  Depew  became  the  execu- 
tive head  of  this  great  corporation.  Mr. 
Depew's  greatest  fame  grew  from  his  ability 


and  eloquence  as  an  orator  and  "  after-din- 
ner speaker, "  and  it  has  been  said  by  emi- 
nent critics  that  this  country  has  never  pro- 
duced his  equal  in  wit,  fluency  and  eloquence. 


PHILIP  KEARNEY.— Among  the  most 
dashing  and  brilliant  commanders  in 
the  United  States  service,  few  have  outshone 
the  talented  officer  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
June  2,  18 1  5,  and  was  of  Irish  ancestry  and 
imbued  witli  all  the  dash  and  bravery  of  the 
Celtic  race.  He  graduated  from  Columbia 
College  an!  studied  law,  but  in  1837  ac- 
cepted a  commission  as  lieutenant  in  the 
First  United  States  Dragoons,  of  which  his 
uncle,  Stephen  W.  Kearney,  was  then  colo- 
nel. He  was  sent  by  the  government, 
soon  after,  to  Europe  to  examine  and  report 
upon  the  tactics  of  the  French  cavalry. 
There  he  attended  the  Polytechnic  School, 
at  Samur.  and  subsequently  served  as  a  vol- 
unteer in  Algiers,  winning  the  cross  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  He  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1840.  and  on  the  staff  of 
General  Scott,  in  the  Mexican  war.  served 
with  great  gallantry.  He  was  made  a  cap- 
tain of  dragoons  in  184^  and  made  major 
for  services  at  Contreras  and  Cherubusco. 
In  the  final  assault  on  the  City  of  Mexico 
at  the  San  Antonio  Gate,  Kearney  lost  an 
arm.  He  subsequently  served  in  California 
and  the  Pacific  coast.  In  185  i  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  went  to  Europe,  where 
he  resumed  his  military  studies.  In  the 
Italian  war,  in  1859,  he  served  as  a  volun- 
teer on  the  staff  of  General  Maurier,  of  the 
French  army,  and  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Solferino  and  Magenta,  and  for  bravery 
was,  for  the  second  time,  decorated  with 
the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  On  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  hastened  home, 
and,  offering  his  services  to  the  general  gov- 


coMPEXDir.u  or  B/OGRAriir. 


211 


ernn^-ent,  was  made  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers  and  placed  in  command  of  a  bri- 
gade of  New  Jersey  troops.  In  the  cam- 
paign under  McClellan  he  commanded  a  di- 
vision, and  at  Williamsburg  and  Fair  Oaks 
his  services  were  valuable  and  brilliant,  as 
well  as  in  subsequent  engagements.  At 
Harrison's  Landing  he  was  made  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers.  In  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  he  was  conspicuous,  and  at  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  September  i,  1862, 
while  leading  in  advance  of  his  troops,  Gen- 
eral Kearney  was  shot  and  killed. 


RUSSELL  S.\GE,  one  of  the  financial 
giants  of  the  present  century  and  for 
more  than  an  average  generation  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  and  celebrated  of  Ameri- 
cans, was  born  in  a  frontier  hamlet  in  cen- 
tral New  York  in  August,  1816.  While  Rus- 
sell was  still  a  boy  an  elder  brother,  Henry 
Risley  Sage,  established  a  small  grocery 
store  at  Troy,  New  York,  and  here  Russell 
found  his  first  employment,  as  errand  boy. 
He  served  a  five-years  apprenticeship,  and 
then  joined  another  brother,  Elisha  M.  Sage, 
in  a  new  venture  in  the  same  line,  which 
proved  profitable,  at  least  for  Russell,  who 
soon  became  its  sole  owner.  Next  he 
formed  the  partnership  of  Sage  &  Bates, 
and  greatly  extended  his  field  of  operations. 
At  twenty-five  he  had,  by  his  own  exertions, 
amassed  what  was,  in  those  days,  a  consid- 
erable fortune,  being  worth  about  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars.  He  had  acquired  an 
influence  in  local  politics,  and  four  years 
later  his  party,  the  Whigs,  elected  him  to 
the  aldermanic  board  of  Troy  and  to  the 
treasuryship  of  Rensselaer  county.  In  1848 
he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  New 
York  delegation  to  the  Whig  convention  at 
Philadelphia,  casting  his  first  votes  for  Henry 
Clay,  but  joining  the    "stampede"  which 


nominated  Zachary  Taylor.  In  1850  the 
Whigs  of  Troy  nominated  him  for  congress, 
but  he  was  not  elected — a  failure  which  he 
retrieved  two  years  later,  and  in  1854  he 
was  re-elected  by  a  sweeping  majority.  At 
Washington  he  ranked  high  in  influence  and 
ability.  Fame  as  a  speaker  and  as  a  polit- 
ical leader  was  within  his  grasp,  when  he 
gave  up  public  life,  declined  a  renomination 
to  congress,  and  went  back  to  Troy  to  de- 
vote himself  to  his  private  business.  Six 
years  later,  in  1863,  he  removed  to  New 
York  and  plunged  into  the  arena  of  Wall 
street.  A  man  of  boundless  energy  and 
tireless  pertinacity,  with  wonderful  judg- 
ment of  men  and  things,  he  soon  took  his 
place  as  a  king  in  finance,  and,  it  is  said, 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  con- 
trolled more  ready  money  than  any  other 
single  individual  on  this  continent. 


ROGER  QUARLES  MILLS,  a  noted 
United  States  senator  and  famous  as  the 
father  of  the  ' '  Mills  tariff  bill, "  was  born 
in  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  March  30,  1832. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  removed  to  Palestine, 
Texas,  in  1849.  He  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  and  supported  himself  by  serving  as  an 
assistant  in  the  post-office,  and  in  the  offices 
of  the  court  clerks.  In  1850  he  was  elected 
engrossing  clerk  of  the  Texas  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  in  1852  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  while  still  a  minor,  by  special  act 
of  the  legislature.  He  then  settled  at  Cor- 
sicana,  Texas,  and  began  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  was  elected  to 
the  state  legislature  in  1859,  and  in  1872  he 
was  elected  to  congress  from  the  state  at 
large,  as  a  Democrat.  After  his  first  elec- 
tion he  was  continuously  returned  to  con- 
gress until  he  resigned  to  accept  the  posi- 
tion of  United   States  senator,  to  which   he 


212 


COMJ'J-.ADJL  M    Ul-     UJUURAfltr. 


\v..s  elcLi.d  March  23.  1892,  to  succeed 
Hun.  Horace  Chilton.  He  took  his  seat  in 
the  senate  March  30.  1892;  was  afterward 
re-elected  and  ranked  among  the  most  use- 
ful and  prominent  members  of  that  body. 
In  1876  he  opposed  the  creation  of  the  elec- 
toral commission,  and  in  1887  canvassed 
the  state  of  Texas  against  the  adoption  of 
a  prohibition  amendment  to  its  constitution, 
which  was  defeated.  He  introduced  into 
the  house  of  representatives  the  bill  that  was 
known  as  the  "Mills  Bill,"  reducing  duties 
on  imports,  and  extending  the  free  list. 
The  bill  passed  the  house  on  July  21,  1888, 
and  made  the  name  of  "Mills"  famous 
throughout  the  entire  country. 


H.AZEN  S.  PINGREE,  the  celebrated 
Michigan  political  leader,  was  born  in 
Maine  in  1842.  Up  to  fourteen  years  of 
age  he  worked  hard  on  the  stony  ground  of 
his  father's  small  farm.  Attending  school 
in  the  winter,  he  gained  a  fair  education, 
and  when  not  laboring  on  the  farm,  he 
found  employment  in  the  cotton  mills  in  the 
vicinity.  He  resolved  to  find  more  steady 
work,  and  accordingly  went  to  Hopkinton, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  entered  a  shoe  fac- 
tory, but  on  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed at  once  and  was  enrolled  in  the  First 
Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Bull  Kuii,  which  was 
his  initial  fight,  and  served  creditably  his 
early  term  of  service,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  re-enlisted.  He  fought  in  the 
battles  of  Fredricksburg,  Harris  Farm, 
Spottsylvania  Court  House  and  Cold  Har- 
bor In  [864  he  was  captured  by  Mosby, 
and  spent  five  months  at  Andersonville, 
Georgia,  as  a  prisoner,  but  escaped  at  the 
end  of  that  time.  He  re-entered  the  service 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort 
Fisher,  Boyden,    and    Sailors    Creek.      He 


was  honorably  mustered  out  of  service,  and 
in  1866  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where 
he  made  use  of  his  former  experience  in  a 
shoe  factory,  and  found  work.  Later  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  another  workman 
and  started  a  small  factory,  which  has  since 
become  a  large  establishment.  Mr.  Pin- 
gree  made  his  entrance  into  politics  in  1889, 
in  which  year  he  was  elected  by  a  surpris- 
ingly large  majority  as  a  Republican  to  the 
mayoralty  of  Detroit,  in  which  office  he  was 
the  incumbent  during  four  consecutive  terms. 
In  November,  1896,  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  Michigan.  While 
mayor  of  Detroit,  Mr.  Pingree  originated 
and  put  into  execution  the  idea  of  allowing 
the  poor  people  of  the  city  the  use  of  va- 
cant city  lands  and  lots  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  potatoes.  The  idea  was  enthusiast- 
ically adopted  by  thousandsof  poor  families, 
attracted  wide  attention,  and  gave  its  author 
a  national  reputation  as  "Potato-patch  Pin- 
gree."   

THOMAS  ANDREW  HENDRICKS,  an 
eminent  American  statesman  and  a 
Democratic  politician  of  national  fame,  was 
born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1 8 19.  In  1822  he  removed,  with  his 
father,  to  Shelby  county,  Indiana.  He 
graduated  from  the  South  Hanover  College 
in  1 84 1,  and  two  years  later  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  In  185 1  he  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  constitutional  convention, 
and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  deliberations 
of  that  body.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
in  1851,  and  after  serving  two  terms  was 
appointed  commissioner  of  the  United  States 
general  land-oflfice.  In  1863  he  waselected 
to  the  United  States  senate,  where  his  dis- 
tinguished services  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  parties.  He  was  elected  governor  of 
Indiana  in    1872,  serving  four  years,  and  in 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGKAPIir. 


213 


1876  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  as 
candidate  for  the  vice-presidency  with  Til- 
den.  The  returns  in  a  number  of  states 
were  contested,  and  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  famous  electoral  commission, 
which  decided  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
candidates.  In  1884  Mr.  Hendricks  was 
again  nominated  as  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency,  by  the  Democratic  party,  on  the 
ticket  with  Grover  Cleveland,  was  elected, 
and  served  about  six  months.  He  died  at 
Indianapolis,  November  25,  1885.  He  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  brainiest  men  in  the 
party,  and  his  integrity  was  never  ques- 
tioned, even  by  his  political  opponents. 


GARRETT  A.  HOBART,  one  of  the 
many  able  men  who  have  held  the 
high  office  of  vice-president  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  June  3,  1844,  in  Mon- 
mouth county,  New  Jersey,  and  in  i860  en- 
tered the  sophomore  class  at  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1863  at 
the  age  of  nineteen.  He  then  taught 
school  until  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Socrates  Tuttle,  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey, 
with  whom  he  studied  law.  and  in  1869 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  immediately 
began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession 
ill  the  office  of  the  above  named  gentleman. 
He  became  interested  in  political  life,  and 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  1865  held  his  first  office,  serving  as 
clerk  for  the  grand  jury.  He  was  also  city 
counsel  of  Paterson  in  1871,  and  in  May, 
1872,  was  elected  counsel  for  the  board  of 
chosen  freeholders.  He  entered  the  state 
legislature  in  1873,  and  was  re-elected  to 
the  assembly  in  1874.  Mr.  Hobart  was 
made  speaker  of  the  assembly  in  1876,  and 
and  in  1879  was  elected  to  the  state  senate. 
After  serving  three  years  in  the  same,  he 
was  elected  president  of  that  body  in  1881, 


and  the  following  year  was  re-slected  to 
that  office.  He  was  a  delegate-af  -large  to 
the  Republican  national  convention  'n  1876 
and  1880,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
national  committee  in  1884,  which  pos-tion 
he  occupied  continuously  until  1896.  He 
was  then  nominated  for  vice-president  by 
the  Republican  national  convention,  anr^ 
was  elected  to  that  office  in  the  fall  of  1896 
on  the  ticket  with  William  McKinley. 


WILLIAM  MORRIS  STEWART,  noted 
as  a  political  leader  and  senator,  was 
born  in  Lyons,  Wayne  county.  New  York, 
August  9,  1827,  and  removed  with  his  par- 
ents while  still  a  small  child  to  Mesopota- 
mia township,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He 
attended  the  Lyons  Union  school  and  Farm- 
ington  Academy,  where  he  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation. Later  he  taught  mathematics  in 
the  former  school,  while  yet  a  pupil,  and 
with  the  little  money  thus  earned  and  the 
assistance  of  James  C.  Smith,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  New  York, 
he  entered  Yale  College.  He  remained 
there  until  the  winter  of  1849-50,  when,  at- 
tracted by  the  gold  discoveries  in  California 
he  wended  his  way  thither.  He  arrived  at 
San  Francisco  in  May,  1850,  and  later  en- 
gaged in  mining  with  pick  and  shovel  in  Ne- 
vada county.  In  this  way  he  accumulated 
some  money,  and  in  the  spring  of  1852  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law  under  John  R. 
McConnell.  The  following  December  he 
was  appointed  district  attorney,  to  which 
office  he  was  chosen  at  the  general  election 
of  the  next  year.  In  1854  he  was  ap- 
pointed attorney-general  of  California,  and 
in  i860  he  removed  to  Virginia  City,  Ne- 
vada, where  he  largely  engaged  in  early 
mining  litigation.  Mr.  Stewart  was  also  in- 
terested in  the  development  of  the  "Corn- 
stock    lode,"    and    in    1861    was    chosen    a 


214 


COMPEXDJUM    OF    BlOC.li A  I' H  V. 


member  of  the  territorial  council.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention in  1863,  and  was  elected  United 
States  senator  in  1864,  and  re-elected  in 
1869.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
1875,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
Nevada,  California,  and  the  Pacific  coast 
generally.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  he 
was  elected  again  to  the  United  States  sen- 
ate as  a  Republican  in  1887  to  succeed  the 
late  James  G.  Fair,  a  Democrat,  and  took 
his  seat  March  4,  1887.  On  the  expiration 
of  his  term  he  was  again  re-elected  and  be- 
came one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  con- 
gress. His  ability  as  an  orator,  and  the 
prominent  part  he  took  in  the  discussion  of 
public  questions,  gained  him  a  national  rep- 
utation. 


GEORGE  GRAHAM  VEST,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  member  of  the 
United  States  senate,  was  born  in  Frank- 
fort, Kentucky,  December  6,  1848.  He 
graduated  from  Center  College  in  1868,  and 
from  the  law  department  of  the  Transyl- 
vania University  of  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
in  1853.  In  the  same  year  he  removed  to 
Missouri  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. In  1 860  he  was  an  elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  lower  house  of  the  Missouri  legislature 
in  1860-61.  He  was  elected  to  the  Con- 
federate congress,  serving  two  years  in  the 
lower  house  and  one  in  the  senate.  He 
then  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  in 
1 879  was  elected  to  the  senate  of  the  United 
States  to  succeed  James  Shields.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1885.  and  again  in  1891  and 
1897.  His  many  years  of  service  in  the 
National  congress,  coupled  with  his  ability 
as  a  speaker  and  the  active  part  he  took  in 
the  discussion  of  public  questions,  gave  him 
a  wiile  reputation. 


HANNIBAL  HAMLIN,  a  noted  American 
statesman,  whose  name  is  indissolubly 
connected  with  the  history  of  this  country, 
was  born  in  Paris,  Maine,  August  27,  1809. 
He  learned  the  printer's  trade  and  followed 
that  calling  for  several  years.  He  then 
studied  law.  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  1833.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  the  state  of  Maine,  where  he  was  several 
times  chosen  speaker  of  the  lower  house. 
He  was  elected  to  congress  by  the  Demo- 
crats in  1843,  and  re-elected  in  1845.  In 
1848  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States 
senate  and  served  in  that  body  until  i86i. 
He  was  elected  governor  of  Maine  in  1857 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  but  resigned  when 
re-elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
the  same  year.  He  was  elected  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  on  the  ticket  with 
Lincoln  in  i860,  and  inaugurated  in  .March. 
1 861.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  collector 
of  the  port  of  Boston.  Beginning  with 
1869  he  served  two  six-year  terms  in  the 
United  States  senate,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed by  President  Garfield  as  minister  to 
Spain  in  1881.  His  death  occurred  July  4, 
1 891. 

I  SHAM  G.  HARRIS,  famous  as  Confed- 
erate war  governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
distinguished  by  his  twenty  years  of  service 
in  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Tennessee,  and 
educated  at  the  Academy  of  Winchester. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law.  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  commenced  practice 
at  Paris,  Tennessee,  in  1841.  He  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  in  1847.  was 
a  candidate  for  presidential  elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket  in  1848,  and  the  next 
year  was  elect«rd  to  congress  from  his  dis- 
trict, and  re  ilerted  in  1S51.  In  1853  he 
was  renominated   by  the   Democrats  of  his 


COMPENDIi'M   OF   BIOGRATHT. 


215 


district,  but  declined,  and  removed  to  Mem- 
phis, where  he  took  up  the  practice  of  law. 
He  was  a  presidential  elector-at-large  from 
Tennessee  in  1856,  and  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  the  next  year,  and  again 
in  1859,  and  in  1861.  He  was  driven  from 
Nashville  by  the  advance  of  the  Union 
armies,  and  for  the  last  three  years  of  the 
war  acted  as  aid  upon  the  staff  of  the  com- 
manding general  of  the  Confederate  army 
of  Tennessee.  After  the  war  he  went  to 
Liverpool,  England,  where  he  became  a 
merchant,  but  returned  to  Memphis  in  1867, 
and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1877 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate, 
to  which  position  he  was  successively  re- 
elected until  his  death  in  1897. 


NELSON  DINGLEY,  Jr.,  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  one  of  the  leaders 
in  congress  and  framer  of  the  famous 
"  Dingley  tarif!  bill,"  was  born  in  Durham, 
Maine,  in  1832.  His  father  as  well  as  all 
his  ancestors,  were  farmers,  merchants  and 
mechanics  and  of  English  descent.  Young 
Dingley  was  given  the  advantages  first  of 
the  common  schools  and  in  vacations  helped 
his  father  in  the  store  and  on  the  farm. 
When  twelve  years  of  age  he  attended  high 
school  and  at  seventeen  was  teaching  in  a 
country  school  district  and  preparing  him- 
self for  college.  The  following  year  he  en- 
tered Waterville  Academy  and  in  1851  en- 
tered Colby  University.  After  a  year  and  a 
half  in  this  institution  he  entered  Dart- 
mouth College  and  was  graduated  in  1855 
with  high  rank  as  a  scholar,  debater  and 
writer.  He  ne.\t  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1856.  But  instead  of 
practicing  his  profession  he  purchased  the 
"  Lewistown  (Me.)  Journal,"  which  be- 
came famous  throughout  the  New  England 
states  as  a  leader  in  the  advocacy  of  Repub- 


lican principles.  About  the  same  time  Mr. 
Dingley  began  his  political  career,  although 
ever  after  continuing  at  the  head  of  the 
newspaper.  He  was  soon  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  and  afterward  to  the  lower 
house  of  congress,  where  he  became  a 
prominent  national  character.  He  also 
served  two  terms  as  governor  of  Maine. 


OLIVER  PERRY  MORTON,  a  distin- 
guished American  statesman,  was  born 
in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  August  4,  1823. 
His  early  education  was  by  private  teaching 
and  a  course  at  the  Wayne  County  Seminary. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  entered  the 
Miami  University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  j'ears  quit  the  college,  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  New- 
man, of  Centerville,  Indiana,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1847. 

Mr.  Morton  was  elected  judge  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  in  1852,  but  on  the 
passage  of  the  "  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill  "  he 
severed  his  connection  with  that  party,  and 
soon  became  a  prominent  leader  of  the  Re- 
publicans. He  was  elected  governor  of  In- 
diana in  1 86 1,  and  as  war  governor  became 
well  known  throughout  the  country.  He 
received  a  paralytic  stroke  in  1865,  which 
partially  deprived  him  of  the  use  of  his 
limbs.  He  was  chosen  to  the  United  States 
senate  from  Indiana,  in  1867,  and  wielded 
great  influence  in  that  body  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  November  i,   1877. 


JOHN  B.  GORDON,  a  brilliant  Confeder- 
ate officer  and  noted  senator  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  Upson  county,  Georgia, 
February  6,  1832.  He  graduated  from  the 
State  University,  studied  law,  and  took  up 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  he  entered  the  Confederate 
service  as  captain  of  infantry,  and  rapidly 


216 


COMPEyDlLM   OF   BJOGJfA/'//)'. 


rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general, 
commanding  one  wing  of  the  Confederate 
army  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1868  he 
was  Democratic  candidate  for  governor  of 
Georgia,  and  it  is  said  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority,  but  his  opponent  was  given  the 
office.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
Democratic  conventions  in  1868  and  1872, 
and  a  presidential  elector  both  years.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate.  In  1886  he  was  elected  governor 
of  Georgia,  and  re-elected  in  1888.  He 
was  again  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate  in  1890,  serving  until  1897,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  A.  S.  Clay.  He  was 
regarded  as  a  leader  of  the  southern  Democ- 
racy, and  noted  for  his  fiery  eloquence. 


STEPHEN  JOHNSON  FIELD,  an  illus- 
trious associate  ju.stice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States,  was  born  at 
Haddam,  Connecticut,  November  4,  iuSi6, 
being  one  of  the  noted  sons  of  Rev.  D. 
D.  Field.  He  graduated  from  Williams 
College  in  1837,  took  up  the  study  of  law 
with  his  brother,  David  Dudley  Field,  be- 
coming his  partner  upon  admission  to  the 
bar.  He  went  to  California  in  1849,  and  at 
once  began  to  take  an  active  interest  in  the 
political  affairs  of  that  state.  He  was 
elected  alcalde  of  Marysville,  in  1850,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature.  In  1857  he  was 
elected  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  and  two  years  afterwards  became  its 
chief  justice.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  as  associate  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  During 
his  incumbency,  in  1873,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  governor  of  California  one  of  a  com- 
mission to  examine  the  codes  of  the  state 
and  for  the  preparation  of  amendments  to 
the  same  for  submission  to  the   legislature. 


In  1877  he  was  one  of  the  famous  electoral 
commission  of  fifteen  members,  and  voted 
as  one  of  the  seven  favoring  the  election  of 
Tilden  to  the  presidency.  In  1880  a  large 
portion  of  the  Democratic  party  favored  his 
nomination  as  candidate  for  the  presidency. 
He  retired  in  the  fall  of  1897.  having 
served  a  greater  number  of  years  on  the 
supreme  bench  than  any  of  his  associates  or 
predecessors,  Chief  Justice  Marshall  coming 
iie.\t  in  length  of  service. 

JOHN  T.  MORGAN,  whose  services  in 
the  United  States  senate  brought  him 
into  national  prominence,  was  born  in 
Athens,  Tennessee,  June  20,  1824.  At  the 
age  of  nine  years  he  emigrated  to  Alabama, 
where  he  made  his  permanent  home,  and 
where  he  received  an  academic  education. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845.  He  took  a 
leading  part  in  local  politics,  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  in  i860,  casting  his  ballot 
for  Breckenridge  and  Lane,  and  in  1861 
was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  which 
passed  the  ordinance  of  secession.  In  May, 
of  the  same  year,  he  joined  the  Confederate 
army  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  Cahawba 
Rifles,  and  was.soon  after  made  major  and 
thenlieutenant-colonelofthe  Fifth  Regiment. 
In  1862  he  was  commissioned  colonel,  and 
soon  after  made  brigadier-general  and  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  resigned  to  join  his  old  regiment 
whose  colonel  had  been  killed.  He  was 
soon  afterward  again  made  brigadier-gen- 
eral and  given  command  of  the  brigade  that 
included  his  regiment. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  and  continued  it  up  to  the  time 
of  his  election  to  the  United  States  senate,  \a 
1 877.  He  was  a  presidential  elector  in  1 876 
and  cast  his  vote  for  Tilden  and  Hendric>a 


COMPENDIU.\r  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


217 


He  was  re-elected  to  the  senate  in  1S83, 
and  again  in  1889,  and  1895.  His  speeches 
and  the  measures  he  introduced,  marked 
as  they  were  by  an  intense  Americanism, 
brought   him   into  national  prominence. 


WILLIAM  McKIXLEY.the  twenty-fifth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Xiles,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1844.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  a  Methodist  academy  in  the  small  village 
of  Poland,  Ohio.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  Mr.  McKinley  was  teaching  school, 
earning  twenty-five  dollars  per  month.  As 
soon  as  Fort  Surpter  was  fired  upon  he  en- 
listed in  a  company  that  was  formed  in 
Poland,  which  was  inspected  and  mustered 
in  by  General  John  C.  Fremont,  who  at 
first  objected  to  Mr.  McKinley,  as  being  too 
young,  but  upon  examination  he  was  finally 
accepted.  Mr.  McKinley  was  seventeen 
when  the  war  broke  out  but  did  not  look  his 
age.  He  served  in  the  Twenty-third  Ohio 
Infantry  throughout  the  war,  was  promoted 
from  sergeant  to  captain,  for  good  conduct 
on  the  field,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
for  meritorious  services,  he  was  brevetted 
major.  After  leaving  the  army  Major  Mc- 
Kinley took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1869  he  took 
his  initiation  into  politics,  being  elected  pros- 
ecuting attorney  of  his  county  as  a  Republi- 
can, although  the  district  was  usually  Demo- 
cratic. In  1 876  he  was  elected  to  congress, 
and  in  a  call  upon  the  President-elect,  Mr. 
Hayes,  to  whom  he  went  for  advice  upon  the 
way  he  should  shape  his  career,  he  was 
told  that  to  achieve  fame  and  success  he 
must  take  one  special  line  and  stick  to  it. 
Mr.  McKinley  chose  tariff  legislation  and 
he  became  an  authority  in  regard  to  import 
duties.     He  was  a  member  of  congress  for 


many  years,  became  chairman  of  the  ways 
and  means  committee,  and  later  he  advo- 
cated the  famous  tariff  bill  that  bore  his 
name,  which  was  passed  in  1S90.  In  the 
next  election  the  Republican  party  was 
overwhelmingly  defeated  through  the  coun- 
try, and  the  Democrats  secured  more  than 
a  two  thirds  majority  in  the  lower  house, 
and  also  had  control  of  the  senate,  Mr. 
McKinley  being  defeated  in  his  own  district 
by  a  small  majority.  He  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  in  189 1  by  a  plurality  of 
twenty-one  thousand,  five  hundred  and 
eleven,  and  two  years  later  he  was  re-elected 
j  by  the  still  greater  plurality  of  eighty  thou- 
1  sand,  nine  hundred  and  ninety-five.  He  was 
a  delegate-at-large  to  the  Minneapolis  Re-. 
publican  convention  in  1892,  and  was  in- 
structed to  support  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Harrison.  He  was  chairman  of  the  con- 
vention, and  was  the  only  man  from  Ohio 
to  vote  for  Mr.  Harrison  upon  the  roll  call. 
In  November,  1892,  a  number  of  prominent 
politicians  gathered  in  New  York  to  discuss 
the  political  situation,  and  decided  that  the 
result  of  the  election  had  put  an  end  to  Mc- 
Kinley and  McKinleyism.  But  in  less  than 
four  years  from  that  date  Mr.  McKinley  was 
nominated  for  the  presidency  against  the 
combined  opposition  of  half  a  dozen  rival 
candidates.  Much  of  the  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess was  due  to  Mark  A.  Hanna,  of  Cleve- 
land, afterward  chairr.ian  of  the  Republican 
national  committee.  At  the  election  which 
occurred  in  November,  1896,  Mr.  McKinley 
was  elected  president  of  the  United  States 
by  an  enormous  majority,  on  a  gold  stand- 
ard and  protective  tariff  platform.  He  was 
inaugurated  on  the  4th  of  March,  1897, 
and  called  a  special  session  of  congress,  to 
which  was  submitted  a  bill  for  tariff  reform, 
which  was  passed  in  the  latter  part  of  July 
of  that  vear. 


218 


COM  J' EX/)/ I'M    O/-'    /UOG/iA/^//y. 


CINCINNATUS  HEINE  MILLER. 
known  in  the  literary  world  as  Joaquin 
Miller,  "the  poet  of  the  Sierras,"  was  born 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1841.  When  only 
about  thirteen  years  of  age  he  ran  away 
from  home  and  went  to  the  mining  regions 
in  California  and  along  the  Pacific  coast. 
Some  time  afterward  he  was  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Modoc  Indians  and  lived  with  them 
for  five  years.  He  learned  their  language 
and  gained  great  influence  with  them,  fight- 
ing in  their  wars,  and  in  all  modes  of  living 
became  as  one  of  them.  In  1858  he  left 
the  Indians  and  went  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  studied  law,  and  in  i860  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Oregon.  In  1866  he 
was  elected  a  county  judge  in  Oregon  and 
served  four  years.  Early  in  the  seventies 
he  began  devoting  a  good  deal  of  time  to 
literary  pursuits,  and  about  1874  he  settled 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  wrote  many 
poems  and  dramas  that  attracted  consider- 
able attention  and  won  him  an  extended 
reputation.  Among  his  productions  may  be 
mentioned  '*  Pacific  Poems,"  "  Songs  of  the 
Sierras,"  "Songs  of  the  Sun  Lands," 
"Ships  in  the  Desert,"  "  Adrianne,a  Dream 
of  Italy,"  "Danites,"  "Unwritten  History," 
"  First  Families  of  the  Sierras  "  (a  novel), 
"  One  Fair  Woman  "  (a  novel),  "Songs  of 
Italy,"  "Shadows  of  Shasta,"  "The  Gold- 
Seekers  of  the  Sierras,"  and  a  number  of 
others. 

GEORGE  FREDERICK  ROOT,  a 
noted  music  publisher  and  composer, 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  on  August  30,  1820.  While 
working  on  his  father's  farm  he  found  time 
to  learn,  unaided,  several  musical  instru- 
ments, and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  went 
to  Boston,  where  he  soon  found  employ- 
ment as  a  teacher  of   music.     From    1839 


until  1844  he  gave  instructions  in  musir  m 
the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  was  also 
director  of  music  in  two  churches.  Mr. 
Root  then  went  to  New  York  and  taught 
music  in  the  various  educational  institutions 
of  the  city.  He  went  to  Paris  in  1850  and 
spent  one  year  there  in  study,  and  on  his  re- 
turn he  published  his  first  song,  "Hazel 
Dell."  It  appeared  as  the  work  of  "  Wur- 
zel,"  which  was  the  German  equivalent  of 
his  name.  He  was  the  originator  of  the 
normal  musical  institutions,  and  when  the 
first  one  was  started  in  New  York  he 
was  one  of  the  faculty.  He  renioved  to 
Chicago,  Illinois,  in  i860,  and  established 
the  firm  of  Root  &  Cady,  and  engaged  in 
the  publication  of  music.  He  received,  in 
1872,  the  degree  of  "Doctor  of  Music" 
from  the  University  of  Chicago.  After  the 
war  the  firm  became  George  F.  Root  &  Co. , 
of  Cincinnati  and  Chicago.  Mr.  Root  did 
much  to  elevate  the  standard  of  music  in  this 
country  by  his  compositions  and  work  as  a 
teacher.  Besides  his  numerous  songs  he 
wrote  a  great  deal  of  sacred  music  and  pub- 
lished many  collections  of  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music.  For  many  years  he  was  the 
most  popular  song  writer  in  America,  and 
was  one  of  the  greatest  song  writers  of  the 
war.  He  is  also  well-known  as  an  author, 
and  his  work  in  that  line  comprises:  "  Meth- 
ods for  the  Piano  and  Organ,"  "  Hand- 
book on  Harmony  Teaching, "  and  innumer- 
able articles  for  the  musical  press.  Among 
his  many  and  most  popular  songs  of  the 
wartime  are:  "  Rosalie,  the  Prairie-flower," 
"  Battle  Cry  of  Freedom."  "  Just  Before  the 
Battle,"  "Tramp,  Tramp,  Tramp,  the  Boys 
are  Marching,"  "  The  Old  Folks  are  Gone." 
"A  Hundred  Years  Ago,"  "Old  Potomac 
Shore, "and  "  There's  Music  in  the  Air."  Mr. 
Root'scantatas  include  "The  Flower  Queen* 
and  "The  Haymakers."     He  died  in  1896. 


PART  II. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


OF 


LOGAN  COUNTY, 


II^I^INOIS. 


ubrary 

OF   THE 


KKANK     HOBLll. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


FRANK  IIOr.LlT. 

Frank  Hol)lit,  casiiier  ui  tlie  First  Xa- 
tional  Bank  of  Lincoln,  occnpies  a  foremost 
position  among  the  prominent  financiers  in 
this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  a  man  of 
keen  discrimination  and  sonnd  jndgment. 
and  his  executive  abiHty  and  excellent  man- 
agement have  brought  to  the  concern  with 
which  he  is  connected  a  high  degree  of  suc- 
cess. 

A  native  of  this  county,  Mr.  Hoblit  was 
born  near  Atlanta,  November  i,  1839,  and 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Abigail  (Downey) 
Hoblit,  who  located  here  in  i8_'9.  having 
come  from  Ohio.-  Here  they  toiled  and  la- 
bored, enduring  the  privations  and  hard- 
ships incident  to  pioneer  life,  and  contribu- 
ting their  full  share  toward  developing  the 
resources  of  this  great  commonwealth. 
They  lived  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  la- 
bor and  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  them. 
The  father  died  in  this  county  in  1866.  the 
mother  in  1887. 

Prank  Hoblit  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  uiK>n  his  father's  farm 
and  was  given  the  benefits  of  an  excellent 
common  scho<il  education.  In  1858  he  be- 
gan his  business  career  as  clerk  in  a  gen- 


eral store,  and  after  graduating  from  a  Chi- 
cago business  college  the  following  year, 
he  accepted  the  position  of  cashier  in  a  pri- 
vate bank,  with  which  he  was  connected 
during  the  well  rememl_)ered  days  of 
"stump-tail  anil  wild-cat  banking  meth- 
<ids."  then  in  vogue  in  this  state.  Subse- 
([uently  he  formed  a  partnership  with  a 
gentleman  engaged  in  the  banking  Inisiness 
and  general  merchandising,  which  tliey  con- 
ducted for  five  years  at  Atlanta. 

In  March,  1866,  Mr.  Hoblit  established 
the  banking  house  of  Frank  Hoblit  &  Broth- 
ers, at  Atlanta,  Illinois,  which  business  was 
afterward  merged  into  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Atlanta  and  the  Atlanta  Bank. 
He  retained  his  connection  with  the  latter 
institution  until  1887.  when  he  and  his 
brothers  sold  their  interests  to  other  par- 
ties. In  1878  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
National  State  Bank  of  Bloomington  and 
has  been  a  director  of  that  institution  ever 
since.  He  also  served  as  its  president  un- 
til 1882,  when  he  resigned  that  position  to 
take  charge  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Lincoln,  having  purchased  the  control- 
ling interest  in  that  concern.  He  has  since 
served  as  its  cashier,  and  its  success  is  cer- 
tain! v  due  in  a  large  measure  to  him.     The 


IMF.  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lie,  oMiservative  ikJicv  whicli   lie  inaiig- 
ratetl   c..mim-n<ls   itself   to  |llie  IjiulgiuciU 
I  all.  ami  lias  scciireil  a  pair.MiaKe  which 
makes   the   vohiine  «>f  Inisiness   iraiisacted 
..ver  its  counters  of  j,Meat  imi>ortance  and 
iiiafjnitiule.     An  evidence  of  the  prosperity 
I  the  hank  is  found  in  the  fact  that  it  lias 
lid   {jenerous   divitlends  since  the  day  of 
■!■>    fonndinR.   ha\  in>;   d<.nl)led     its    capital 
•ut  of  the  profits  which,  up  to  the  present 
nine,   including,'  its  capital,  amount  to  one 
hundred    and    fifty    thousand    ilollars.      Its 
total  net  earniiij^s  since  its  or^janization,  in 
1S73.  have  heen  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  thousand   and   live  hundred    dollars, 
while  it  has  distrihuted  in  dividends  to  its 
sfHrkholders   duriiiy  the   same   peri<.d   two 
hundred  and  eighty-two  thousand  and  live 
huudre.l  dollars.     Mr.  llohlit  has  heeii  al)ly 
assisted  in  Iniilding  up  the  hank  hy  its  first 
l^resident,  John    1).   Cillett,   now   deceased: 
l>ank   Frorer,  now    its    president:    Judge 
janies  T.   llohlit,  its  vice-president;   S.   S. 
llohlit,  the  assistant  cashier;  and  its  hoard 
I    directors,    who   have    always    taken    an 
itive  interest  in  its  atifairs. 

In  1864  Mr.  Hohlit  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mellie  Allen,  a  daughter 
uf  Dr.  J.  S.  -Mien,  a  well-known  and  highly 
esteemed  i)hysician  of  Atlanta,  Illinois. 
They  have  four  children,  namely:  Walter 
1;.,  Mary  E.,  iMiima  and  Amy.  The  fam- 
ily have  an  elegant  home  in  Lincoln  and 
are  quite  prominent  socially. 

Mr.  llohlit  owns  some  valuahle  property 
in  Lincoln  and  Logan  county,  an.l  is  also 
interested  in  Te.xas  oil  lands,  from  which 
he  has  realized  a  handsome  iirotit.  Having 
l)een  continuously  engaged  in  the  hanking 
husiness  for  more  than  thirty-live  years, 
he  holds  a  prominent  place  in  the  councils 
of  hankers,  and  his  standing  and  ahilily 
as  a  financier  have  heen  recognized  hy  his 


election  as  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of 
the  State  Hankers"  Association  of  Illinois, 
in  which  capacity  he  is  now  .serving  his 
third  term,  in  early  life  he  was  a  supi>orter 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a  delegate 
to  ihe  national  Kepuhlican  convention  held 
in  Philadelphia  in  iS7_',  at  which  time 
(irant  and  Wilson  were  nominateil,  hut  Ije- 
ing  a  strong  temi)erance  man  he  now  affili- 
ates with  the  Trohihition  party.  He  is 
an  attendant  of  the  i'.ainist  church  and  is  a 
liljeral  contributor  to  charitable  and  relig- 
i«>us  institutions.  He  is  thoroughly  inter- 
ested in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the 
moral,  intellectual  and  material  welfare  of 
Lincoln,  and  is  one  of  the  trustees  and 
treasurer  of  Lincoln  University,  now  Lin- 
coln College,  a  college  of  considerable 
l)rominence,  founded  in  1X^)3,  to  which  he 
has  contributed  his  share  toward  its  suc- 
cess as  an  educatioiud  institution.  Mr. 
ll<  blit  has  traveletl  extensively  throughout 
the  United  States  and  KuroiK?.  and  in  addi- 
tion of  his  thorough  knowledge  of  bank- 
ing and  finance  is  widely  read  and  well  in- 
formed. He  is  genial,  courteous,  enterpris- 
ing and  progressive,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  influential  citizens  of  Lincoln. 


i-Ri:ni:KUK  j.  wii.lmi-rt. 

.\o  better  illustration' of  the  character- 
istic energy  and  enter))rise  of  the  typical  Uier- 
man-.\mcrican  citizen  can  lie  found  than 
that  afforded  by  the  career  of  this  well- 
known  resident  of  Chester  township.  Com- 
ing to  this  country  with  no  capital  except 
his  abilities,  he  has  made  his  way  to  suc- 
cess through  wisely  directed  effort  and  can 
now  lo(.k  back  with  satisfaction  uix.n  past 
struggles. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


225 


Mr.  Willniert  was  horn  ()ct..lK,-r  14. 
1837,  in  W'aKleck.  Germany,  near  Hesse  Gas- 
.sel,  and  is  a  son  of  I'eter  and  Katlierina 
(V'olliort)  Willmert.  The  mother  died  in 
that  conntry,  hut  tlie  fatlier  came  with  onr 
subject  to  America,  and  liis  dcatli  occurred 
liere  in  i8Sy.  They  liad  four  cliildren.  tlirce 
sons  and  one  daugliter.  of  whom  two  sons 
died  in  Ix)gan  county.  Onr  subject  is  the 
only  surviving  meml)er  of  this  fantily.  Kate, 
wlio  was  the  widow  of  Samuel  Brautigam. 
died  October  22,  1901. 

During  his  Ijoyhood  Mr.  Willmert  at- 
tended the  pulilic  scluKils  of  his  native  land 
until  fourteen  years  of  age.  and  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1858  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  antl  came  direct  io  Mason  coun- 
tv,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  1864. 
On  landing  in  this  country  he  was  unable  to 
speak  a  word  of  Englisii.  and  his  knowledge 
of  the  language  has  been  self-acquired. 
After  working  as  a  farm  hand  for  two  and 
a  half  years,  at  twelve  dollars  per  month, 
he  rented  a  farm  in  Mason  county,  which  he 
operated  until  1864.  when  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Logan  county.  Here  he  rented 
land  one  year,  and  then  bought  one  hundred 
acres  in  Broadwell  township,  paying  fifty 
dollars  per  acre,  having  made  the  money 
during  his  residence  in  America.  After  re- 
siding thereon  for  five  years  he  sold  that 
place  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Chester  township,  at  forty  dollars 
per  acre.  This  he  has  improved,  and  as  he 
has  prospered  in  liis  farming  oj^erations.  he 
has  added  to  it  from  time  to  time,  until  he 
now  has  four  hundred  and  seventy-fi\e  acres 
in  one  farm  and  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  in  another.  Both  are  located  in 
Chester  township,  and  are  under  cultivation 
and  well  improved.  In  addition  to  general 
farming.  Mr.  Willmert  is  engaged  in  stock 


raising  and   in  both  undertakings  has  l)cen 
eminently  successful. 

.Mr.  Willmert  was  married  March  12. 
i8f)2.  to  Miss  Ivlizabelh  Ambrnst.  who  is 
also  a  native  of  ( ierniany  ,iim1  is  now  lifty- 
sevcn  years  of  age.  She  came  to  Lincoln, 
Illinois,  in  March,  1854,  her  father,  .\ndrew 
Ambrust,  being  one  of  the  early  farmers 
near  Lincoln.  Unto  them  were  Ijorn  ten 
children,  and  those  still  living  are  Kate,  wife 
of  (ieorge  (iimble,  w.io  o])erates  a  part  of  her 
father's  farm;  Rose.  Louise.  l'"rederick, 
Jacob  and  George,  all  at  home.  I'our 
daughters  are  deceased.  The  children  have 
been  educated  in  the  country  schools  of  this 
ctmnty.  The  family  are  members  of  St. 
John's  Ludieran  church  at  Lincoln,  of 
which  Mr.  Willmert  is  one  of  the  trustees, 
and  he  takes  an  active  part  in  church  work. 
His  jnilitical  .supi)ort  is  always  given  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but  he  has  n^ver  been  an  office  seeker.  He 
has  served,  however,  as  school  director  for 
six  vears  and  takes  a  commendable  interest 
in  public  affairs.  He  deserves  great  credit 
for  the  success  he  has  achieved  in  life  and 
well  merits  an  honored  place  among  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  Logan  countv. 


TAUL  H.  STEEX. 


Paul  H.  Steen.  an  extensive  and  prosper- 
ous farmer  residing  on  section  11,  Prairie 
Greek  township.  Logan  county.  Illinois,  has 
lived  in  Logan  county  since  1871,  but  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  having  been  born  there 
in  1839.  and  is  a  son  of  Harmon  and  .\nnie 
(Johnson)  Steen,  both  natives  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  in  June.  1850,  and 
settled  in  I'ekin,  Illinois.     .\  few  davs  after 


226 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tliey  settlwl  in  their  new  home  the  father  be- 
came ill  and  died  a  month  later,  in  July, 
1850,  and  some  time  later  the  nK>tlier  fol- 
hnved  him.  Si.\  cliildren  were  lx>rn  to 
them.  I'anl  H.,  our  subject,  and  .Xmiie, 
wife  of  John  Jansen,  a  bricklayer,  of  Pekin, 
Illinois,  are  the  only  ones  living.  The 
others  were:  Lena;  John;  and  two  who 
die<l  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  eleven  >ears  of  age 
when  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  par- 
ents, and  he  was  sent  to  I'eoria,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old, 
living  with  a  family  by  the  name  of  Boran. 
They  lived  twelve  miles  from  I'eoria,  and 
here  he  remained  for  three  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  our  suliject  went  to 
I'ekin  and  worked  by  the  ni<uith  until  the 
war  broke  out. 

On  April  i,  1861.  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany F,  Eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
for  a  three  months'  term,  under  Colonel 
Oglesby  and  Captain  Hanna.  During  this 
time  he  participated  in  no  engagements,  and 
was  then  transferred  to  Company  I,  same 
regiment,  under  Captain  \\ilson.  The  first 
engagement  in  which  he  was  a  participant 
was  that  of  Fort  Henry.  He  also  took  part 
in  the  siege  <.)f  Fort  Donclson  and  the  liattle 
of  Shiloh.  and  in  the  latter  engagement,  on 
.\pril  6,  1862,  received  a  bullet  in  his  side, 
which  remains  to  this  day.  For  three  weeks 
he  was  in  the  hospital  at  Savannah,  and  was 
then  transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Ouincy, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  alnnit  a  month. 
.\fter  this  he  returned  home  on  account  of 
his  wound  and  remained  until  the  fall  of 
i86j,  when  he  returned  to  his  company, 
then  slationcfl  at  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and 
l)articipatc<l  in  deneral  (Irant's  siege  of 
\icksburg.  being  in  same  from  May  19  until 
July  4,    1863.     After  engaging  in   several 


skirmishes  and  several  raids  he  was  sick  in 
\icksburg  in  the  winter  of  18O3-4,  and  was 
honoral)ly  dischargeil  at  Springfield,  in  July, 
1864,  and  returnetl  to  I'ekin,  Illinois. 

Returning  home,  Mr.  Steen  engaged  in 
teaming  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to 
Logan  county  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  which  at  that  time  consisted  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  prairie  land.  He 
cultivated  it  and  now  owns  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  on  section  1 1 ,  where  he  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  also  raises  a 
got>d  many  hogs  for  market.  He  has  met 
with  a  large  measure  of  success,  which  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  as  he  h:us 
never  gained  by  inheritance. 

In  1871  he  marrieil  Maggie  Look,  of 
I'ekin,  who  dietl  March  6,  1884.  In  1888 
he  marrie<l  Rena  Wentzel,  a  native  of  this 
C(»unty  and  a  daughter  of  John  Wentzel, 
who  now  lives  in  Iowa,  although  he  was  an 
earlv  settler  of  Logan  county.  Six  children 
were  b<jrn  ui  the  first  marriage,  namely: 
.\nnie,  wife  of  Ties  Zimmer,  who  lives  near 
our  subject;  Herman  and  Lena,  at  home; 
Katrina,  John  and  (irettie,  all  three  de- 
ceased. Two  children  w ere  Ixmi  of  the  sec- 
ond marriage,  namely:  Chri.stiana  and 
aul,  Jr..  lx>th  at  home. 

Mr.  Steen  is  a  Republican  in  iK)litics, 
and  was  assessor  of  the  township  for  one 
year  ami  .sch<x)l  director  for  about  twenty- 
seven  years  and  still  holds  that  office.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  served  as  road  com- 
missioner of  the  township.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  (i.  .\.  R..  Tost  Xo.  183.  of 
Lincitln.  Some  tunc  ago  .Mr.  Steens  team 
ran  away  antl  he  broke  his  leg.  which  has 
never  fullv  recovered  its  n<irmal  condition, 
but  our  subject  has  lM>rne  the  affliction 
bravely  and  is  as  active  and  overlooks  his 
affairs  as  vigorously  as  ever.     He  is  a  man 


THE   BIOGRAnilCAL   RECORD. 


227 


who  commands  tlie  deepest  respect  of  tlie 
entire  community,  and  lias  many  friends  all 
over  the  comity  as  well  as  in  his  immediate 
neiqhliorhood. 


WILLIAM   P..  jOXES. 

William  1'..  Jones,  wlm  is  now  livins;-  a 
retired  life  in  the  city  oi  Lincoln,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  her  most  prominent  at- 
torneys, and  won  for  himself  an  enviahle 
reputation  among  the  le.^al  fraternity  nf 
this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  probahly  the 
oldest  lawyer  in  Illinois,  having  been  li- 
censed to  practice  in  1837.  ^^^  ^^'''^'''  '""'''' 
on  the  4th  of  February.  1816,  near  Glas- 
gow. Barren  county,  Kentucky,  and  is  of 
W'elsh  descent.  His  grandfather.  William 
Jones,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  was  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Kentucky.  During  the 
trouble  with  the  Indians  in  early  days  he 
and  his  family  were  often  forced  to  seek 
shelter  in  the  blockhouses  and  forts  near 
which  they  made  their  home.  He  married 
a  Miss  \\'ren,  also  a  native  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion. Jolin  Jones,  the  father  of  our  suli- 
ject,  was  born  in  the  same  state,  but  was 
reared  in  Kentucky,  where  he  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Young,  a  native  of  that  state.  Being  a 
strong  anti-slavery  man,  lie  tinally  came 
north  and  spent  his  last  days  in  Grand  \'ie\\ . 
Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1843.  His  wife 
died  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  and 
they  were  buried  in  the  same  grave.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  school 
teacher.  In  his  family  were  eleven  chil- 
dren, six  sons  ami  live  daughters,  namel\": 
Angelina.  William  1!..  Keziah.  I'.dward. 
Elizabeth  and  .X.ancy.  twins.  Gharlotte. 
John.    Robert.    .Samuel   and   e'hristoi)her   '!'. 

Reared   in   his  nati\e  stale.    William    1!. 


Jones  obtained  his  education  in  its  private 
and  subscription  schoijls.  and  remained  un- 
der the  ])arental  roof  until  nineteen  years  of 
age.  aiding  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 
tarni.  On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself 
he  was  superintendent  of  a  spinning  .and 
carding  factory  in  Kentucky  f'lr  two  years. 
He  then  read  law  with  iM-anklin  Gorin,  of 
Glasgow,  th.-it  state,  and  on  securing  a 
license  to  practice,  in  May.  1837,  he  opened 
an  office  in  (ilasgow.  Subsequently  he  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  Franklin  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  built  up  a  good  practice. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  strong  Ciiion 
man.  and  was  once  condemned  to  be  hung 
for  his  outspoken  sentiment  in  favor  of  pre- 
serving the  Union.  At  this  time  he  became 
a  firm  friend  of  John  ]\L  Palmer.  For 
eight  years  he  represented  his  district,  com- 
prising ten  counties  in  Kentucky,  as  attor- 
ney for  the  commonwealth,  and  was  re- 
elected in  i8(i_'  without  opposition.  Re- 
signing in  iX()(i.  Mr.  Jones  came  to  Lin- 
coln. Illinois,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
111 'UK',  and  was  successfully  engagetl  in  the 
practice  of  law  until  1895.  when  he  retired, 
.^e  was  thoroughly  versed  in  the  law  and 
enjoyed  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He 
tried  manv  cases  before  the  supreme  court, 
and  attained  .a  high  i>osition  in  iimfessional 
circles. 

On  the  luth  of  May.  1838.  .Mr.  Jones 
married  Miss  Mary  L.  Lewis,  of  Warren 
county.  Kentucky,  a  daughter  of  James  ,\. 
and  .Margaret  Lewis.  She  died  in  .Mor- 
gantown.  that  state,  August  ly.  1844.  leav- 
in.g  four  children,  namely :  Virgil  .\. ;  El- 
nora  L,  who  died  October  30,  1881  :  Eugenia 
.\..  who  died  May  _'-',  1886:  and  John  X,  T. 
Mr.  Jones  was  again  married,  .\pril  14, 
1846,  his  second  union  lieing  with  Miss 
.Mary  .-\.  Mann,  who  died  February  Ji, 
i8()6.      iMiur  children  blessed  this  marriage: 


228 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


James  S.,  born  in  1847;  Harriet  B.,  born 
June  J9,  184S;  Eli/al)Cth.  lx>rii  January  29, 
1850:  and  William  ().,  Ix-rn  April  Jtj,  1852. 
(Jn  attaining  bis  majority  Mr.  Jcncs  l)e- 
camc  identified  witli  tbe  Wliig  party,  and  on 
the  orjjanization  of  the  Kcpnblican  party 
joined  its  ranks,  having  since  fought  under 
its  banner.  Since  1848  he  has  been  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
was  master  of  his  lodge  for  twelve  consecu- 
tive years.  Although  now  in  his  eighty- 
si.xth  year,  he  still  enjoys  gi«>d  health, 
which  is  probably  due  to  his  temperate  hab- 
its and  the  upright,  honorable  life  that  he 
has  led.  He  has  ever  supported  those  in- 
terests which  are  calculated  to  uplift  and 
benefit  humanity,  while  his  own  high  moral 
worth  is  deserving  of  the  highest  commen- 
dation. 

•-•-• 

iiEXRV  b.\nt;ert. 

As  an  e.xperienced  miner  and  capable 
and  efficient  mine  foreman,  Henry  Bangert 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valued  offi- 
cials of  the  Citizens'  Mining  Company,  lo- 
cated at  Lincoln,  Blinois.  The  birth  of  Mr. 
I'angcrt  occurred  in  Baden,  (iermany,  April 
I  I.  185.V  •>"<•  'ii-"  '^  ^  ^""  "'  J"'i"  ^"'1  ^^^^' 
liara  I'.angert.  Tlie  father  still  resides  on 
his  farm  in  Cermany,  a  respected  octogenar- 
ian, but  the  mother  passed  away  in  1900,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  They  were 
the  honored  parents  of  nine  children,  the  six 
.survivors  r)f  the  family  l)eing:  Mary,  who 
lives  in  the  old  country:  Henry,  who  is  the 
subject  ')f  this  .sketch;  Maggie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  h'rieach,  of  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois; and  John,  l-"va  and  Barbara,  who  still 
remain  in  (lermany. 

Henry  Bangert.  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy. atteiide<l  sch<«.l  in  Baden  mnil  he  was 
alx>ut  fifteen  years  of  age,  leaving  home  at 


that  time  intent  ujion  seeing  soiTiething  of 
the  world.  He  ha<l  l»een  instructed  in  tile 
making  and  traveled  through  many  parts  of 
his  own  country  and  extendetl  his  journey- 
ing thnjugh  Switzerlanil  and  Alsace.  After 
four  years  thus  siH.»nt  he  decided  to  emigrate 
to  America,  and  in  ()ct<>l>er.  iSjj.  he  lie- 
came  a  resident  of  Springfield.  Blinois,  com- 
ing thither  direct  from  Germany. 

For  eighteen  months  after  reaching  the 
United  States  Mr.  Bangert  followed  coal 
mining.  Iieginning  as  a  ccjal  digger,  as  his 
means  were  limited  and  at  that  time  he 
could  secure  no  higher  jiosition.  From 
Springfield  he  went  to  the  coal  regions  of 
Iowa,  then  returned  to  Illinois,  and  later 
.started  out  on  a  long  trip  through  the  min- 
ing localities  of  various  states,  visiting  in 
this  itinerary  the  .states  of  Bennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Missouri.  Indiana,  Te.xas,  Colorado, 
Indian  Territory  and  penetrated  even  into 
New  Mexico,  engaging  in  mining  in  all 
these  places  and  thereby  gaining  exjierience 
which  he  could  have  sccureil  in  no  other 
way.  This  was  re.illy  a  mining  scIuk'I  for 
our  subject. 

On  July  II.  18S7.  Mr.  Bangert  located 
in  Lincoln.  Illinois,  and  immediately  liecame 
mine  manager  at  the  shaft,  the  jirojierty  of 
the  Citizens"  Mining  Company,  and  this  po- 
sition he  lias  filled  ever  since  to  the  complete 
satisfaction  of  the  company  whose  interests 
he  so  carefully  guards. 

Mr.  Bangert  was  married  in  \'irginia, 
Illinois,  in  18S4,  ti>  Miss  Clara  Jenks,  who 
was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  this  state. 
l-light  chililren  have  liecn  Ixirn  to  this 
union,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being:  Harry,  Charles,  l''va.  Louis, 
I'rank,  William  and  George.  Mr.  Bangert 
has  liM.ked  carefully  after  the  e<lucation  of 
his  children,  and  all  who  have  reached  .suffi- 
cient age  arc  regular  attend.ints  at  sc1hh)I. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


229 


In  politics  our  subject  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, but  he  is  one  from  principle  and 
not  because  of  political  preferment.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  prominent  in  vari- 
ous fraternal  orders,  being  a  valued  mem- 
ber of  German  Lodge,  Xo.  345,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
Blue  Lodge,  Masonic,  Xo.  no;  and  Ancient 
Order  of  United  \\'orkmen,  Xo.  109,  in  this 
organization  having  held  official  position 
and  represented  it  in  the  grand  lodge. 

Few  men  in  this  locality  have  succeeded 
better  than  Mr.  Bangert  in  the  same  num- 
ber of  years.  His  education  was  entirely 
in  his  own  language,  and  his  means  were 
.limited  when  he  reached  Illinois,  but  he 
possessed  the  energy  and  industry  which 
his  countrymen  have  shown  in  every  line  of 
endeavor,  and  has  prospered  accordingly 
and  now  owns  propert}',  is  the  head  of  an 
intelligent  family,  respected  by  his  employ- 
ers and  valued  as  a  citizen.  He  has  intro- 
duced into  the  mine  many  devices  for  the 
lessening  of  labor  and  the  cheapening  of 
production. 


WILLIAM  W.  McCORMICK. 

Honored  and  respected  by  all.  there  is 
no  man  in  Emden  or  in  Logan  county  who 
occupies  a  more  enviable  jwsition  in  finan- 
cial circles  than  \\'illiam  \\".  Z^IcCormick, 
not  alone  on  account  of  the  brilliant  success 
he  has  achieved  but  also  on  account  of  the 
honorable,  straightforward  business  policy 
he  has  ever  followed.  He  is  now  the  cash- 
ier and  owner  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Em- 
den, and  is  also  closely  connected  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  the  county. 

Mr.  McCormick  represents  an  old  and 
prominent  family  of  Orvil  township.  He 
was  born  in  the  capital  of  the  nation  on  the 


29th  of  January,  i860,  a  son  of  James  and 
Eliza  (McGowan)  McCormick,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  Scotland  and  at  an  early 
day  came  to  Washington,  D.  C,  afterward 
settling  in  ()r\  il  township,  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  where  the  father  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming,  purchasing  a  tract  of  land 
on  sections  9  and  10,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  devoting  his  energies  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  in  which  he  met  with  grati- 
fying success.  His  widow  and  youngest 
son,  "County  Judge"  Donald  McCormick, 
are  now  residents  of  Lincoln. 

To  the  schools  of  Valparaiso,  Indiana, 
William  W.  McCormick  is  largely  indebted 
for  the  educational  privileges  which  he  re- 
ceived. With  his  parents  he  came  to  this 
county  and  at  once  began  farming  nn  the 
old  homestead  in  Orvil  townshij).  As  a 
companion  and  helpmate  for  the  journey  of 
life,  September  23,  1883,  he  chose  Miss 
Flora  A.  Ogden,  who  was  born  near  Minier, 
Illinois,  February  5,  1863,  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  J.  and  -\lcinda  C.  (Summers)  Og- 
den, the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  At  an  early  period  in 
the  dexelopment  of  Logan  county  they  be- 
came residents  of  Orvil  township  and  were 
identified  with  its  farming  interests  until 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  L'nto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McCormick  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, R.  Leslie.  J.  Byron,  W.  Wayne  and  D. 
Dean,  aged  thirteen,  eight,  fi\e  and  two 
years  respectively. 

Xear  the  old  homestead  Mr.  IMcCor- 
mick  continued  to  engage  in  farming  until 
1891,  when  the  Farmers"  Bank  of  Emden 
was  organized  and  he  was  made  cashier,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  since  served.  The 
success  of  the  institution  is  largely  due  to 
the  enterprising  efforts  of  'Sir.  ^McCormick, 
who  is  now  the  owner,  and  is  well  known  as 
a  verv  reliable,  trustwortliv  man  of  sound 


THE  BlOGKArillCAL  RECORD. 


business  judgnicnt  and  keen  sagacity.  He 
owns  farms  in  Kansas  anil  C«l<»raclo  and 
alx.ut  four  lunulrcd  and  forty  acres  of  line 
I  iiininjj  land  in  sections  3.  4.  «j  and  10. 
I  Mvil  township,  anil  he  and  his  family 
Mill  reside  at  the  farm  residence,  although 
the  land  is  all  cultivaterl  through  the  agency 
of  hiretl  help  and  tenants.  He  daily  drives 
to  and  from  Enulen.  where  he  is  always 
found  at  his  desk  Ix-tween  the  hanking  hours 
of  nine  in  the  morning  and  half  past  four  in 
the  ai'crnoon. 

Mr.  McCormick  gives  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Sound  Money  Democratic  party, 
(irmly  l)elieving  that  its  principles  are  most 
conducive  to  the  general  good.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
lotlgc  in  Emden,  and  Ixith  he  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Christian  church  of  Bethel, 
which  is  located  near  their  home.  His 
career  has  ever  been  such  as  to  warrant  the 
trust  and  confidence  of  the  Inisiness  world, 
for  he  has  ever  conducted  all  transactions 
on  the  strictest  principles  of  honor  and  in- 
tegrity. His  devotion  to  the  public  good  is 
uiu|ucstioned  and  arises  from  a  sincere  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 


ii().\.  joiix  i-DWARi)  .mii.i.i:r. 

One  of  the  most  |»opular.  prominent  and 
v.dued  citizens  of  Logan  county  is  John  Ed- 
ward Miller,  who  is  now  serving  as  treas- 
urer of  the  county  and  as  mayor  of  the  city 
<.f  Lincoln.  'I'hroughout  his  entire  life  he 
lias  resided  in  this  locality,  and  his  life  rec- 
ord is  in  contradistinction  to  the  old  proverb 
(hat  a  i)rophet  is  never  without  honor  save 
ill  his  own  coimtry.  His  keen  discernment, 
business  ability  and.  moreover,  his  un<|ues- 
11.. lied   lovaltv  to  the  best    interests  of  city 


and  county  have  led  to  his  elevation  to  offi- 
cial honors,  and  by  the  faithful  <lischarge 
of  his  duties  he  has  established  himself  even 
more  tirmly  in  the  regard  and  confidence  of 
his  fellow   men. 

Mr.  Miller  was  jjorn  uinm  his  father's 
farm  in  Logan  county.  June  21,  1854,  a  son 
of  Jeremiah  and  Sarah  .\.  (Hawes)  Mil- 
ler. Ixnh  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  father  was  Ijorn  in  Shelby 
county,  that  state,  January  z-j.  1827.  and 
when  two  years  of  age  was  taken  by  his  par- 
ents. Dabner  and  Elizabeth  Miller,  to  Mon- 
roe county.  Indiana,  where  he  was  reare<l 
to  manhood.  In  1840  he  came  to  Logan 
county,  and  on  the  3d  i>f  Eebruary.  1850. 
was  united  in  marriage  to  .Miss  Sarah 
Hawes,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Hawes,  who  were  early  settlers  of  this 
county.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  were 
born  seven  children,  six  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity,  namely :  .Arthur  P., 
Clara  A.,  J.  Edward,  Charles  A.,  Erank  H. 
and  William  .\.  .\fter  his  marriage  Jere- 
miah Miller  tot>k  up  his  abode  in  Orvil 
township,  and  later  removed  to  Eminence 
township,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
1876,  when  he  went  to  Lincoln  in  order  to 
l)rovi(le  his  children  with  the  l)etter  educa- 
tional advantages  afforded  by  the  city 
schools.  .\t  a  later  date  he  returned  to  the 
farm  in  Eminence  township,  where  he  re- 
mained until  188.',  when  he  went  to  .At- 
lanta, where  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 
He  departed  this  life  on  the  2d  of  Octol)er. 
1885.  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
r.ethel  cemetery.  He  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Christian  church  and  for  a 
mnnber  of  years  served  as  one  of  its  dea- 
cons. His  wife  is  still  living  in  .\tlanta. 
and  .she.  too.  is  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  her  life  having  ever  been 
in  harmony  with  her  professions. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


231 


Mr.  Miller,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  spent  his  youth  upon  the  home  farm 
and  attended  the  district  schools.  During 
the  period  of  vacation  he  assisted  in  the  la- 
bors of  the  fields,  thus  early  l)ecoming  famil- 
iar with  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of 
the  agriculturist.  After  his  preliminary 
education  was  completed  he  entered  the 
State  University,  at  Le.xington.  Kentucky, 
and  subsequently  he  pursued  a  commercial 
course  of  study.  When  his  education  was 
completed  and  by  careful  mental  discipline 
he  was  well  prepared  for  the  important  and 
responsible  duties  of  life,  he  returned  to 
Logan  county  and  engaged  in  handling 
grain  and  live  stock  at  Hartsburg.  He  car- 
ried on  the  enterprises  with  success,  con- 
ducting a  profitable  business  in  grain  and 
stock.  As  the  years  passed  his  capital 
steadily  increased,  and  with  a  comfortable 
competence  he  removed  to  Lincoln  in  1891. 
where  he  has  since  resided,  but  he  still  con- 
ducts his  business  at  Hartsburg. 

On  the  24  th  of  September,  1879,  Mr. 
^liller  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ida 
Hummell,  of  Lincoln,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Ellen  (Stanfield)  Hiunmell,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  six  children : 
Ethel,  Clarence,  Mildred,  Marie,  Charles 
and  Frank.  The  generous  and  gracious 
hospitality  of  the  home  has  made  it  a  favor- 
ite resort  with  the  many  friends  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  the  members  of  the  household  are 
highly  esteemed. 

For  a  mmiber  of  years  Mr.  Miller  has 
been  a  recognized  factor  in  political  circles. 
He  stanchly  advocates  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  co-operates  in  the 
movements  for  the  extension  of  its  influence 
and  ])ower.  For  three  years  he  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Lincoln, 
and  in  1898  he  became  the  Republican  can- 
didate  for  countv  treasurer.     The  election 


returns  showed  that  lie  was  the  victorious 
candidate  and  he  filled  the  oflice  so  accept- 
ably that  he  was  again  nominated  an<l 
elected,  so  that  he  is  the  present  incumbent. 
In  the  spring  of  1901  he  was  elected  mayor 
of  Lincoln,  and  is  now  creditably  filling  the 
office.  His  administration  is  business-like 
and  practical,  yet  not  without  that  progress- 
ive spirit  w  hich  leads  to  substantial  improve- 
ment and  upbuilding.  His  official  career  is 
one  over  which  there  falls  no  shadow  of 
suspicion  or  distrust.  Honorable  and 
straightforward,  the  record  is  an  open  book 
that  will  bear  the  closest  scrutiny.  His  per- 
sonal characteristics  are  such  as  to  have  won 
fur  him  many  friends,  and  in  the  history  of 
his  native  county  he  well  deserves  prominent 
n'cntion. 


WILLIAM  L.  DOWXIXG. 

Among  the  successful  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  Chester  township  is  William  L. 
Downing,  one  of  the  substantial  and  lead- 
ing agriculturists  of  this  county.  The  birth 
of  Mr.  Downing  occurred  on  his  present 
farm,  June  2,  1867,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
L.  D.  and  Sarah  (Shoup)  Downing,  the 
former  of  whom  is  one  of  the  pmniinent 
citizens  of  Logan  county. 

\\'illiam  L.  Downing  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  his  district, 
and  remained  at  home,  assisting  his  father, 
the  latter  having  e.xtensive  farming  inter- 
ests. William  took  the  heavier  duties  upon 
his  younger  shoulders,  and  jiroved  to  lie  a 
very  capable  and  judicious  farmer  and  stock 
raiser.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  in 
1891,  he  took  complete  charge  of  the  farm, 
consisting  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
acres,  and  since  that  time  he  has  given  close 
attention  to  a  general  line  of  farming,  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  been  particularly  interested  in  the  rais- 
ing of  sui>erior  stiK-k.  During  tlie  wliole 
year  he  keeps  a  herd  of  cattle  and  gives 
his  jjersunal  sujiervision  to  their  care. 

Mr.  Downing  was  married  Octoljer  J2, 
i8yi,  to  Sarah  Whitney,  who  was  \x.>r\\  on 
May  _'9.  iStnj,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Willard 
Whitney,  a  resident  of  Aetna  township, 
where  the  family  is  an  old  and  honored  one. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitney  were  born  se\en 
children,  namely:  .\dalinc.  the  wife  of 
Alljert  Clark,  of  Washington;  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  our  subject:  Minnie:  Charles  L. : 
Dottie:  John;  and  Florence,  all  of  whom 
were  educated  in  the  district  scho(jls.  Mrs. 
Whitney  died  in   1S9S. 

In  politics  Mr.  Downing  has  always 
supported  the  Rcpul)lican  party,  from  prin- 
ciple, refusing  all  party  preferment.  He  is 
largelv  interested  in  many  of  the  financial 
organizations  in  Logan  county,  one  of  these 
being  the  I'armers"  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany, of  Lincoln,  and  he  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Horse  Company,  of  Mount 
Pulaski.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
Camp  154,  ^^><lern  Wotxlmcn  of  .\merica, 
of  Mount  Pulaski,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Mystic  Workers.  Mrs.  Down- 
ing is  a  valued  member  of  the  .MetlnKlist 
church,  and  Mr.  Downing  is  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  all  Christian  organizations.  His 
standing  in  the  county  is  high,  and  he  enjoys 
the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  have 
known  him  from  bovhood  davs. 


P.\TRICK   I'.OH.W. 


•As  one  of  the  successful  managers  of 
large  landed  estates  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Rohan 
is  well  known  in  the  vicinity  of  I^lkhart. 
and  |K»ssesses  an  authoritative  knowledge 
tiixm  all  matters  pertaining  to  agriculture. 
He  was  born  in  Logan  county.  Illinois. .\pril 


4.  1868,  and  inherits  the  aptitude  for  the 
work  to  wliich  he  is  devoting  his  energies, 
for  his  father.  James  Bohan,  a  native  of 
Tipperary,  Ireland,  a  most  exemplan.-  man, 
was  engaged  for  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  studying  the  soil  and  its  iwssibilities. 
UiK)n  emigrating  to  .\merica  the  elder  Bo- 
han worked  on  a  truck  farm  in  New  York 
state  for  eight  dollars  a  month,  and  so  won 
the  ctjufidence  of  his  first  employers  that 
they  gave  him  a  letter  of  recommendation 
of  which  anyone  might  1^  proud.  This  let- 
ter, written  by  A.  Mann.  Jr.,  of  ^j  Wall 
street,  Jamaica.  (Jueens  county.  New  York. 
March  4.  1855.  explicitly  sets  forth  the  vari- 
ous excellent  qualifications  of  Mr.  Bohan, 
and  lays  particular  stress  upon  his  industry, 
absolute  integrity.  go<xl  habits  and  high 
moral  character.  The  letter  is  still  in  the 
])ossession  of  his  son  Patrick  and  is  valued 
because  <,>f  the  implied  insight  into  his  fa- 
ther's character.  Mr.  Bohan  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1855,  and  for  two  years  was  en- 
gaged in  railroading,  after  w  hich  he  engaged 
in  farming.  In  1861  he  l)egan  to  work  for 
John  I),  (iillettc.  assuming  charge  of  his 
farm  interests,  and  remained  in  this  capacity 
for  twenty-.six  years.  During  this  time  he 
had  the  management  of  three  thousand 
acres  of  land  and  an  inuuense  mnnlier  of 
cattle.  His  latter  days  were  .s|>ent  in  com- 
l<arative  retirement  in  Elkhart,  where  his 
death  occurred  September  28.  1895.  He 
owned  eighty  acres  of  tine  land  which,  in 
his  declining  years  he  took  pleasure  in  man- 
aging and  im])roving.  During  his  long  and 
useful  life  he  never  took  a  glass  of  any  kind 
of  intoxicant,  .\lthough  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, he  invariably  refused  public  office.  He 
was  a  meml>er  of  the  Catholic  church.  Mrs. 
Bohan.  who  was  Iwirn  near  Ramsey,  Isle  of 
Man.  is  living  with  her  .son  Patrick,  her 
other  soil  having  died  in  infancy. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


233 


I'ati-ick  ]'...lian  was  cducalcd  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Klkiuirt,  and  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  took  a  course  at  the  Springfield 
Business  College,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  April  of  1SS7.  I'lillowiiig  his  fa- 
ther's example,  he  then  started  in  to  work 
for  John  D.  Gillette,  and  March  1,  1889.  as- 
sumed charge  of  Miss  Jessie  D.  Gillette's 
farm  of  twelve  hundred  acres,  and  in  iS^t) 
also  undertook  the  management  of  the  eiglil- 
een-hundred-acre  farm  of  her  sister.  Mrs. 
Charlotte  (_i.  liarnes.  Tliis  constituted 
practically  the  same  land  o\er  which  his 
father  had  control  for  so  many  years.  IMr. 
Bohan  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  I'.lk- 
hart  hoard  of  trustees  and  has  been  city 
clerk,  lie  is  a  mem1)er  of  Saint  Patrick's 
Catholic  church,  and  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics. 


WILLIAM  T.  BRIGGS. 

L'ljon  a  portion  of  the  farm  which  he 
now  occu])ies,  near  liroadwcll,  Mr.  liriggs 
was  horn  October  (>,  1S35.  In  the  inter- 
vening years  he  has  known  no  cither  home. 
nor  has  any  other  part  of  the  state  appealed 
to  him  as  more  desirable  for  cultivation 
than  the  fertile  acres  upon  which  his  fatlier 
settled  in  the  early  pioneer  days.  Llis 
memory  traxels  back  to  tb.e  time  when  a 
vast  prairie  stretched  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
see,  before  fences  were  built  or  impr<i\e- 
ments  begun,  and  he  has  interestedly 
watched  the  moving  events  and  the  trans- 
formation of  Illinois  into  one  of  the  finest 
agricultural  regions  in  the  I'nited  Slates. 
Later  on  he  recalls  the  incidents  connected 
with  the  Mexican  war,  his  cousin  being  cap- 
tain of  the  home  company,  and  he  attended 
the  rally  at  Postville,  in  1846,  and.  with  the 
untried  enthusiasm  of  a  youngster  of  eleven 
shouted  himself  hoarse  while  bidding  God- 


speed to  the  departing  troops.  Later  still, 
when  the  strife  was  fermenting  between  the 
north  and  the  south,  he  used  to  attend  the 
Republican  rallies  with  his  father,  used  to 
go  t<i  the  county  seal  at  Mount  Pulaski,  saw 
the  immortal  Lincoln  on  more  than  one  oc- 
casion, and  went  with  his  father  to  the  polls 
when  he  cast  his  vole  for  this  greatest  man 
in  .\merican  history.  Through  all  of  the.se 
c\])criences  he  has  remained  the  typical 
middle  western  farmer,  successful,  large  of 
heart  and  one  of  tho.se  who  constitute  the 
backbone  of  the  nation's  stability.  He 
owns  ;i  finely  developed  farm  of  twD  luin- 
drcd  and  eighty-seven  acres,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation,  being  principally 
de\oted  to  general  farming. 

Gliarlcs  L.  Rriggs,  the  father  of  William 
'f..  was  liorn  in  Warren  count)',  Kentucky, 
in  1804.  ;m(l  married  Matilda  Otey,  who 
w:is  born  at  Richmond.  N'irginia,  in  1802. 
'file  ceremony  was  performed  aliout  1824, 
and  so,  111  alter  ibey  departeil  iov  Illinois, 
settling  111  Lo!_;an  counlw  where  llic  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  was  spent.  William 
'f.  was  the  first  born  in  Illinois,  and  besides 
him  there  were  nine  children,  viz:  Mar- 
tlia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Goldsmith 
.ami  li\es  on  ;i  farm  adjoining  that  of  W'ill- 
i;mi  '['.:  James  O..  who  died  on  the  plains  of 
L'alifornia  in  1850;  [Margaret,  now  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  wife  of  George  Webb; 
Charlotte  M..  who  married  J.  R.  Allen  and 
lives  in  Broadwell;  Julia  O.,  who,  with  her 
husband,  Samuel  Webb,  is  deceased,  their 
deaths  occurring  respectively  in  1858  and 
\^i)H.  in  Missouri:  \\"illiaiii  'I'.:  Charles  L., 
who  died  in  \i<('^:  1).  P.,  who  lives  on  a 
f;inii  .adj. lining  that  of  William  T.:  John, 
will  I  died  in  i8fi_':  and  1  Iczeki.ali.  who 
served  during  the  Civil  war  for  three  years 
and  was  honorably  discharged  after  being 
wounded  in  battle. 


234 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  his  youth  Mr.   Briggs  attended  the 

early  siihscriptiun  scliools  of  I^>gan  county, 
and  lived  on  the  home  place  until  alxnit 
twenty-five  years  of  ape.  when  he  started 
out  to  inde|)endently  farm  a  jxirtion  of  his 
father's  estate.  In  1S70  he  married  Mar- 
tha E.  llartis.  a  daufjhter  of  John  Hartis. 
whom,  it  is  supiKised.  was  horn  in  Ken- 
lucky.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartis  were  horn 
seven  children:  Lcnora  H..  who  is  the  wife 
of  Simon  Koons.  of  Mroadwell :  Martha  E.. 
who  is  the  wife  of  William  Brigfii^s :  Mary  K.. 
wh(.  lives  with  her  sister.  Mrs.  Brings: 
John  Wesley,  who  died  al)out  1889;  hesides 
three  others  now  deceased.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Briggs  have  heen  horn  the  following 
children:  Lorcna.  who  died  in  1891; 
ThiHiias  L..  who  lives  in  Xortli  Dakota: 
Lucy  M.:  Charles  L. ;  John  B. :  (Jeorge  M.. 
Halla  D.  and  William  L..  who  are  at  home. 
Mr.  Briggs  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Meth- 
ochst  Episcopal  church,  as  are  all  of  his 
family,  and  for  some  time  he  was  a  steward 
and  trustee  of  the  church  at  Broadwell. 


jl'Dr,!-.  LOUIS  C.  S(.  IIW 

i-i".(;f,r.  ll.  r.. 


;i<i)T 


I  III.-  i.iw.  when  clothed  wiili  ii>  mii: 
purity,  dignity  and  power  nuist  rank  first 
among  the  callings  of  men.  It  is  the  con- 
servator of  justice,  the  protector  of  life  and 
liberty  and  property,  and  he  who  interprets 
the  law  should  be  a  man  whose  reputation 
is  above  the  shadow  of  reproach.  In  c1hh)s- 
ing  Louis  C.  Scliwerdtfeger  to  act  as  county 
judge  the  citizens  of  Logan  county  called 
to  the  bench  one  whom  they  knew  to  be 
faultless  in  honor,  fearless  in  conduct  and 
stainless  in  reputation.  Throughout  long 
connection  with  tlie  professional  and  tinan- 


cial  interests  of  Logan  county  lie  has  e\er 
demonstrated  his  right  to  the  c<jnfidence  of 
his  fellow  nien  by  a  straigbt-fi^rwanl  career, 
and  added  to  this  is  his  ability  at  the  bar. 
arising  from  a  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  science  of  law. 

The  Judge  was  Ijorn  in  New  York  city, 
July  30,  185^1.  a  son  of  Henry  and  Pauline 
(Koehnle)  Schwerdtfeger.  The  parents 
were  lx)th  natives  of  Germany,  the  fomier 
born  in  Prussia  and  the  latter  in  Wurtem- 
berg.  and  in  1851  they  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  landing  at  New  York  after 
a  voyage  of  five  weeks  u))on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel. Eor  a  time  they  resided  in  the  east- 
ern metro|mlis  and  then  removetl  to  Jersey 
City,  where  the  subject  of  this  review  en- 
joyed the  etiucational  i)rivileges  afforde<l 
by  the  common  schools.  He  was  alxmt 
twenty-one  years  (»f  age  when  he  came  to 
Lincoln,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
.\  young  man  with  his  life  work  l)efore  him. 
resolute  and  dcterminetl.  he  took  up  the  task 
and  has  advanced  steadily  in  the  path  of 
prosperity  and  honor.  In  the  fall  of  1877 
he  became  a  student  in  the  law  department 
of  the  State  University  of  Michigan  at  .\nn 
.\rbor.  graduating  therefrom  with  the  class 
of  1879.  Being  admitted  to  jjractice  at  the 
bar  of  Illinois,  he  opened  an  ofHce  in  Lin- 
coln and  has  since  risen  to  distinction  as 
a  meml)er  of  the  bar  of  Logan  county.  In 
1881.  however,  there  came  a  digrt^.sion  in 
his  law  work,  for  he  entered  the  tield  of 
journalism,  becoming  the  proprietor  of  the 
Lincoln  Daily  Record,  the  name  of  which 
he  changed  to  the  Daily  Journal.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  also  published  the  Logan 
CoiuUy  Tribune,  conducting  lM>th  papers 
until  1883,  when  he  resinned  the  ))ractice 
of  law.  No  dreary  noviate  awaited  him. 
His  clientage  grew  rapidly,  Uvtli  in  volume 
and  importance,  and  he  was  s«M>n  in  coin- 


Q^^i^^^^3er^i^^._^-r 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


237 


mand  of  a  large  law  business,  connecting 
him  with  some  of  the  most  important  liti- 
gations tried  in  the  courts  of  his  district. 
In  January.  1887.  however,  he  gave  up  the 
private  practice  of  law  to  become  a  factor 
in  financial  circles  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
assuming  the  management  of  the  German- 
American  National  Bank,  which  he  had  aid- 
ed in  establishing.  He  was  made  its  cashier 
and  has  since  remained  in  that  position,  his 
keen  business  sagacity,  sound  judgment  and 
readiness  in  action  well  equipping  him  for 
the  responsible  duties  which  devolve  upon 
him.  The  institution  ranks  among  t'.:; 
strongest-  financial  concerns  in  this  part  of 
Illinois  and  well  deserves  its  reputation,  for 
back  of  it  stand  men  of  solid  financial  stand- 
ing and  business  worth. 

Judge  Schwerdtfeger's  fellow  towns- 
men, l^owever.  have  also  claimed  his  service 
in  public  office.  For  two  terms  he  was 
a  member  of  the  city  council,  serving  from 
1890  until  1894.  when  he  was  elected  coun- 
ty judge,  a  position  which  he  held  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  A  contemporary  biog- 
rapher has  said  of  him :  Asa  judge  on  the 
bench  he  has  distinguished  himself  as  a 
wise  and  able  jurist,  bringing  to  bear  in  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duties  all  those 
qualities  of  probity,  tliscernment  and  strict 
integrity  that  characterize  him  as  a  lawyer 
and  as  a  business  man." 

Judge  L.  Schwerdtfeger  was  made  a  IMa  ■ 
son  in  Lincoln  Lodge,  Xo.  210,  in  1880. 
and  is  also  a  member  of  Logan  Chapter, 
Xo.  147,  R.  A.  M..  and  Constantine  Com- 
mander}, Xo.  51.  K.  T.,  of  which  he  was 
eminent  commander.  He  rqiresented  his 
commandery  in  the  grand  commandery  of 
the  state  and  is  also  a  member  of  Peoria  Con- 
sistory and  Mohamet  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  belongs  to  Lincoln  Lodge.  X'o. 
204,  I.  O.  O.  P..  of  which  he  is  past  grand. 


and  represented  his  lodge  in  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  state.  He  takes  an  active  part 
in  the  work  of  the  Modern  XWxKlmen  of 
America. 

In  X<)vember,  1880.  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  the  Judge  and  Miss  .\melia  L. 
Koehnle.  of  Lincoln,  and  unto  them  have 
been  born  five  children,  namely:  Lucille  P., 
Bertram  H..  Estelle  A.,  William  K.  .  and 
James  Harry.  The  gracious  hospitality  of 
their  home  is  enjoyed  by  a  very  large  circle 
of  friends.  The  Judge  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Microscopical  Society,  and  sjjends 
much  of  his  leisure  time  in  study  of  the  sci- 
ences. He  is  to-day  a  man  of  broad  scholarly 
attainments,  well  versed  on  the  social,  ix>liti- 
cal  and  economic  questions  which  claim 
public  attention,  and  is  in  politics  an  uncom- 
promising Republican.  He  is  recognized  as 
a  leader  in  the  ranks  of  the  part\-  in  the  coun- 
ty, and  his  able  arguments  and  strong  per- 
suasive powers  ha\"e  l>een  a  potent  factor  in 
extending  Republican  influence.  Keenly 
alive  to  the  interests  of  the  city  as  well  as 
those  of  state  and  nation,  he  co-operates  in 
e\ery  mo\ement  for  the  general  gootU  and 
has  been  the  promoter  of  a  number  of  enter- 
prises which  have  resultetl  in  advancing  pul>- 
lic  prosperity.  He  stands  to-day  as  one  of 
the  most  popular,  honored  and  resi^ected 
men  of  Logan  county — one  who  by  the  im- 
provement of  his  opportunities  and  the  faith- 
ful discharge  of  every  duty  of  life  has  gained 
the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  is  asso- 
ciated. 


T.VMES  MELROSE. 


James  Melrose,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
best-known  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Logan  county,  Illinois.  He  was  a  native  of 
the  state,  born  in  Edwards  countv,  Fcbru- 


238 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ary  23,  1826,  and  was  one  of  eight  children 
born  to  Archibald  Melrose  and  wife.  The 
father,  who  dqiarted  this  life  in  Edwards 
county,  was  an  extensive  farmer. 

The  life  itf  a  farmer  Ixiy  is  one  unend- 
ing round  of  toil,  and  that  of  our  subject 
was  no  exception  to  the  rule.  From  the 
time  he  was  old  enough  to  do  the  small 
chores  necessary  in  farm  life  he  had  to  do 
his  share  of  the  work.  This  e.xperience 
fonned  in  him  habits  of  industry  that  clung 
to  him  through  life.  Like  a  faithful  son.  he 
assisted  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age.  at  which  time  his  father 
died,  the  mother  having  passed  away  live 
years  i)revious.  Being  thus  left  to  care  for 
himself,  he  assisted  his  brother  on  a  farm 
in  Wayne  county,  and  by  hard  work  and 
economy  he  soon  accumulated  enough  to 
purchase  for  himself  eighty  acres  in  that 
ccjunty.  which  he  worked  faithfully  for 
st>me  time.  He  then  moved  to  bnva.  where 
he  carried  on  the  same  occui)ati<m  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Oran  township.  Here  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  well-im])roved 
land,  where  he  and  his  family  made  their 
home  until  his  death,  which  i>ccurred  on 
May  20.  1895. 

On  September  20.  1841,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Shores,  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  Shores,  of  Wayne  county. 
The  following  children  were  lH»rn  to  them: 
Emily,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Hawes,  of  .Au- 
gusta, Kansas;  Lovina.  who  died  June  J3, 
1900:  Louisa,  who  <lepartcd  this  life  .April 
21,  1SK4:  Charles  Wesley,  now  a  resident 
of  Oklahoma:  John  V..  wh<.  died  Septem- 
ber J9.  18S1  ;  Mary  V...  who  l)ecame  the 
wife  of  S.  H.  Thornburg  and  lives  in  Xc- 
liraska;  James  .\..  a  farmer  in  I-ogan  coun- 
tv ;   I'Mwin,   who  resi<les  at  home  with  his 


mother;  Thomas  C,  a  resident  of  Chicago; 
and  Effie,  who  died  Octolier  23.  1882. 

The  entire  family  are  meml^ers  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Melrose 
served  as  school  director  for  many  years. 
The  widow,  with  (3ne  son.  resides  in  a  com- 
fortable home  in  Atlanta,  but  still  conducts 
the  home  farm  in  Oran  township.  The 
death  of  Mr.  Melrose  was  not  only  a  sad 
blow  to  his  own  imme<liate  family  but  to 
the  entire  community  in  which  he  had  so 
long  resided. 


JAMES   ER.WKLIX    HYDE. 

Among  the  old  and  honored  citizens  of 
Lincoln  none  are  held  in  higher  regard  than 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  A  native  of  Massaciiusetts,  he  was 
born  in  I'itlstiekl.  Berkshire  county.  No- 
vemlwr  19,  1813.  and  traces  his  ancestry 
back  to  an  old  and  distinguished  English 
family.  Sir  Nicholas  Hyde  was  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  King's  bench  in  i6j6,  and  Ed- 
ward Hyde  was  grandfather  of  Queens 
Mary  and  .\nn.  The  progenitor  of  the  fam- 
ily in  .\merica  was  William  Hyde,  who 
came  to  this  country  in  K'l^r^i  and  located  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  he  married 
and  reared  his  family.  Hi>  son.  Samuel 
Hyde,  was  born  in  1^)37.  and  married  Jane 
Ice.  .\mong  their  children  was  Samuel 
Hyde,  who  was  born  in  \(tC,~,  and  married 
Elizabeth  Calkins.  iheir  son.  Elijah 
Hyde,  was  iKirn  in  1705.  and  married  Ruth 
Tracy.  The  next  in  direct  descent  was  .An- 
drew Hyde,  our  subjects  great-grandfather, 
who  was  Ixirn  in  173J  an<l  marrietl  Hannah 
Thomas.  The  grandfather,  who  also  l)ore 
the  name  of  .\ndrew.  was  born  in  1757.  and 
married  Rebecca  (iaipin.  by  whom  he  had 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


239 


the  following  children:     Zehabah.  Andrew. 
Eunice.  Rebecca.  Laura  and  Salma. 

Andrew  Hyde,  the  second  of  this  fam- 
ily, was  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was 
born  in  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  in  17S8,  and 
followed  the  weaver's  trade  in  that  state  un- 
til 1822,  when  he  removed  to  Medina  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  anil  made  a  Immc  for  himself  and 
family  in  the  wilderness.  His  family  was 
represented  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  and 
he  foug-ht  for  American  rights  in  the  war  of 
i8tj.  lie  married  Artimesia  Ashley,  a  na- 
tive of  Pittsfield.  Massachusetts,  and  a 
daughter  of  David  Ashley,  who  also  lie- 
longed  to  an  old  ^Massachusetts  frunily  tliat 
took  quite  a  prominent  jiart  in  government 
affairs.  Mr.  Ashley  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Ohio,  removing  to  that  state  in 
1818. 

James  F.  Hyde,  of  this  review,  is  the 
oldest  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  the  others 
being  as  follows:  Marilla  A.  married  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Xethaway,  of  Medina  county. 
Ohio,  and  died  in  1841.  leaving  children. 
Olive  A.  married  Alonzo  Bennett,  of  Clin- 
ton county.  Michigan,  and  reared  a  family. 
Eliza  M.  was  the  second  wife  of  Rev.  Ebe- 
nezer Xethaway,  and  died  in  1847.  leaving 
children.  Mary  S.  also  died  in  1847.  Ar- 
tnnesia  A.  married  Curtis  R.  Fuller,  a 
farmer  of  Clinton  county.  Michigan,  and 
had  one  son,  Charles  L.  Fuller,  Init  all  are 
now  deceased.  Lewis  L.,  also  deceased. 
married  Lydia  Jane  Hubbard  and  left  a  fam- 
ily. Cyrus  M.  married  Hannah  Finch  and 
died  in  Montana,  leaving  a  family.  Emery 
B.,  a  Methodist  clergyman  of  Wisconsin, 
married  Martha  Bates,  but  has  no  children. 
During  the  infancy  of  our  subject  his 
parents  rem<ivcd  to  Richmond.  Massa- 
chusetts, where  they  made  their  home  fin- 
nine  years,  and  there  he  began  his  education 
in  its  ]")ublic  schools.     The  family  then  re- 


moved to  Medina  county.  Ohio,  in  October. 
i8j_'.  and  he  grew  to  manhood  amid  i)ioneer 
scenes.  Wild  animals  roamed  through  the 
forest  and  the  Indians  were  far  more  nu- 
merous lh;in  the  white  settlers.  There  Mr. 
Hvde"s  .school  privileges  were  limited  to 
three  months'  .-ittendance  during  the  year, 
but  he  made  the  most  of  bis  advantages  and 
acipiired  a  good  education  by  study  at  home. 
.\t  the  age  of  seventeen  he  became  a 
mail  carrier,  and  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  tli.-it  position  endured  many  hard- 
ships, riding  on  horseback  through  den.se 
firests.  swimming  streams  and  braving 
storms.  In  February,  1832.  lie  commenced 
clerking  in  the  store  of  O.  .M.  Oviatt  & 
Ib-onson,  at  Richfield,  Ohio.  He  went  to 
Xiles,  Summit  county,  Ohio,  in  Xoxember, 
1834,  where  he  was  similarly  employed  by 
\oris  &  Company  for  a  few  months,  but 
the  following  March  went  to  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  engaged  in  clerking  for 
Harris  &  Styles  for  a  short  time.  He  then 
returned  to  Richfield,  Ohio,  and  resumed 
work  with  O.viatt  &  Bronson.  In  Septeiu- 
ber.  1836,  he  traveled  westward  to  the  Ohio 
and  ^Mississippi  rivers,  and  on  the  ist  of  Oc- 
tol)er  became  clerk  on  the  steamer  Exchange, 
then  plying  between  Cincinnati  and  Guyan- 
dotte.  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  Ca])- 
tain  Leet.  On  tlie  opening  of  navigation 
the  following  spring  he  shipped  as  second 
clerk  on  the  steamer  Baltic  at  Cincinnati, 
botmd  for  X'ew  Orleans,  and  on  his  arrival 
in  that  city  took  his  first  ride  on  a  railroad 
tr.iin.  On  account  of  the  panic  be  then  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  clerking  in 
the  store  of  H.  &  R.  Hammond,  at  Bath, 
where  he  remained  until  the  following  Oc- 
tober. 

Mr.  '[JxAe  then  started  west  by  way  of 
the  Ohio  river,  and  arrived  in  Pittsfield, 
Pike    countv,    Illinois.    Xovember   8.    1837. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  following  spring  he  commenced  teach- 
ing in  tliat  county  on  trial,  and  so  success- 
ful was  he  that  he  taught  there  for  three 
years.  He  had  charge  of  a  schtH>l  at  Sum- 
mer Hill  si.\  years,  and  in  1848  acccjUcd  a 
position  as  teacher  in  the  Pittsticld  schinds. 
where  he  remained  twelve  years.  In  .\pril. 
i8(K).  he  eml)arke<l  in  a  mercantile  enter- 
prise, which  he  successfully  carried  on  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war.  In  1865  he  divided  his 
capital,  leaving  half  in  Fittsfield.  and  re- 
moved to  Lincoln,  where,  in  company  with 
J.  T.  Cadwaller.  Dr.  Thomas  Lewis  and 
C.  Huskins.  he  ojjened  a  drug,  dry  goods 
and  grocery  store  under  the  firm  name  of 
Hyde.  Hoskins  &  Company.  l)eing  in  busi- 
ness here  for  three  years.  In  his  absence 
the  business  at  Pittsfield  was  mismanaged, 
causing  him  heavy  losses,  and  be  relin- 
quished his  interest  in  the  Lincoln  store. 
Mr.  Hvde  then  resumed  his  former  vocation, 
that  of  .sch<K)l-teaching.  and  for  nineteen 
years  had  charge  of  the  fourth  ward  school 
of  Lincoln.  He  was  connected  with  that 
profession  for  over  fifty-two  years,  and  was 
ever  regarded  as  a  most  successful  teacher. 
For  twenty  years  he  has  kept  the  books  of 
.\<lam  Denger.  a  grocer  of  Lincoln,  and  is 
also  cnnnccted  with  the  Lincoln  Daily  and 
'  Semi-Weekly  Courier. 

In  184 1  Mr.  Hyde  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eliza  Scelcy.  of  Pike 
county,  a  daughter  of  James  Seeley.  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children:  William  H.. 
who  married  Jennie  Temple  antl  resides  in 
Pike  county:  James  S..  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  and  a  farmer  of  Pike  county,  who 
<lied  in  it)oo:  Mary  S..  wife  of  Dr.  L.  C. 
Pulliam.  of  Crowley.  Louisiana:  and  Ellen, 
who  died  yoimg.  The  mother  of  tiiese 
chil<lren  died  in  1851.  and  for  liis  second 
wife  Mr.  Hyde  married  Miss  Hattie  L. 
P.l.ikc.  alM.  of  I'.arry.  Pike  county,  a  daugh- 


ter of  Ephraim  Blake,  the  wedding  being 
celebrated  in  Octoljer.  1852.  By  this  unioji 
were  liorn  three  children,  namely :  Clara, 
who  died  in  childhood:  Frank  R..  a  resilient 
of  Siou.\  Falls.  South  Dakota.  an<l  state 
agent  for  the  liradstrect  Commercial 
Agency;  and  Charles  L..  who  is  living  in 
Pierre.  South  Dakota,  and  is  interested  in 
real  estate  and  gold  and  silver  mining. 

In  1873  Mr.  Hyde  established  a  night 
commercial  scIkhiI  in  Lincoln  for  the  l>en- 
efit  of  young  business  men.  In  1871  and 
1874  he  carefully  (jrejiared  and  juiblished 
directories  of  the  city,  and  also  preparetl  a 
work  entitled  The  Science  of  .\ccounts.  a 
treatise  of  more  than  ordinary  merit,  which, 
if  used  practically,  will  save  labor  and  facil- 
itate the  record  of  commercial  transactions. 

Politically  Mr.  Hyde  was  originally  an 
old-line  Whig,  and  voted  for  Gencraf  Har- 
rison in  1836  and  1840.  In  1856  he  suj)- 
ported  James  Buchanan  for  the  presidency, 
and  has  voted  for  every  Democratic  candi- 
date for  that  office  since  that  time.  While 
a  resident  of  Pike  county  he  was  electetl 
countv  superintendent  of  schools,  and  effi- 
ciently filled  that  office  for  three  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  did  much  to  elevate  the 
schools  of  the  county.  He  also  .served  as 
deputv  assessor  four  years  in  that  county, 
and  since  coming  to  Lincoln  has  Ixjen  cilv 
assessor  and  deinity  townsbij)  assessor.  In 
1867  he  was  appointed  a  memlK-r  of  the 
school  lH»ar<l  of  Lincoln,  which  i>ositi(Mi  he 
filled  two  vears.  and  was  also  a  meml»er  of 
the  committee  to  visit  schools.  In  i8<J5  he 
was  apiM>inted  city  collector,  and  in  .April. 
i8()g.  was  elected  city  treasurer.  He  is  also 
serving  as  city  comptroller,  and  his  ofticial 
duties  have  always  been  most  faithfully 
and  satisfactorily  performed.  Mr.  Hy<lc 
is  to-day  the  oldest  Mason  in  Logan  county, 
having    joined    that    order    in     1845.     .\l- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


241 


though  now  eighty-eight  years  of  age.  he  is 
still  in  possession  of  all  his  faculties,  and 
appears  much  younger.  He  has  led  an  up- 
right, honorable  and  useful  life,  and  is  held 
in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know  him. 


JOHX  W.  LOVh:L.\XD. 

The  Lo\eland  family  of  which  our  sub- 
ject. John  W.  Loveland.  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative, came  to  America  from  England 
as  far  back  as  1614  and  located  in  Xew 
England.  The  family  has  not  been  a  very 
numerous  one.  its  records  telling  of  but  two 
hundred  branches  of  the  family  tree  in  the 
United  States.  The  members  of  this  fam- 
ily have  been  true  and  loyal  citizens,  the 
great-grandfather  Loveland  bearing  a  com- 
mission as  colonel  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  the  grandfather.  Ambrose  Love- 
land. leaving  a  record  for  gallantry  as  a 
captain  in  the  war  of  18 12.  The  former 
died  in  Massachusetts,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six  years. 

John  P.  Loveland.  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, followed  an  agricultural  life  and  moved 
from  Massachusetts  to  Illinois  in  1863.  set- 
tling in  De  Kalb  county.  In  1871  he  went 
to  Nebraska,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1896.  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He 
married  Maria  Inghram,  who  "was  born  in 
ilassachusetts,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Chester,  Nebraska,  bearing  her  seventy-four 
years  with  ease. 

The  family  born  to  John  P.  Loveland 
and  wife  consisted  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  maturity, 
their  names  now  re])resenting  good  and 
worthy  citizens  through  this  and  other 
states.  The  children  of  these  parents  were : 
Lewis  C.  a  contractor  and  builder,  living  in 


Aurora.  Illinois;  Franklin  E..  also  a  builder, 
residing  in  .Aurora;  Eliza  J.,  wlu)  married 
H.  Perry  and  died  in  Nebraska,  at  the  age 
<if  twenty-three  years;  John  \\'..  who  is  the 
subject  of  this  biography;  James  \V.,  who  is 
a  farmer  in  the  state  of  Arkansas;  Mary  M., 
who  married  G.  C.  White,  an  engineer  on 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  residing  in 
Garrett.  Indiana;  Wells  U..  who  is  a  farmer 
in  Wyoming;  and  Nellie  I.,  wife  of  Norman 
Stafford,  who  lives  in  Kansas,  near  Chester, 
Nebraska.  All  of  this  family  were  affcjrded 
excellent  etlucational  advantages,  the  older 
members  in  Massachusetts  and  the  younger 
ones  in  Illinois,  while  the  two  youngest  at- 
tended school  in  Nebraska.  During  his  en- 
tire life  Mr.  L(jveland  was  interested  in  edu- 
cational matters.  His  wife  had  been  edu- 
cated for  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  it 
was  a  matter  of  the  deepest  concern  with 
both  of  them  that  their  children  should  have 
every  possible  advantage.  In  religion  they 
were  united  in  their  adherence  to  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  in  political  matters  Mr. 
Loveland  advocated  the  priuciples  of  the 
Republican  party. 

John  W.  Loveland  needs  no  introduc- 
tion to  the  citizens  of  Illinois,  as  his  position 
as  architect  and  government  contractor  and 
builder  has  made  his  name  a  familiar  one  in 
the  public.  The  birth  of  Mr.  Loveland  oc- 
curred in  Middlefield.  Berkshire  county. 
Massachusetts,  March  6,  1854,  and  he  was 
nine  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to 
Illinois.  In  this  state  he  attended  school 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  old.  leaving  his 
b(}oks  at  that  time  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade,  for  which  he  had  a  natural  aptitude. 
His  unusual  skill  enabled  him  to  begin  con- 
tracting when  he  was  not  more  than  eight- 
een years  old.  and  he  worked  by  the  day.  as 
a  journeyman,  for  the  following  five  years, 
in  the  meantime  carefully  pursuing  archi- 


242 


THE   BKKiKAI'HlCAL   RECORD. 


tcctural  studies.  For  a  time  he  worked  at 
his  trade  in  .\uri>ra.  llHnxis,  and  through 
I)e  Kallj  county  many  «>f  the  residences  and 
huiKhngs  of  various  kinds  still  testify  to  his 
artistic  taste  and  the  sohdity  of  his  work. 

In  189J  lie  was  called  to  Lincoln.  Illi- 
nois, to  take  the  ]XJsition  of  foreman  of  the 
corps  of  government  builders  and  contract- 
ors, by  the  appointment  of  the  governor,  and 
for  five  years  he  filled  that  position  with  the 
greatest  ability,  this  resulting  in  his  apix>int- 
ment  in  1897  as  chief  of  the  corps  of  con- 
tractors at  the  Home  for  Eeeble  Minded 
Children.  Since  that  time  the  imposing 
structure  which  is  the  ])resent  home  for 
those  unfortunates,  as  well  as  the  industrial 
building  on  the  state  grounds,  stand  as  last- 
ing monuments  to  his  architectural  design- 
ing as  well  as  to  his  great  knowledge  of  the 
art  of  construction. 

Mr.  Loveland  was  married  Septcml>er 
6,  1882,  in  Aurora,  Illinois,  to  Miss  ]sa 
Kinnaird,  who  was  Iwjrn  in  Little  Rix-k.  Illi- 
nois, in  i860,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of 
James  Kinnaird. '  The  latter  was  a  gallant 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  who  gave  up  his 
life  for  his  country.  The  Ixfltned  mother 
of  Mrs.  Loveland  is  a  daughter  of  Lord 
Hunter,  a  nobleman  of  Scotland.  She  has 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter.  Mrs. 
Loveland  was  well  educated  in  the  schLX>ls 
of  Little  Rock,  and  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loveland 
one  daughter  has  l)ecn  born,  Jean,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  OctoU-r,  1889.  She  is 
now  a  student  in  the  public  .scIkkjI  in  Lin- 
coln. 

.\ltliiiugh  Mr.  Lovc'l.ind  has  always  l)cen 
a  Repulilican,  his  life  has  been  tiH>  busy  to 
enable  him  to  accept  otVice  of  a  |xilitical  na- 
ture, 'llie  religions  connection  of  the  fam- 
•ilv    is   with   tlai  CumbtTland    I're.sbvteriaii 


church,  where  they  are  \alued  for  their  true 
Christian  characters.  S<jcially  Mr.  Love- 
land is  i)opu!ar  in  Camp  No.  109,  M.  W.  A., 
in  which  he  has  held  official  ixjsition;  also 
in  the  Knights  of  IMhias  order;  in  the  Pio- 
neer Reserve  Association,  of  which  he  is 
vice-president;  and  in  the  Royal  Neighlx»rs, 
of  which  Mrs.  Loveland  is  also  a  member. 
The  ])ros])erity  which  has  come  to  Mr. 
Loveland  is  due  to  his  own  efforts.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  valuable  property  in  Lin- 
coln, and  designs  to  make  this  city  his  per- 
manent home,  having  a  nvKlern  residence  in 
the  ctnirse  of  erection.  Self-made,  he  is 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  this  city, 
and  much  of  its  business  activity,  as  well  as 
structural  attractiveness,  is  due  to  his  efforts. 


JOHN  H.  WILLMERT. 

In  studying  the  lives  and  characters  of 
prominent  men  we  are  naturally  letl  to  in- 
quire into  the  secret  of  their  success  and  the 
motives  that  jjrompted  their  action.  Suc- 
cess is  a  question  of  genius  as  held  by 
many,  but  is  it  not  rather  a  matter  t>f  ex- 
perience and  sound  judgment?  When  we 
trace  the  career  of  those  who  stand  highest 
in  public  esteem  we  find  in  nearly  every  case 
that  they  are  those  who  have  risen  gradually, 
fighting  their  way  in  the  face  of  all  opjxisi- 
tion.  Self-reliance,  conscientiousness,  en- 
ergy, honesty,  these  are  the  traits  of  char- 
acter that  ensure  the  highest  emoluments 
and  greatest  success.  To  these  we  may  at- 
tribute the  success  that  has  crowned  the  ef- 
forts of  the  man  who.se  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  review. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  five  chiUlren  who 
were  born  to  I-Vederick  and  Catherine  (  Rav- 
cnsburg)   Willmert.     The  father  was  a  na- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tive  of  Germany  and  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
where  he  assisted  his  fatlier  in  the  many 
duties  of  that  calling  until  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, when  he  engaged  for  himself  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  which  he  followed  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  up  to  the  date 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  i860.  His 
widow  and  five  children  survive  him.  Our 
subject  was  about  one  and  a  half  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  The 
mother  was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
received  a  good  education  at  the  place  of 
her  birth.  In  1891  she  left  her  native 
country  to  join  her  son,  John  H. 

In  November,  1872,  our  subject  engaged 
passage  on  a  steamer  and  embarked  for  the 
United  States,  landing  in  the  city  of  Xew 
York,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time, 
looking  for  work,  and,  hearing  of  the  op- 
portunities afforded  young  men  of  pluck 
and  energy  in  the  far  west,  he  started  for 
Illinois,  and  arrived  in  Lincoln,  November 
16,  1872.  He  at  once  found  work  as  a 
hand  on  one  of  the  farms  about  four  miles 
south  of  the  city,  where  he  continued  for 
five  years.  By  close  attention  to  his  duties 
and  by  energy  and  perseverance  and  eco- 
nomical habits  he  in  a  short  time  was  en- 
abled to  purchase  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
acres  of  land  in  Eminence  township,  on  sec- 
tion 26,  and  here  he  made  many  impro\e- 
ments  and  a  home  for  himself,  on  which  he 
resided  until  the  year  1886,  engaging  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising  to  some 
extent.  He  was  successful  in  all  of  his 
undertakings  and  had  the  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him,  as  an  upright  and  fair  deal- 
ing man.  In  the  year  last  named  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  also  on 
section  26,  Eminence  township,  which  is 
now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
on  which  he  at  present  resides.  From  time 
to  tiiue  he  has  added  to  this  property  until 


at  this  date  he  is  the  owner  of  four  hundred 
and  seventeen  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  farm- 
ing land,  on  sections  25,  26  and  36. 

!Mr.  Willmert  was  united  in  marriage,  on 
the  loth  day  of  June,  1880,  with  Miss  Caro- 
line Bock,  daughter  of  the  late  Adam  Bock, 
of  Lincoln,  Illinois,  who  was  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  Logan  county,  hi.s 
death  occurring  in  August,  1881.  To  our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eight  are  still  living,  namely  : 
Frederick  W.  was  born  June  20,  1881 ; 
iliiuiie  K.  was  born  December  i,  1883; 
Mary  D.  was  born  April  11,  1886;  John  H. 
was  born  March  14,  1888;  George  A.  was 
born  July  25,  1891 ;  Caroline,  named  after 
her  mother,  was  born  ]^Iarch  14,  1894,  and 
died  on  the  30th  of  the  ne.xt  May ;  Martha 
was  born  August  9,  1895 ;  and  Catherine, 
named  after  her  grandmother,  was  Ixirn  on 
the  8th  of  February,  1898:  and  Albert  Carl 
H.  was  born  April  14,  1901.  All  of  the  chil- 
dren reside  at  home  with  their  parents,  and 
are  members  of  the  Evangelical  church. 

Mr.  Willmert  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  also  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  holds  the  position  of  road  commis- 
sioner of  Eminence  township,  which  office 
he  has  held  for  three  years.  He  also  held 
the  position  of  school  director  for  nine 
years,  ^\■hile  never  taking  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  he  has  always  Ijeen  a  pub- 
lic-spirited man  and  an  advocate  for  all  that 
tends  to  advance  and  improve  the  interests 
of  the  community  in  which  he  lives,  and  es- 
pecially has  he  been  interested  in  educational 
matters,  and  is  giving  his  children  every 
opportunity  that  the  schools  of  the  county 
afford.  One  of  the  great  disadvantages 
with  which  he  had  to  contend  was  his  lack 
of  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  yet 


244 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he-was  well  versed  in  tlic  c«>niini»n  l)ranches 
of  study  in  his  own  language.  W'liile  not 
nunilx?red  among  tlic  pioneers  of  the  county, 
he  has  given  tliirty  of  the  best  years  of  his 
hfe  to  its  growth  and  development,  and  in 
every  enterjirise  which  has  a  tentlency  for 
tlie  public  go<Kl  he  is  willing  to  give  of  his 
time  and  means.  He  is  an  enterprising  and 
successful  farmer,  and  is  worthy  of  the 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 


JOII.X   R.   BAkXETT.  M.   D. 

The  world  has  little  use  lor  the  misan- 
thrope. The  universal  truth  of  brother- 
IkmkI  is  widely  recogiiize<l.  also  that  he 
serves  (i(Ml  best  who  serves  his  fellowmen. 
There  is  no  profession  or  line  of  business 
that  calls  for  greater  self-sacrifice  or  more 
devoted  attention  than  the  medical  jjrofes- 
sion,  and  the  successful  physician  is  he.  who 
through  love  for  his  fellowmen  gives  his 
time  and  attention  to  the  relief  of  human 
suffering.  Dr.  Barnett  is  an  able  rejiresent- 
ative  of  this  noble  calling,  and  today  occu- 
l)ies  the  responsible  position  of  assistant 
superintendent  and  governing  physician  of 
the  Illinois  .\sylum  for  Feeble  Minded  Chil- 
dren at  Lincoln. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  W'illiamstown. 
Kentucky,  February  14.  i^-,2.  a  son  of 
Thomas  A.  an<l  Amarias  (\ance)  Barnett. 
al.so  natives  of  that  state.  In  uS^f)  the  fa- 
ther brought  his  family  to  Logan  county. 
Illinois,  but  alter  residing  here  for  some 
years  removed  to  Decatur  county.  Indiana, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  a  time.  He 
subsequently  made  his  home  in  Xiantic.  Illi- 
nois, and  from  there  came  to  Latli.ini.  Logan 
county. 

Reared  on  a  farm.  Dr.  l'.:irnctt  earlv  be- 


came familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
for  some  years  worke«l  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  haml.  His  literary  education  was  ob- 
tainetl  in  the  common  sch«M)ls  of  this  county 
anti  at  Lincoln  L'niversity.  ami  for  four 
years  he  engage<l  in  school  teaching.  While 
thus  employed  at  Middletown,  he  com- 
menced reading  me<licine  with  Dr.  \V.  C. 
Maull  as  jjreceptor.  and  later  entered  Rush 
Medical  College.  Chicago,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  F'ebruary  21.  1S81.  with  the 
degree  <jf  Doctor  of  Medicine.  In  June  of 
that  year  he  located  at  Hartsburg.  where  he 
succeeded  Dr.  L.  Loda,  and  built  up  a  lucra- 
tive practice.  In  1897  he  was  apiK>inted  as- 
sistant superintendent  and  placed  in  charge 
of  the  medical  de])artment  of  the  Illinois 
Asylum  for  I'eeble  Minded  Children,  and  in 
June.  1901.  was  re-apiK)inted  to  the  same  [»>- 
sition  under  the  administration  of  tiovemor 
Yates,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  which  fact 
plainly  indicates  the  efficient  manner  in  which 
he  has  filled  the  office. 

Dr.  Barnett  has  lieen  twice  marrie<l.  In 
1879  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Reed,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  T.  M.  Reed,  of  Mid- 
town,  who  die<l  three  months  after  their 
marriage,  and  in  January.  1884.  he  marrie<l 
Miss  Mary  Morris,  of  Columbus  Grove, 
Ohio.  By  this  union  three  children  have 
l)ecn  Ijorn,  naiiiely :  Clarence  M..  now  at- 
tending the  Lincoln  high  school:  John  Rus- 
.sell.  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  ami 
Rolwrt  \'.,  who  wa-s  bom  Jajuiary  24.  189^. 
In  his  political  views  Dr.  Barnett  is  a 
pronouncetl  Reiuiblican.  and  has  Ik'cu  idcnti- 
fie<l  with  the  Republican  organization  of 
Logan  county  for  twenty-five  years.  He  is 
now  a  mcml)er  of  the  Methinlist  I'4)i.scoj>al 
church  of  Lincoln,  and  for  .some  time  wa.s 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-sch<Hil  while  a 
resident  of  Hartsburg.  SiKially  the  Doctor 
atViliates  with  the  Ma.sonic  fraternitv.  the  In- 


DR.  J.   R.   BARNETT. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  ami  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  has 
represented  the  last-named  order  in  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state  eighteen  years. 
He  has  been  identified  with  the  Pioneer  Re- 
serve Association,  a  fraternal  insnrance  so- 
ciety of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  since  its  or- 
ganization, being  chairman  of  the  committee 
which  wrote  the  new  ritual  and  a  member 
of  the  committee  which  revised  the  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws.  He  is  now  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  and  supreme  medical 
director  of  the  order.  For  several  years  Dr. 
Barnett  was  a  member  of  the  corps  of  sur- 
geons of  the  Peoria,  Decatur  &  Evansville 
Railroad :  is  a  member  of  the  Brainard  Dis- 
trict Medical  Society:  the  Illinois  State  ^led- 
ical  Society ;  the  Association  of  ]\IedicaI  Offi- 
cers of  American  Institutions  for  the  Feel)le 
Minded;  and  the  National  Association  of 
Assistant  Surgeons  for  the  Insane.  He  has 
that  love  for  and  devotion  to  his  profession 
so  necessar}-  to  success,  and  has  won  a  prom- 
inent place  among  the  ablest  representatives 
of  the  medical  fraternitv  in  the  state.  ' 


AUCIL'ST  P.  KfE-MMEL. 

It  is  astonishing  to  witness  the  success  of 
young  men  who  have  emigrated  to  America 
without  capital  and  from  a  position  of  com- 
parative obscurity  have  worked  their  wa\- 
ujjward  to  a  position  of  prominence.  The 
readiness  with  which  they  adapt  themsehcs 
to  circumstances  and  take  advantage  of  op- 
portunities offered  brings  to  them  success 
and  wins  them  a  place  among  the  leading 
men  of  the  community  in  which  they  reside. 
Prominent  amcsng  the  citizens  that  (Germany 
has  furnished  to  this  county  is  August  P. 
Kuemmel,  of  Lincoln,  who  is  now  scr\iug 
as  circuit  clerk  and  recorder. 

14 


lie  was  Ikmu  in  W'urtemburg.  (icrmany, 
I'U  the  4th  (if  July,  1854,  and  is  a  son  nf 
I'ernliard  and  Catherine  Kuemmel.  His 
l)nylni(id  and  youth  were  passed  in  his  native 
city,  wIktc  he  attended  school  for  some  time, 
and  \n\-  four  years  was  a  student  at  Lud- 
wigsburg  Academy.  Resolved  to  try  his 
fortune  in  the  United  States,  he  crossed  the 
.\tlantic  in  1870  and  landed  in  Xew  York, 
where  he  spent  one  year.  He  then  came  to 
Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  found  employment  in 
grocery  store  of  John  A.  Lutz.  In  1872  he 
accepted  a  position  as  copyist  in  the  office  of 
Fred  C.  Kochule,  then  circuit  clerk  and  re- 
ctirder,  and  was  subscqucntl}'  assistant  to 
.xndrew  .McCalliard  f(ir  two  years. 

In  1870  'S\v.  Kuemmel  returned  on  a 
visit  to  his  old  home  in  Germany,  but  the 
fiillowing  year  we  again  find  him  in  Lincoln, 
where,  in  the  employ  of  H.  W.  Dana,  he  was 
sucessfully  engaged  in  the  abstract  business 
a  number  of  years.  In  1884  he  was  ap- 
])(iinted  deputy  circuit  clerk  and  recorder  un- 
der K.  F.  L.  i\autenberg,  and  when  diat 
gentleman  retired  from  office  in  1892,  our 
subject  was  elected  his  successor.  Being 
well  qualified  to  fill  the  office,  he  discharged 
its  duties  so  acceptably,  that  he  was  re-elected 
in  1896  and  again  in  1900,  his  present  term 
not  expiring  until  1904. 

Mr.  Kuemmel  was  married  in  Febru- 
arv,  1885,  to  JNIiss  A.gnes  Ray  of  Lincoln. 
He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  civic  so- 
cieties, and  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Knights  (if  IMhi.is.  of  which  he  is  now  past 
chancelliir:  tiic  independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  served  as  udlile  grand  df  Md- 
zart  Lodge,  Xo.  343,  and  is  at  present  a  rep- 
resentative to  the  grand  lodge;  the  National 
Union  ;  and  the  ^Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  ■ 
Democrats  in  the  county,  .and  exerts  con- 
siderable interest  in  political  affairs.     Few 


THE  BIOGKArmCAL   RECORD. 


of  our  foreign  born  citizens  are  more  loyal 
in  their  devoti«»n  to  this,  the  land  of  their 
adoption,  than  he  has  been  for  tlie  peri'Kl  of 
his  residence  here,  over  thirty  years.  In 
liUfi  he  again  returned  to  Germany  on  a 
visit,  hut  is  well  content  to  make  America 
his  home. 


MASKKL  LKK.  .M.  D. 

Prominent  among  the  i)liysicians  of  .\t- 
lanta  is  numbered  Maskcl  Lee.  wlio  for  the 
past  thirteen  years  has  given  his  time  and 
closest  attention  to  tliose  who  have  needed 
his  care.  He  is  one  of  nine  diildren  who 
were  Ixmi  to  William  and  Mary  C.  (  L)<tck- 
um)  Lee.  The  fatlier  was  in  his  earlier  days 
a  verv  successful  farmer  of  Madison  county. 
Ohio,  but  in  the  year  1850  he  moved  to 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  where  he  died  June 
13,  1886.  The  mother  died  in  .\pril.  i8y_'. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Susanna  (  Rich- 
ards) Lee,  the  grandfather  being  i>riginally 
from  I'jigland. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Logan  county. 
Illinois,  October  17.  1855.  Here  he  grew 
to  manhoo<l,  getting  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  but  in  1S73  he  l)egan  the 
study  of  his  iirofe.ssioii  and  in  the  year  of 
1886  he  entered  the  Rush  Medical  College 
at  Chicago,  where  he  completed  the  course. 
gra<luating  in  1888.  Inunediately  upon  re- 
ceiving his  diploma  he  returned  to  his  place 
of  birth,  his  j)resent  home,  an<l  took  up  the 
l)ractice  of  his  |)rofession,  and  has  continued 
here  with  marked  success.  Dr.  Lee  has  also 
taken  a  special  course  in  the  disease  of  the 
eye  and  ear  under  the  ilirections  of  Profes- 
sors Holmes  and  Colburn.  of  Chicago,  and 
of  the  throat  under  Professor  Ingalls. 

He  was  iniited  in  marriage  .\ugust  31, 
l88<i.  U>  Miss  Rulli  .Shiiilcx.  ;i  d.iughter  of 


Sanniel  Shipley,  of  Ohio.  This  union  was 
blessed  with  three  sons,  as  follows:  Don. 
Jean  and  Hurch. 

Politically  Dr.  Lee  is  a  Rciniblican  and 
while  not  a  bitter  |)artisan.  has  yet  an  abid- 
ing faith  in  the  princii)les  of  his  party.  He 
is  a  memljer  of  the  Masonic  order,  Atlanta 
Lodge.  No.  165.  .\.  P.  &  A.  M.:  Atlanta 
Chapter,  No.  188.  R.  .\.  .M..  and  Constan- 
tine  Commandery.  .\<>.  31.  of  Lincoln,  and 
also  the  Mahomet  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Peoria.  The  Doctor  is  past  mas- 
ter of  the  blue  lo<lge  and  is  at  present  high 
l)riest  of  the  chapter.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
l)er  of  the  Indeiiendent  Order  of  Odtl  Fel- 
lows. He  has  .served  two  years  as  a  mem- 
ljer of  the  city  council ;  for  the  past  ten 
vears  has  been  a  meml)er  of  the  scIuk)! 
l>oard  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of  pres- 
ident. 

The  Doctor,  who  is  yet  in  tlie  prime  of 
life,  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him.  and  stands  well  among  the  members 
of  his  profession.  He  is  energetic,  enter- 
prising and  enthusiastic,  and  just  such  a 
citizen  as  gives  character  to  the  connnunity. 


RiCiiAKD    P.    XAl.L. 

There  is  no  resident  of  ILnrtsburg  who 
has  .so  long  resided  here  as  Richard  P.  Nail, 
the  well  known  and  po|)ular  proprietor  of 
the  Xall  House.  He  has  been  closely  iden- 
tifie<l  with  the  interests  of  the  town  and  its 
upbuilding,  and  he  dates  his  residence  in 
Logan  couiUy  since  1864.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  (^hio  county.  Kentucky.  June  15, 
1838,  his  ])arents  being  l^ircan  and  Julia 
(  Ciriftin  )  Xall,  the  former  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky and  the  latter  of  X'irginia.  The  fa- 
ther  spent    the  greater  part   of   liis   life   in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


249 


the  Blue  Grass  state  and  tliere  conducted  a 
hotel  and  also  carried  on  a  general  store. 
He  likewise  gave  considerable  attention  td 
farming  and  was  one  of  the  leading  tobacco 
raisers  in  that  section  of  the  state.  In  i8()3 
he  removed  from  Kentucky  to  West  Lin- 
coln township,  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and 
purchased  a  farm,  but  renting  the  land,  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  city  of  Lincoln, 
where,  in  partnership  with  his  son  Richard, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and 
grocery  business  for  a  number  of  years. 
Subsequently  he  put  aside  business  cares 
and  lived  a  retired  life  in  Lincoln  until 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  died  in  Kentucky.  They  were 
the  parents  of  several  children,  but  only  two 
are  now  Ii\ing — Richard  P.  and  Alfred, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Kentucky.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  mar- 
ried Catherine  Lewis,  who  died  in  Lincoln. 
Three  of  their  children  are  now  living: 
Mary  B.,  who  resides  in  Lincoln:  Lem.,  of 
St.  Paul,  Minnesota:  and  Duff,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois. 

Lender  the  parental  roof  Richard  Xall 
was  reared  and  in  the  puljlic  schiX)ls  ol)- 
tained  his  education.  After  arriving  at 
years  of  maturity  he  chose  as  a  companion 
and  helpmate  for  the  journey  of  life  Miss 
Camilla  Shanks,  of  Kentucky,  who  died  a 
number  of  years  later,  and  their  three  chil- 
dren have  also  passed  away.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  our  subject  married  Johanna  Hille- 
brand,  a  lady  of  (ierman  lineage,  and  they 
have  four  children:  Fannie,  wife  of  Elma 
Musgrove,  of  Hartsburg;  Larkin,  a  black- 
smith of  the  same  town :  Louisa,  wife  of 
George  Shirley,  a  farmer  of  Orvil  town- 
ship, and  Leila  Florence,  at  home. 

In  1864  Mr.  Xall  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  upon  the  farm  in  W'est  Lincoln 
township.   Logan   county,   which   his    father 


had  purchased  the  previous  year.  There 
he  made  his  home  for  about  a  year,  but  on 
account  of  the  ill  health  of  his  wife  he  re- 
turned to  Kentucky,  .\fter  spending  the 
succeeding  \ear  in  liis  nati\e  state  he  came 
again  to  Illinois,  taking  up  his  abode  in  the 
city  of  Lincoln,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  with  his  father  for  two 
years.  He  then  sold  out  and  returned  to 
Kentucky,  where  his  first  wife  died.  When 
five  years  had  ])assed  he  again  came  to 
Logan  county,  establishing  his  lii>me  in 
Hartsburg  when  the  village  was  first  start- 
ed. He  is  the  only  one  now  living  here  that 
resided  in  Hartsburg  at  the  time.  He  first 
engaged  in  general  merchandising,  which 
he  followed  for  a  few  years  and  was  then 
appointed  postmaster,  filling  that  position 
during  a  part  of  both  of  President  Cleve- 
land's administrations,  .\fter  his  retire- 
ment from  office  Mr.  Xall  and  his  wife  Ije- 
gan  keeping  boarders,  and  the  Xall  House 
has  always  found  fa\-or  with  the  public  on 
account  of  the  e.xcellent  table  and  the  con- 
sideration which  is  paid  to  the  welfare  and 
comfort  of  the  guests.  Mr.  Xall  also  owns 
several  acres  of  land  adjoining  his  home 
antl  is  extensively  engaged  in  raising  pota- 
toes, for  which  he  has  gained  a  wide  repu- 
tation. His  property  interests  also  include 
several  building  lots  in  Hartsburg.  He  is 
also  agent  for  the  firm  of  Emmons  &  Com- 
oany,  of  Xewark,  Xew  Jersey,  and  does  a 
large  nursery  business. 

In  lis  political  views  he  is  a  stalwart 
Democrat,  and  three  times  he  has  been  elect- 
ed to  the  office  of  police  magistrate,  but 
only  once  has  he  consented  to  serve.  He 
has  also  held  the  position  of  town  marshal 
and  other  minor  offices.  Socially  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  .\ncient  Order  of  I'nited 
Workmen  of  Hartsburg,  and  both  he  and 
hi*^    wife   are     c<jnsistent     members    of    the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


C  liii>;i.ii;  v-liiircli  of  Hartsbiirg.  in  .which 
lie  is  now  serving  as  trustee.  In  his  busi- 
ness affairs  he  lias  i)nisi)ere«l,  for  his  efforts 
liave  iR'en  carefully  directetl  an<l  his  energy 
has  brought  to  him  success. 


i.i:\  1  Lfc.\s  (;k()\i:.^. 

For  several  years  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  an  honored  resident  of  Logan 
county.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  on 
tlie  19th  of  Jvme.  1839.  and  was  a  son  of 
riioiuas  Ci.  and  Elizabeth  (Summers) 
(iroves.  His  father  was  born  in  \irginia, 
in  17SJ.  an<l  when  seventeen  years  of  age  re- 
inove<l  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1S55.  and  then  came  to  Illinois,  in  the  mean- 
time becoming  a  very  e.xtensive  and  success- 
ful farmer.  He  died  in  1880,  at  the  extreme 
>  >ld  age  of  ninety-one  years. 

During  his  boyhood  our  subject  attended 
the  common  schools,  and  after  receiving  a 
good  practical  education  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  juirsuits.  In  1855  he  came 
to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained .s<»me  time.  Later  he  came  to  Logan 
county  and  followed  farming  until  failing 
health  necessitated  his  retirement  from  that 
occui>ation.  and  he  then  engaged  in  the 
butcher  business  alnnit  two  years.  With  the 
ho])e  of  benetilting  his  health  he  removed  to 
Iowa  in  1878.  but  there  tlied  two  years  later, 
honored  ami  resjiected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

.\s  a  com])anion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
j((urnev  Mr.  (imves  chose  Miss  Elizabeth 
.\.  Curry,  and  their  wedding  was  celebrated 
in  September  jf>.  18(17.  She  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  an<l  a  daughter  of  .\ndrew  Curry,  who 
was  originally  from  rennsylvaiiia,  and  from 
there  removed  to  the  lUickeye  state.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Groves  l>ecaine  the  i»arents  of  four 


cliildren,  nainely :  Harry  M..  who  resides  in 
Chicago;  Lester  L.  and  Oiarles  Iv.  who  are 
all  marrie<l;  and  Erank  L..  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Lester  L.  and  his  wife  live  with  his 
mother  in  .\tlanta. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war. 
Mr.  Groves  manifested  his  loyalty  and  love 
of  country  by  his  service  in  the  Union  army, 
and  he  remained  at  the  front  until  hostilities 
ceased,  when  he  was  lnMiorably  discharge»l. 
Socially  he  was  a  memljer  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  religiously  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church.  In  all  of  the  rela- 
tions of  life  he  w.is  found  true  to  every  trust 
re])osed  in  him  whether  public  or  private,  and 
commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 


.\D.\M  r.OCK. 


Many  of  the  most  enterprising  and  pros- 
perous citizens  of  Logan  county  have  come 
from  the  land  l)eyond  the  sea,  and  here  they 
have  matle  for  themselves  and  family  a  com- 
fortable home.  Prominent  among  these  is 
numbered  the  sul)iect  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  born  in  (iermany  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1851,  and  there  grew  to  maiihoo(l.  being 
nineteen  years  of  a.ge  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  father.  John  .\.  HiK-k. 
a  native  of  the  fatherland.  His  paternal 
grandparents.  Henry  and  .\niiic '(  Veagell ) 
liock.  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Clermany. 
the  former  dying  in  1833.  and  the  latter  in 
1873.     Hy  occui)ation  he  was  a  farmer. 

John  .\.  Hock,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  I-'ebrnary  14,  1814.  and  receivetl  a 
giH.d  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
land.  During  his  boylioo«l  and  youth  he 
worked  with  his  father  ui)on  the  home  farm 
and  then  enga.ged  in   farming  for  himself. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


2?I 


On  the  1st  of  June,  1870,  lie  and  his  family 
sailed  fnr  iho  new  \\.>rl<l  and  landed  in  I'.alti^ 
more,  whence  diev  pmceeded  In  (  )hiii,  where 
they  made  their  home  for  a  year  and  a  half. 
Dn  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to 
Logan  county.  Illinois,  and  lirst  located  in 
Elkhart.  Init  in  1877  removed  to  Lawndale. 
where  he  resided  with  our  snhject.  until 
•called  to  his  final  rest  August  ]_•.  iSSi.  1  lis 
wife  died  in  the  old  country  in  i8(j8.  Her 
maiden  name  was  keagel  antl  her  people 
Avere  farmers. 

The  early  education  of  our  suhject  was 
acquired  in  the  schools  of  Germany.  After 
the  family  came  to  Illinois,  he  aided  his  fa- 
ther in  the  operation  of  a  farm  tiear  Elkhart 
until  1877,  when  he  rented  a  tract  of  land  at 
Lawndale  and  commenced  farming  on  his 
own  acc<iunt.  working  in  that  way  for  thir- 
teen years.  Being  industrious  and  economi- 
cal, he  met  with  good  success  and  in  1891 
was  able  to  purchase  a  farm,  being  now  the 
"jKissessor  of  a  valuable  and  well-improved 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tions 10  and  II,  Oran  township.  He  is  an 
energetic  and  reliable  business  man  who  car- 
ries forward  to  successful  completion  what- 
ever he  undertakes. 

On  the  22i\  of  March.  1877,  Mr.  B.ick 
was  united  in  marriage  with  I\Iiss  Henrietta 
L.  W'illmert.  a  daughter  of  Frederick  W'ill- 
mert,  of  Germany,  and  a  sister  of  J.  H.  \\ill- 
mert,  who  married  our  subject's  sister.  Mrs. 
Bock,  who  was  a  most  estimable  wt)man,  lie- 
loved  Ijy  all  who  knew  her,  died  I)eceml;er 
18,  1899,  leaving  four  children,  namely:  J- 
Henry,  born  February  27,  1878;  Maria  C 
torn  May  1 1,  1880:  Catherine  Louisa  Marie, 
born  October  i,  1881  :  and  John  Adam,  born 
January  19.  1884.  All  these  children  live 
at  home.  John  .\dam  was  named  for  his 
his  grandfather.  The  f.amily  are  members 
of  St.  John's  l-A-angelical  church  of  TJncoln, 


and  are  highly  resfxicted  and  esteemed  by  all 

whci  know  them.  In  his  political  \ie\\s  .Mr. 
r.ock  is  a  strong  Democrat,  hut  he  has  never 
sought  ot'iicial  lion(jrs,  desiring  rather  to 
gi\e  his  nndi\  ided  attention  to  his  business 
interests.  He  is  olie  of  Oran  township's 
wealthiest  and  most  prominent  farmers,  as 
well  as  one  of  its  most  public-spirited  and 
enteri)rising  citizens. 


IT^OFESSOR  W 


RLS-^l'-LL. 


rrominein  among  the  able  corps  ot  m- 
structnrs  at  Lincoln  College  of  the  James 
Millikin  I'niversity,  Lincoln.  Illinois,  is  Pro- 
fessor William  Polk  Rus.ell.  who  h,,l<ls  the 
chair  of  mathematics.  He  is  a  native  of 
Alabama,  horn  in  CJaylesville.  December  29, 
1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  S.  L.  and  IMar- 
garet  (Griftitts)  Russell,  also  natives  of  that 
state.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Rev. 
Samuel  R.  and  Xancy  (Gamble)  Russell. 
The  grandfather  was  a  minister  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church,  as  was  also  our 
subject's  father,  who  ranked  as  one  of  the 
best  i)reachers  in  his  section  of  the  country. 
He  also  stood  high  as  an  educator,  being  for 
many  years  at  the  head  of  what  was  known 
as  the  Gaylesville  high  school,  which  was  at 
tliat  time  the  leading  seminary  in  northern 
Alabama.  It  would  be  exceedingly  hard  to 
estimate  his  inlluence  for  good  both  in  the 
school  room  and  in  the  pulpit.  His  entire 
life  was  spent  in  the  south,  where  he  died 
<  )ctoher  7,  1895,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  Our  subject's  maternal 
graiid  father  was  Lorenzo  Dt)W  Gritritts,  a 
\'irginian  b\-  birth. 

Professor  Russell,  of  this  review,  jiasscd 
the  lirst  twenty-li\e  years  of  his  life  in  his 
nati\e  state,   ;in<l  .-icfiuired  his  earlv  cduca- 


252 


THE   lilOtiKAl'HlCAL  RECORD. 


ti<Mi  in  Ills  fatlier's  private  school,  where  he 
was  fjracluated  at  tlie  age  of  fifteen,  being 
tlien  ijfcpareil  to  enter  tlie  junior  class  of 
CunilHfrland  University  at  Lebanon,  Ten- 
nessee. Instead  of  entering  college  at  that 
lime,  however,  he  remaine<l  at  home  as  in- 
.slriKtor  in  his  father's  scIukiI.  teaching  sev- 
eral branches,  namely :  mathematics.  Latin. 
Greek,  physics  and  rhetoric,  tluis  showing 
the  wide  scope  of  his  learning  when  but  a 
mere  l)ov.  In  1883  he  l^ecame  a  student  at 
Cumberland  University,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated two  years  later  with  the  degree  of  .\. 
li.,  and  then  resumed  teaching. 

in  1889  Professor  Russell  came  to  Lin- 
coln, Illinois,  to  accept  the  chair  of  mathe- 
matics in  Lincoln  University,  as  it  was  then 
known,  and  has  since  remained  at  that  place. 
Although  having  received  several  offers  of 
l)ctter  positions,  he  has  sacrificed  himself  and 
his  ambition  to  the  cau.se  (jf  the  University, 
and  has  done  much  to  advance  her  interests. 
As  a  teacher  in  mathematics  he  stanils  sec- 
ond to  none,  and  his  ability  as  a  mathemati- 
cian was  early  demonstrated.  It  was  the 
custom  in  his  father's  school  on  examination 
<lay  at  the  close  of  the  year  for  the  visitors 
present  to  ask  questions.  On  such  an  oc- 
casion, our  subject,  then  only  ten  years  old, 
was  called  upon  to  demonstrate  a  theorem  in 
geometry,  and  so  ably  did  he  do  it  that  the 
only  (|uestion  asked  was  by  an  old  school 
teacher.  wh(»  in(|uircd  the  boy's  age.  being 
surprised  that  a  little  barefoot  lad  could 
handle  so  ditVicull  a  problem. 

On  the  J I  St  of  June.  |8<^.V  Professor 
Russell  was  unitetl  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Rachel  C.  McCaiire.  of  Hethany.  Illinois,  a 
daughter  of  J.  H.  and  Mary  ((imcltz)  ^fc- 
(iuire.  She  was  educate<l  :it  Lincoln  L'ni- 
versity.  The  Professor  and  his  wife  have 
three  children  :  .Smith  I-..  Paul  .\.  and  Theo- 
<lore  .S.      I  )uring  his  residence  in  Lincoln  lie 


lias  Ijecn  an  active  and  prominent  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  elder  for  the  [>ast 
eight  years,  and  most  <»f  that  time  has  Ijeen 
clerk  of  the  official  lx>ard.  He  has  also 
taught  a  large  class  of  young  men  in  the 
Sunday  school  for  twelve  years.  Several 
times  he  has  rq)resenteil  his  congregation  in 
the  Presljytery,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
general  asembly  of  the  Cuml)erland  Presby- 
terian church  which  met  at  Chattanijoga, 
Tennessee,  in  1900.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
Ijer  of  the  M<Hlern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Professor  Russell  was  a  member  of  the 
party  sent  out  by  the  Lick  Observatory  to  ob- 
serve the  total  eclipse  of  the  sun  in  May. 
1900,  and  in  February  of  the  following  year 
he  discovered  the  new  star  in  Perseus  on  the 
same  night  that  it  was  discovered  by  Pro- 
fessor Anderson,  of  Kdinburg,  Scotland,  but 
made  no  announcemet  of  it  outside  liis  own 
cla.sses.  and  hence  it  became  known  as  An- 
derson's star.  The  Profes.sor  is  an  active 
member  of  the  National  Educational  .Asso- 
ciation. In  teaching  as  well  as  along  other 
lines,  he  has  ever  l)een  an  advocate  of  pro- 
gress and  reform,  and  is  thus  identifietl  with 
many  movements  whose  puriH»se  is  to  do 
away  with  old  metho<ls  and  .substitute  new 
and  better  ones.  Throughout  iiis  life  he  has 
been  actuated  by  noble,  yet  practical  i)rin- 
cijjles,  and  he  is  held  in  the  highest  resi>ect 
bv  all  who  know  him. 


RE\'.  pi:ri:K  ri:i\1)1-:rs. 

Rev.  Peter  Reinders,  pastor  of  the  Evan- 
gelical .\ssociation  church  of  Mt.  Pulaski, 
was  iKirn  in  Rhenish  Prussia.  September  15. 
1827.  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  (iertrude 
(Mnukhaus)    Reinders.  who  were   farming 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2S3 


people  of  tliat  country.  In  1S54  the  family 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  in  a  sailing  vessel, 
and  after  thirty-eight  days  upon  the  water 
landed  in  New  York  city.  They  first  lo- 
cated at  Beardstown.  Illinois,  but  the  fol- 
lowing spring  came  to  Logan  county,  and 
rented  a  farm  in  Mt.  Pulaski  township, 
which  die  father  operated  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  sons.  There  he  died  in  1SS3. 
and  his  wife  in  187^.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, all  sons,  namely  :  (lerhardt.  who  con- 
tracted consumption  while  serving  in  the 
German  army  and  died  in  bis  native  land  at 
the  age  of  twenty-four  years ;  Peter,  our  sub- 
ject: Henry,  who  also  died  in  Germany  in 
early  manbn.Hl;  and  John  and  Detrich.  who 
died  in  this  country. 

The  subject  of  this  review  attended  the 
public  .schools  of  Germany  for  the  regularly 
prescribed  time,  from  the  age  of  six  to  four- 
teen years,  and  then  learned  the  trade  of  a 
tinner,  at  which  he  served  a  three  years'  aji- 
prenticeship.  During  the  following  three 
vears  he  was  in  the  Prussian  army,  and  on 
the  expiration  oi  that  time  worked  at  his 
trade  two  years.  Before  leaving  Germany 
he  was  married  in  April,  1834,  to  Miss 
Ophuls.  also  a  native  of  that  country,  and  a 
daughter  of  Gerhardt  and  Sabilla  (Clap- 
door)  Ophuls. 

Two  weeks  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
Reinders  and  his  bride  came  to  the  L'nited 
States  with  his  parents,  and  he  was  engageil 
in  farming  with  his  father  and  brothers  in 
Mt.  Pulaski  township,  this  county,  for  two 
years.  During  the  following  four  years  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  upon  his  own  ac- 
count on  rented  land,  and  then  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  in  that  township,  which 
he  sold  four  years  later.  He  next  bought 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Aetna  township,  and  in  ihc  imiiroxement 
and  cultivation  (if  that  ])lace  he  devoted  his 


time  and  attention  until  1896.  thougii  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Mt.  Pulaski  since  dis- 
posing of  his  first  farm  in  1871.  He  still 
owns  a  valuable  farm  (jf  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois, 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  well  inijiroved.     This  place  he  rents. 

.Mr.  Reinders"  first  wife  died  March  10. 
i8()().  and  the  following  June  he  married 
Miss  Wilhelmina  Bollinger,  of  Mt.  Pulaski, 
who  was  also  born  in  Germany.  Deceml)er 
-/•  ^^77-  ^"''  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1890.  Her  parents  died  in  the  old  world. 
:Mr.  Reinders  has  always  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  -party  since  voting  for  .\braham 
Lincdln  in  18^)4.  .\t  an  early  age  be  united 
widi  the  Evangelical  .\ssociation.  and  was 
ordained  a  minister  of  that  denomination 
by  Bishop  Escher.  of  Chicago,  in  1876. 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a  local 
preacher,  having  charge  of  the  church  at 
Mt.  Pulaski.  His  life  is  exemplary  in  all 
respects,  and  he  has  ever  supported  those 
interests  which  are  calculated  to  uplift  and 
benefit  humanity,  while  his  own  high  moral 
worth  is  deserving  of  the  highest  com- 
mendation. 

EDWWRl)  J.  DITTUS. 

One  of  the  most  popular  and  successful 
\oung  business  men  of  Mt.  Pulaski  is  Ed- 
ward J.  Dittus.  a  dealer  in  lumber  and  all 
kinds  of  building  material.  He  is  a  native 
of  Logan  county,  born  on  a  farm  in  Chester 
township.  May  5,  1876,  and  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  and  Sarah  (Hagenbuck)  Dittus. 
His  earlv  life  was  spent  upon  the  home 
farm,  and  he  acquired  his  primary  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  Chester  township. 
Later  he  attended  the  Mt.  Pulaski  high 
school,  and  in  1894  took  a  commercial 
course  in  both  German  and   English  at  the 


254 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Waltlicr  Commercial  College.  St.  Louis. 
Missmiri.  where  he  was  graduated  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Mt.  I'ulaski, 
he  commenced  clerking  for  C.  D.  Streeter. 
a  lumlRT  dealer,  the  following  year,  and  in 
January.  1897.  hought  an  interest  in  the 
business,  whicli  was  then  conducted  under 
the  linn  name  of  Streeter  &  Dittus  until 
laiuiary,  i8y8,  when  his  partner  sold  out 
to  W.  E.  Stoll.  and  the  name  was  changed 
to  Dittus  &  Stoll.  This  partnership  lasted 
until  January,  1901.  when  Mr.  Dittus 
thought  out  .Mr.  Stoll  and  has  since  been 
alone  in  business.  He  <leals  in  hard  and 
soft  lumber,  lath,  shingles,  cement  and  plas- 
ter; in  fact,  all  kinds  of  building  material, 
and  enjoys  a  good  trade,  which  is  constantly 
increasing.  The  business  of  which  he  is 
U'lw  sole  proprietor  was  established  by  Sny- 
der Hrothers  in  iSSi.  Mr.  Dittus  is  also 
interested  in  the  breeding  of  hnc  horses, 
and  is  the  owner  of  the  stallion  Bob  Til- 
ton,  which  was  bred  at  .\theus,  Illinois,  by 
J.  H.  Kincaid.  who  is  well  known  by  horse- 
men throughout  the  state. 

Mr.  Dittus  was  married,  June  20.  i<>oo, 
to  Miss  Mary  Werth,  of  Lincoln,  Illinois, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Louise  Werth. 
She  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county, 
and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother 
f>\  a  little  daughter,  Ruth  Louise.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dittus  are  members  of  the,  l-irst  Luth- 
eran church  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  and  are  iiighly 
respected  and  f-lecninl  b^  nil  wl., ,  km  iw 
them. 

bkl-.Dl-.KKK  C.   W.   K()i:ilXl.l".. 

l'"reilerick  C.  W.  Koehnle,  ex-circuit 
clerk  and  land  agent  for  the  linn  of  Koehnle 
\-  Trap]),  of  Lincoln,  as  well  as  president  of 
the    (ierman -American    X:ition.il     r,.ink,  of 


which  he  was  the  principal  organizer,  is  a 
native  of  (iermany,  l>orn  January  4,  1837, 
in  Esslingen.  a  large  manufacturing  city 
containing  the  government  railroad  slujps, 
near  Stuttgart,  the  capital  of  Wurtemburg. 
His  father,  I-Vaucis  Joseph  K.>ehnlc,  was 
then  in  the  military  service,  but  .s<j<»n  after- 
ward entered  the  civil  service  of  the  govern- 
ment, holding  an  olVice  similar  in  duties  to 
our  sheriff  and  jailor. 

.\fter  receiving  the  usual  education  of  the 
German  youth  at  Bocblingen.  then  the  resi- 
dence of  his  jKirents,  Mr.  Koehnle.  of  this  re- 
view, began  the  study  of  law  and  regime,  or 
l)olitical  economy,  which  he  coiuiimed  until 
the  death  of  his  father,  in  1X53.  He  then 
concluded  to  seek  his  fortune  in  .\merica, 
and  on  coming  to  this  country  si>ent  a  short 
time  in  New  Jersey,  whence  he  removetl  to 
Pottsville,  Penn.sylvania,  where,  t>wing  to  a 
general  depression  in  business,  it  was  impos- 
sible to  obtain  a  suitable  situation.  Being 
determined  to  succeed  and  willing  to  engage 
in  any  honorable  empIoymeiU.  he  w<  irked  for 
a  short  time  in  the  coal  mines. 

In  1S53  Mr.  Koehnle  came  to  Mt.  PuI.-ls- 
ki.  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  worked,  sejvi- 
rately,  within  a  few  months,  on  a  farm,  in  a 
brickyard,  and  as  a" clerk  in  a  store.  In  Oc- 
tober of  the  same  year  he  was  emi)loyed  to 
wiite  in  the  office  of  Samuel  Emmitt,  circuit 
clerk,  and  in  January.  iS3().  removed  with 
the  county  seat  to  Lincoln.  I-'mm  the  fol- 
lowing .\ovember  imtil  iS(>4  he  served  as 
dejuity  circuit  clerk  under  the  late  Joseph 
C  Webster,  and  was  then  himself  elected  cir- 
cuit clerk  of  Logan  county  for  a  term  of  four 
years,  and.  at  the  expiration  of  that  ])eri<Ml 
re-elected  by  nearly  one  thousand  majority — 
about  four  hundred  alx.ve  the  jwrty  ticket — 
the  largest  majority  ever  obtained  by  a  cin- 
didale  for  any  otVice  in  this  county,  and  he 
served  until  Xovember.  187.'. 


F.   C.   \V.    KOEHNLE. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


257 


On  the  1st  of  Septeniter,  1834.  Mr. 
Koehnle  was  united  in  marriage  witli  Miss 
Louise  C.  Ortlnvein,  a  sister  of  the  Orth- 
vein  Brothers,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  She 
was  born  at  Kirchljerg-.  near  Marbach 
(Schiller's  birthplace),  ^^■urtemburg.  Ger- 
nianv.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koehnle  were 
lx)rn  the  following  children:  Frederick  C, 
bom  May  ig.  1855,  is  now  with  Koehnle  & 
Trapp.  of  Lincoln.  Oscar,  born  July  29. 
1856,  iKcame  an  educated  pharmacist,  and 
died  at  Ocala.  Florida,  June  25.  1888.  leav- 
ing one  daughter.  Emma  C,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing with  her  mother  in  St.  Louis.  Amelia 
married  L.  C.  Schwerdtfeger,  and  died  Au- 
gust 8.  1897.  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Harry 
A.  Houser,  cashier  of  tlie  S.  T.  Bittings  Bank 
of  Carlsbad.  Xew  Mexico.  \\'illiam  C.  died 
February  26,  1895.  Louise  died  at  Los 
Angeles.  California.  December  13,  1896. 

In  1870  Mr.  Koehnle  left  with  his  fam- 
ily for  Germany  to  visit  relatives,  and  ar- 
rived in  the  city  of  Stuttgart  two  weeks  be- 
fore France  declared  war  against  Germany, 
and  saw  the  enthusiastic  uprising  of  a  whole 
nation.  After  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he 
could  not  depart  until  the  German  troops 
gained  decisive  victories  on  the  soil  of 
France,  and  then  could  not  take  his  family 
on  account  of  the  fatiguing  journey  they 
would  necessarily  have  to  make.  After  seeing 
the  terrible  effects  of  the  gigantic  war,  in  the 
returned  dead  and  wounded  soldiers  and 
prisoners,  he  left  his  family  in  Stuttgart, 
sent  his  children  to  school,  and  returned  to 
America.  The  only  port  in  Eurojie  accessi- 
ble from  Germany  to  America  at  that  time 
was  Liverp(X>l.  and  to  go  there  he  was 
obliged  to  travel  on  the  Rhine  through  the 
Netherlands  to  Rotterdam,  that  being  the 
only  outlet;  from  there  to  Grimsby.  Eng- 
land: and  from  Queenstown.  Ireland,  to 
Boston.     The  latter  vovage  was  made  on  a 


Cunard  steamer  and  lasted  eighteen  days. 
^Ir.  Koehnle  was  much  exposed  to  tiie 
weather  and  encountered  fearful  storms.  On 
his  arrival  in  Boston  his  constitution  was  so 
completely  l^roken  down  that  he  was  unable 
to  walk,  and  he  was  conveyed  by  friends  to 
the  residence  of  his  sister  in  Jersey  City, 
where  for  two  months  he  lay  upon  a  bed  of 
sickness.  During  that  time  be  Ijecame  so  low 
that  his  life  was  despaired  of.  On  partially 
regaining  his  strength  he  returned  to  his 
western  home,  where  he  remained  until  June 
of  the  following  year  without  recovering  his 
health.  He  then  again  went  to  Germany, 
where,  by  the  use  of  baths  at  the  best  bathing 
places,  he  recovered  from  his  illness,  and  in 
September.  1871.  returned  with  his  family  to 
Lincoln.  Mrs.  Koehnle  died  in  this  city 
February  5.  1876.  and  he  was  again  married 
October  11.  1883.  his  second  union  being 
with  Mary  A.  Zimmerman,  of  Philadelphia, 
a  sister  of  Fred  Zimmerman,  of  the  firm  of 
Zimmerman  &  Xixon,  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1S62  Mr.  Koehnle  laid  out  a  portion 
of  Lincoln,  known  as  Koehnle's  addition. 
In  company  with  Frederick  Trapp.  be  now 
has  the  management  of  the  business  of  Will- 
iam Scully,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  a  nati\e 
of  Ireland  and  an  extensive  land-bolder  in 
Illinois.  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 
Mr.  Koehnle  has  had  many  formidable  obsta- 
cles to  encounter,  but  by  perseverance  has 
overcome  them.  The  position  he  holds  among 
his  fellow  men  has  lieen  gained  through  his 
own  exertions;  while  his  financial  acquisi- 
tions, which  are  extensive,  are  the  legitimate 
result  of  earnest  and  persevering  efforts. 
He  is  a  man  of  public  spirit  and  enterprise, 
genially  disjxjsed.  and  has  many  friends. 

Mr.  Koehnle  was  an  active  Republican 
from  the  time  of  Fremont's  presidential  cam- 
paign until  1872,  when  lie  l)ecame  identifie3 
with  the  liberal  movement,  for  which  he  was 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  delegate  at  Cincinnati,  but  since  then  he 
has  voletl  tlie  Rei>ubhcan  ticket.  In  1858 
lie  was  apiKjinted  by  Governor  Bissell  as 
notary  iniblic,  to  which  office  he  has  Ijeen  re- 
ai>i>ointeil  by  each  succeetling  governor.  He 
was  electetl  a  trustee  of  the  town  of  Lincoln 
ill  .\i)ri].  i8()0;  scIuh.1  insi)ector  in  July. 
1  Sr.7 :  and  alderman  for  the  Second  w  ard  of 
the  city  March  8.  i8<k).  In  all  of  these  jxisi- 
tions  he  has  shown  keen  iHjrcqjtibihty  anu 
g.KKl  judgment,  and  has  fultilled  the  duties 
•  levolving  ui)on  him  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  his  constituencv. 


1S.\AC  SHERWOOD. 

Ill  the  village  of  Hartslnirg.  now  living 
retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  well  merited  rest 
from  labor,  lives  Isaac  Sherwood,  who  for 
many  years  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Lo- 
gan county.  He  was  born  in  Maryland.  July 
30.  i8j8.  one  of  the  seven  children  of  John- 
sey  D.  and  IClizabeth  (  King )  Sherwood, 
the  former  a  native  of  \irginia  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Maryland.  They  made  their  home 
in  Maryland  until  iH^cj.  when  they  removed 
to  Miami  county.  Ohio,  where  the  father 
worked  at  the  tailor's  trade  until  1870.  In 
that  vear  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Peoria  c>>unty.  but  after  a  short  time  he  re- 
turned to  the  Buckeye  state  an<l  made  his 
home  with  his  son  in  Darke  county  until 
called  to  his  final  rest.  His  wife  has  also 
l)a.sscd  away.  Tlirce  >>i  their  chililren  are 
now  living:  Isaac.  >>\  this  review:  Eliza- 
l>eth.  who  resides  with  her  brother  in  Harts- 
burg:  and  Thomas  Rufus.  a  retired  farmer 
of  the  same  place. 

Isaac  Sherwood  was  educated  in  the 
common  sch<K)ls  and  then  began  to  earn  his 
t)wn    livelilKKxl.     I'pou    coining    to    (^rvil 


township  in  1870  he  purchased  land  on  sec- 
tion 27  and  was  there  engaged  in 
general  fanning  until  18*/).  when  he  re- 
moved to  Howard  county.  Indiana,  which 
was  his  place  of  resi<lence  until  the  spring 
of  lyoi.  at  which  time  he  returned  to  Lo- 
gan county.  He  has  since  lived  retired  in 
Hartsburg.  his  sister  Elizabeth  living  with 
him.  He  has  l)een  three  times  married.  He 
wedded  Ann  Eliza  King,  of  Peoria  county. 
Illinois,  who  died  alx.ut  18^)4.  and  their  two 
chiltlren.  Olive  and  Ida  May.  have  also 
passed  away.  Eor  his  second  wife  he  chose 
Marv  Bciuhrer.  also  of  Peoria  county,  and 
his  third  wife  was  Sallie  .\.  Hamilton,  of 
Jacksonville.  Illinois,  whom  he  also  sur- 
vives. 

Mr.  .Sherw(K.d  l)elougs  to  the  MetluKlist 
I'-liiscopal  church  at  Hartsburg  and  his  life 
has  ever  been  consisteiU  with  its  teachings. 
His  years  have  been  (juietly  passed  in  unin- 
terrupted devotion  to  his  work  and  his  duty, 
and  though  there  are  no  exciting  chajners  in 
his  career  there  arc  lessons  of  industry  and 
:i(.nesty  which  might  l)e  profitably  followed 
bv  those  who  desire  to  gain  success  and  also 
win  the  merited  regard  of  their  fellow  men. 


lli:XRV 


srkVKi:R 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  l)cen  an 
honored  resident  of  Lincoln.  Illinois,  since 
i8r)0.  and  is  to-day  its  oldest  contractor 
and  builder.  He  was  U>u\  .\ugust  .'5. 
1828.  in  Somerset  county.  Xew  Jersey,  of 
which  state  his  parents.  Dominicus  and 
Catherine  (  Terlniuc  I  Stryker.  were  also 
natives.  His  maternal  grandm.>ther  was 
l)orn  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent. The  father,  who  was  a  hotel-keei)er 
at  Millstone.  Xew  Jersey,  died  in  i8.^_',  and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


259 


the  mother  only  siirvivetl  him  alxnit  a 
mtmtli.  They  were  tlie  parents  of  seven 
cliildren,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity, 
namely:  Mary  Terhune,  who  died  in  Xew 
Jersey  about  1886:  Adaline,  who  is  now  the 
widow  of  Abram  Williamson  and  is  living 
in  Somerville,  Xew  Jersey,  at  the  ai;e  of 
eiglity-two  year.s :  John,  a  resident  of  Phila- 
delphia. Pennsylvania:  Stephen,  who  died 
in  Xew  Jersey:  Theodore,  who  entered  the 
I'nion  army  durinj^'  the  C'i\il  war.  hut  on  ac- 
count of  his  health  was  obliged  to  return 
10  his  home  in  Lincoln.  Illinois,  where  he 
died  in  iSfu  :  Henry  T..  our  subject:  and 
Catherine,  wlm  is  living  with  her  sisters  in 
Somerville,  Xew  Jerse\-.  They  were  all 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  state, 
John  was  gi\en  exceptit)nal  educational  ad- 
vantages by  an  uncle  and  became  a  success- 
ful dry  goods  merchant  of  Philadelphia. 

Henry  T,  Stryker  has  but  little  recollec- 
tion of  his  parents,  being  only  four  years 
old  at  the  time  of  their  deaths.  He  then 
made  his  home  with  his  grandfather  Stry- 
ker in  Xew  Jersey,  and  grew  ti>  manhood 
ujjon  a  farm.  On  attaining  his  majoritv  he 
.started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own 
account  until  coming  west  in  1855.  when 
lie  commenced  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade 
in  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  Being  of  a  me- 
chanical turn  of  mind,  he  met  with  ra])id 
advancement,  and  it  was  not  long  befure  he 
had  thoroughly  ma.stered  every  detail  of  the 
work. 

Having  a  brother  in  Lincoln,  Mr. 
Stryker  came  to  this  ])lace  after  s])ending 
five  years  in  Jacksonville,  and  began  con- 
tracting and  building.     He  met  with  g 1 

success,  erecting  many  <if  the  residences  of 
the  city  ;md  emjiloying  a  large  number  of 
men.  in  connection  with  his  carpenter  work 
he   does   all   kinds   of  contracting   in   brick. 


stone  and  wood,  and  has  done  considerable 
building  in  the  vicinity  tif  Lincoln,  in 
iX()3  he  purchased  property  and  built  a 
house  for  him.self  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Stryker  was  married  in  Jackson- 
ville, September  23,  iSfio,  t(]  Miss  I'har- 
lotte  Catharine  Benner,  who  was  born  in 
(iettysburg.  Penns_\l\ania,  l'"el)ruary  JO, 
i8_Vi,  and  went  to  Jacksonville  with  .-i  sister 

Esther  (  Pl;mk  )  Ik-nner,  natives  of  Adams 
county,  Pennsylvani;i.  in  which  state  they 
spent  their  entire  li\es  as  farming  ])eople. 
The  father,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  181  J.  died  January  u.  1850.  and  the 
mother  passed  away  August  25.  1855.  both 
being  fifty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
their  deaths.  In  their  family  were  se\en 
cbil.lren.  all  of  whom  reached  man  and 
womanhood:  George  is  now  a  resident  of 
Carroll  county.  Maryland:  Maria  is  the 
widow  of  William  Shoemaker  and  a  resi- 
dent of  the  same  coiuit_\- :  Henry  makes  his 
home  in  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania:  Eliza 
married  .\.  1'..  Core,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  died  at  the  old  home  in  Gettsburg, 
in  September,  1865;  Simon  C,  died  while  a 
junior  of  Pennsylvania  College,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years;  Margaret  .-\.  is  the 
widow  of  William  Beastali  and  a  resident 
of  Jackson\illc.  Illinois:  and  Charlotte  C.  is 
the  wife  of  our  sviljject.  and  was  educated  at 
Cottage  Hill  College,  York.  I'ennsylvania. 
.\11  were  reared  and  educated  in  the  Key- 
stone state.  Of  the  six  children  born  U>  Mr. 
;ind  Mrs.  Stryker.  one  died  in  infancy  and 
Lottie  .M.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 
Lina  M..  born  in  1863,  is  the  wife  of  W.  B. 
Pish,  ^r.  ]).,  of  Chicago:  Mary  Gertrude, 
born  in  i8f;().  is  the  wife  of  V.  G.  T'erkins, 
of  |-I,„-ida:  Perrv  Jord;in.  born  in  iSjj  1i;ls 
charge  of  a  samtaVium  for  backw.nrd  chil- 
dren at   Wheaton.    Illin..is:  and    lulius  Ben- 


26o 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL   KKCOUlJ. 


ner  Hogart.  born  in  1879.  was  graduated 
ironi  the  Lincoln  high  school.  an<l  is  now 
the  assistant  secretary  of  the  Planters  Man- 
nfacturing  Company,  at  Lake  Mary.  Flor- 
ida. They  were  all  ciUicated  in  the  Lincoln 
])ul>lic  schools. 

Mr.  Stryker  has  never  taken  any  active 
part  in  iH>litical  affairs,  ami  always  votes 
for  the  men  whom  he  considers  best  (|uali- 
fied  for  ofhce.  regardless  of  party  lines.  His 
has  l)een  a  very  active  and  usefnl  life,  and  he 
is  well  known  and  highly  respecte<l  Ix'th  as 
i.  citizen  and  Inisiness  man.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stryker  are  both  meml)ers  of  the  Presby- 
terian clnircli.  in  which  Mr.  Stryker  was  at 
one  time  a  memlier  of  the  ofHcial  l)oard.  and 
Mrs.  Stryker  takes  an  active  i)art  in  church 
work.  The  chiWlrcn  were  all  reared  in  the 
church  and  all  became  mem1>ers  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Lincoln,  altiiough  later 
sfime  have  transferred  their  meml)ership 
elsewhere. 


j.\mf:s  johxstox. 

James  Johnston  is  one  of  the  progress- 
ive citizens  of  Logan  county  and  his  life 
stands  in  e.xemplification  of  the  fact  that 
America  offers  mo.st  excellent  o])i)ortunities 
to  her  citizens.  She  is  continually  attract- 
ing to  her  shore  men  of  energy,  detennina- 
tion  and  ambition  and  improving  the  advan- 
tages found  in  the  new  wx>rld,  they  work 
their  way  upward  to  prosperity  and  l)ecome 
valued  residents  of  their  adopted  land. 
Such  a  one  is  Mr.  Johnston,  and  his  active, 
upright  life  is  in  many  resiH.'cts  well  worthy 
of  enn\lation. 

He  was  In.rn  in  County  l-"ermanagh. 
Ireland.  Decemlwr  2-,.  1S31;.  but  is  of 
Scotch  i)arcntage.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Katherine  (  P.rien')   b.hnston,  Ix.th  of  whom 


were  natives  of  Scotland.  His  ojjportuni- 
ties  for  securing  an  education  were  very 
meager.  At  the  age  of  nine  years-  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  (ilasgow.  Scot- 
land, and  the  following  year  was  employed 
as  an  erran<l  Ijoy  in  a  warehouse  of  that  city, 
where  he  remained  for  six  years,  working 
his  way  upward  from  one  position  to  an- 
other. During  this  time  he  improved  his 
educati<<n  by  attending  night  school,  and 
throughout  his  life  has  l)ecn  a  friend  of  edu- 
cation and  has  greatly  l)roadene<l  his  knowl- 
edge by  reading,  exjierience  and  observa- 
tion. In  his  sixteenth  year  he  went  with 
his  parents  to  Cana<la.  the  family  settling 
in  Prescott  county.  In  September.  1859, 
he  came  to  Logan  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  on  a  farm  owned  by  his  l)rother 
William  until  the  fall  <)f  iSr)0,  when  he 
l)urchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  .\etna 
township.  Lix-ating  thereon,  he  made  it 
his  home  until  1S80.  but  in  the  meantime 
he  extended  its  Ixundaries  until  the  place 
comprised  six  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
which  he  still  owns,  nor  does  this  by  any 
means  comprise  all  of  his  landetl  ixKssess- 
inns.  In  1881  he  purchased  a  st»>ck  fann 
of  twelve  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Mis- 
souri, where  he  engages  in  .farming  and 
feeding  stock,  having  as  many  as  three 
hundred  head  tif  cattle  u]>on  the  place.  He 
has  eighty  humlred  and  forty  acres  in  Bates 
county,  mostly  in  grass,  and  a  large  tr^jct 
in  Dade  county.  Since  18S0  he  has  not  re- 
sided upon  his  farm  in  .\etna  town.ship.  Lo- 
gan county,  but  is  still  engaged  in  handling 
grain  and  stock. 

On  the  full  of  February.  i8f/..  Mr.  John- 
ston was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
M.  Moffatt.  of  Ontario.  Canada,  the  eldest 
tlaugliter  of  James  and  Martha  (Caldwell) 
Moffatt.  I'nto  them  have  been  lx>rn  the 
f..llo\vint:  chil.lren:      Martha,  who  .lied  at 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tlie  age  of  ten  years  ;  Sarali  Evangeline,  now 
the  wife  of  Cliarles  Ricliards,  of  Lincoln; 
Katherine  Itla:  Tercival  Brien,  who  is  with 
the  ChanilxM-s.  Bering,  Ouinlan  Company. 
Decatnr:  Minnie  E.,who  is  at  home;  Henry, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  }ears ;  Elorcnce 
]\Ioffatt,  wlio  is  in  the  Lincoln  University ; 
and  Helene  Maude,  who  completes  the  fam- 
ily. Mrs.  Moffatl  is  still  living,  eighty-four 
vcars  of  ;ige.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
very  acceptable  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  in  his  political  views 
he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  unswerving  in 
his  advocacy  of  the  principles  of  the  party. 
He  believes  firmly  in  i)rt)gress  along  ma- 
terial, soci.-il.  educational  and  moral  lines, 
and  co-operates  with  any  practical  move- 
ment to  secure  ad\ancement.  His  lieautiful 
home  at  Xo.  14,^  Eleventh  street,  Lincoln, 
i.s  in  one  of  the  attracti\-e  residence  portions 
of  the  city  and  is  the  visible  evidence  of  the 
busy  and  useful  life  of  the  owner,  whose 
splendid  success  is  but  the  legitimate  out- 
come of  his  own  labors,  directed  by  sound 
judgment.  In  ;ill  transactions  he  is  hon- 
orable and  straightforward,  atid  his  life  rec- 
ord is  one  which  will  bear  the  closest 
scrutiny  and  will  be  found  to  be  abo\-e  re- 
proach. 


JEFFERSOX   M.   SULLIVAX. 

Jefferson  M.  Sullivan,  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  farmers  of  luninence  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  residing  on  section  15, 
comes  of  a  good  old  Xorth  Carolina  fam- 
ily. His  parents.  E.  P.  and  Obedience 
(Stroud)  Sullivan,  were  natives  of  that 
•State,  the  latter  being  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
.Stroud.  1'^.  P.  Sulli\-an  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  a 
gO(jd    education     in    the    countrv    schools. 


])uring  the  I'.lack  1  lawk  war  he  served  faith- 
fully to  tile  end  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. .\t  its  close  he  removed  to  Iowa, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  dying  in 
the  year  1892,  the  mother  surviving  four 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren. Jefferson  M.  was  born  in  1-jiiinencc 
township,  August  8.  i83(),  the  place  of  his 
birth  lieiiig  his  i)resent  home.  Here  he 
grew  to  maturity,  and  in  the  spring  of  i8()2 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Sixty-eighth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain  Le- 
roy  T.  Brown,  serving  with  distinction  six 
months.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  was 
compelled  t(j  return  home,  having  contracted 
a  se\ere  case  of  rheumatism,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 22,  i86_',  he  was  houcirably  dis- 
charged. He  located  in  Logan  countw  Illi- 
nois, where  he  has  since  tilled  the  soil  for 
a  livelihootl.  The  old  home  consists  of 
si.xty  acres  of  well  improved  land. 

On  Xovember  15,  1863.  'Sir.  Sulli\an 
was  united  in  marriage  with  I\Iiss  Emma 
Lindsey,  the  daughter  of  James  Lindsey, 
one  of  Logan  c<ninty's  foremost  citizens, 
who  died  April  _'8,  1898.  To  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  five  children,  of 
whom  three  survive,  namely:  Elizabeth,' 
now  Mrs.  C.  ^^■.  Cms,  of  North  Dakota; 
Lucy  L.,  who  resides  with  her  father;  ;md 
Pearl  P..  who  married  L.  Roy  Perkie. 
Etiie.  the  oldest  daughter,  died  Seinember 
29,  1901.  She  was  the  wife  of  C.  W. 
Ilouser  and  resided  in  Xorth  D.akdta.  The 
mother  of  these  children  passed  aw.ny  April 
28,  1899. 

Mr.  Sullivan  has  been  school  director 
for  several  vears,  and  politically  has  always 
supi)orted  the  ijrincijjles  of  the  IK-niocratic 
parly.  He  ;md  his  entire  family  are  devout 
members  <A  the  Christian  church. 

11c  is  widely  and  favoral>ly  known 
throui'houl   his  comniunit\-,    and    well    de- 


262 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


serves  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  uni- 
formly held,  as  he  was  not  only  true  to  his 
comitry  in  the  hour  of  nee<!.  but  has  always 
JHfeii    fiiund  a  useful   an<l    vaiiiahle  citizen. 


THOMAS  D.  TUTTLE. 

History  records  no  more  honest,  lion- 
orable  or  prosperous  career  than  that  of  an 
agriculturist,  as  the  following  sketch  ad<ls 
anotlier  proof.  Thomas  D.  Tuttle  is  the 
youngest  living  child  of  a  family  of  five 
children  liorn  to  James  and  Harriet 
(Hatch)  Tuttle.  Of  three  lx>ys  he  is  one 
of  the  two  who  survive:  Francis  M.,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work,  gave 
his  life  in  defense  of  the  stars  and  stripes, 
July  29,  1863.  The  two  girls  were  Mrs.  W. 
W.  Richmond  and  Margaret  M..  who  was 
the  wife  of  F.  M.  Hoblit,  deceased,  and  died 
Octol)er  28.  18A4.  Guy  H..  a  brother  of 
our  subject,  is  represented  on  another  page 
of  this  volume. 

The  father  of  our  sul)ject.  James  Tut- 
tle, was  an  old  pioneer  and  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state,  lx>rn  in  .Xthens  county,  De- 
cember 16.  1806.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a  native  of  New  York  state,  'i'lie 
j)aternal  grandi)arents  were  Chandler  and 
Jane  (  Xeal )  Tuttle,  who  were  of  English 
descent  and  were  the  parents  of  .seven  chil- 
dren. James  Tuttle's  first  wife  died  Sep- 
teml)er  5,  18^16,  and  he  later  married  Mrs. 
Emma  Turner,  who  was  l)orn  in  December. 
t8o(^,  and  died  on  July  29,  i8<)7.  Mr.  Tut- 
tle was  an  energetic  and  excellent  farmer 
and  met  with  sucess  in  his  agrioiltural  pur- 
suits, making  him  financially  well-to-do.  As 
a  result  of  the  confidence  re])ose(l  in  him  by 
I)eo])lc  in  general,  he  was  made  a  meml)cr 
of   the  old   state  constitutional   conveiuion 


and  for  several  years  held  the  ix)silion  of 
suijervisor  of  AtlaiUa  township,  his  jjolitical 
views  l>eing  in  sui)|)ort  of  the  Rqniblican 
party.  He  was  a  thortmgh  business  man. 
having  learned  every  detail  ui  the  ix>rk 
packing  business  in  Cincinnati,  besides 
which  he  had  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
manufacture  of  brick.  His  declining  years 
were  spent  on  a  part  <)f  the  several  tracts  of 
land  which  he  ac(iuired  by  years  of  toil. 
Death  called  him  April  14,  1899. 

Thomas  D.  Tuttle,  our  subject,  was  lK)rn 
in  Logan  county,  Illinois.  Se|)temlier  i, 
1847.  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  wliat  education  he  could  gleam 
from  the  conunon  country  schtxjls  of  those 
days.  U|)on  reaching  manluMxl  he  went  to 
Chicago  and  tiK)k  a  thorough  course  in 
lx>okkeeping. 

On  Septemljer  4,  1870.  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Miss  Emma 
Turner,  a  daughter  of  Harvey  and  Eliza- 
l)eth  (Hoblit)  Turner,  of  Logan  county, 
and  this  union  has  Ijeen  blessed  with  five 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
living  are  as  follows:  .\della,  born  on  the 
old  homestead. Octolier  8,  1871  :  Bessie  E., 
born  December  3,  1876:  Earl  S.,  lx>rn  June 
7.  1881  :  and  Guy  H..  l)orn  Juiie  27.  1886. 

Mr.  Tuttle  embarked  in  the  flour  and 
milling  business  at  .\tlanta.  in  187(1,  assum- 
ing the  interest  and  control  of  his  father- 
in-law's  .stock  in  the  above  mill,  which  was 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  county.  Being  a 
gixul  financier,  he  continued  in  that  cajiac- 
ily  until  1882.  when  the  mill  was  «lestroyed 
by  fire.  The  mill  was  built  and  previ- 
ously run  by  the  firm  of  H.  Turner  &  Com- 
])any,  who  were  succeeded  by  Turner,  Tut- 
tle &  Comi)any.  Seeking  a  change  of  cli- 
mate, in  1888  our  subject  located  in  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  remained  until  Xovemlier. 
1892.   when   he  returned  to   l.oj^.m  coiuUy 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


263 


and  resumed  his  farming  interests.  At  the 
same  time  he  was  temporarily  appointed 
postmaster  and  for  two  years  served  in  that 
capacity,  perfonning  the  duties  of  that  of- 
fice for  John  B.  Lambert. 

In  1891  occurred  the  deatli  of  liis  wife 
and  nine  years  later,  on  the  10th  of  March. 
1900.  he  was  again  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Ida  B.  Starker,  a  daughter  of  William 
McCance.  of  Logan  county.  Mrs.  Tuttle 
is  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

The  subject  of  this  review  affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party  in  politics,  and  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  L'nited 
Workmen  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 
A  hard  working,  energetic  man.  Mr.  Tut- 
tle meets  every  requirement  of  a  patriotic 
citizen,  and  in  strict  attendance  to  his  duties 
of  home  and  farm,  has  never  been  moved 
to  seek  greater  publicity. 


JOHX  M.  ROTHWELL. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  Mt.  Pulaski  is  John  ;M. 
Rothwell.  who  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
promoting  its  substantial  improvement  and 
material  development.  He  was  born  in 
Lancaster.  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  Oc- 
tober 5,  1843.  ^"d  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Matilda  Rothwell.  the  former  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather,  Thomas  Rothwell,  was  also 
born  in  \'irginia,  and  at  an  early  day  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  si>ent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Our  subject  was  reared  as  a  farmer  lx>y 
in  his  native  place,  and  received  a  good, 
practical  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 


1863.  when  he  went  to  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  the 
stock  business.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
lK)ught  mules  for  the  government  in  the 
states  of  Illinois,  Pennsylvania  aiul  Ken- 
tucky, and  sometimes  turned  over  to  the  gov- 
ernment agency  as  many  as  one  hundreil 
mules  at  a  time.  In  1864  he  had  charge  of 
the  business  of  John  T.  Allen,  the  great  cat- 
tle king  and  mule  operator,  in  whose  interests 
he  traveled  all  over  Kentucky,  Arkansas,  In- 
diana. Ohio.  Tennessee  and  Xorth  and  South 
Carolina,  buying  stock. 

In  1865  ^Ir.  Rothwell  came  to  Logan 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  time,  but  from  1873  until  1882  he  was 
a  resident  of  Kansas,  and  for  five  years  of 
that  time  operated  a  flouring  mill  on  the 
Arkansas  river  at  O.xford,  and  from  there 
went  to  Indian  Territory.  «  here  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  cattle  business.  Returning  to 
Logan  county.  Illinois,  in  1883,  he  hxated 
in  Elkhart  township,  and  engaged  in  feed- 
ing cattle  for  a  time,  but  later  Ixxight  and 
fed  hogs  and  operated  five  hundred  acres  of 
land.  In  March,  1894,  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Mt.  Pulaski,  and  has  since  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  and 
political  interests  of  this  place.  He  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
cattle,  hogs  and  sheep,  Chicago  being  his 
principal  market. 

In  1865  Mr.  Rothwell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Agnes  \'.  Scroggin,  a  na- 
tive of  Logan  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Leonard  K.  and  Lavina  (  Buckles)  Scrog- 
gin. They  have  become  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Myrtle,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Nelson  Gasaway :  Thomas,  a  farmer  and 
breeder  of  the  noted  Polled  Angus  cattle; 
John,  teller  in  the  Scroggin  Bank  at  Mt. 
Pulaski;  and  Mabel,  who  is  still  in  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Rothwell  is  a  pronounced 


'''4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Democrat,  and  lie  has  taken  quite  an  active 
and  intlucntial  part  in  pnljlic  affairs.  He  has 
lilleil  tlie  c.fttccs  of  highway  cuinmissioner 
and  oiunly  sui)cr\isor.  and  in  1S9O  was 
clcctc<l  niavi.r  i.f  .Mt.  I'nlaski  to  fill  unt  tlie 
unexpired  term  of  A.  (i.  Jones.  He  was 
re-elected  in  iS«>9,  and  served,  in  all,  three 
years,  to  tlie  entire  satisfaction  of  the  pub- 
lic. His  hnsiness  has  ever  hcen  such  as  to 
make  it  necessary  for  him  to  travel  tpiite 
extensively,  and  he  has  become  widely 
known  thronj^hout  the  west  and  south.  He 
is  genial,  courteous,  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive, of  commendahle  jmhlic  spirit,  and 
in  all  the  relations  of  life  has  been  found 
true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


D.WID  nnwLKS. 

l^igan  county  had  witnessed  the  arrival 
of  .few  of  her  citizens  when  David  Howies 
took  uj)  his  abode  within  her  Ixirders.  His 
residence  in  (Jrvil  township  now  antedates 
that  of  any  other  i)crson  living  in  the  com- 
munity, for  he  came  here  in  iSj^h,  then  a 
young  man  of  twenty-one.  He  has  watched 
the  devclojnnent  and  growth  of  this  portion 
(jf  the  state  as  it  has  emerged  from  the  wil- 
derness  and  from  the  barren  jjrairie  to  bloom 
and  blossom  as  the  rose,  and  in  the  work  of 
upbuilding  and  advancement  he  has  |)orne 
a  part  of  signal  usefulness.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing retired  after  many  years  connection  with 
agricultural  interests,  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest  in  his  plea.sant  home  in  I'.mden. 

The  Bowles  family  originated  in  Eng- 
land, the  first  of  the  name  Ixfing  .Stephen 
Bowles,  who  lived  in  Dover.  He  had  two 
sons  who  emigrated  to  the  United  Slates 
some  time  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war. 
It  is  U'lieved  that  these  tw<»  brothers,  lesse 


and  David,  settled  in  the  New  England 
states,  as  David  had  a  son  John,  who  was  a 
ca])tain  in  the  Kcvolutionary  war.  Stephen 
Bo\}  les,  of  the  third  generation,  married  and 
had  a  family  of  f<  .ur  children.  One  <  'f  these 
was  David,  who  finally  settled  in  \irginia. 
He,  in  turn,  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
one  of  whom  was  Jesse.  He  also  married 
and  l)ecame  the  lather  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  one  was  David,  the  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject.  He  quarried  Minnie  Rice, 
and  they  were  the  ])arcnts  of  nine  children, 
of  whom  Jesse  was  one.  I  lannah  Perkins  be- 
came his  wife,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
childrc^l.  <jne  of  whom  was  Hughes,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject.  David  Bowles,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  lived  and 
died  in  Virginia.  His  son  Jesse  was  born 
in  that  state,  but  movetl  to  Kentucky  some 
time  after  the  birth  oi  our  subject's  father, 
and  there  he  lived  to  rt»ach  an  advanced  age. 

Mr.  B(jwlcs  was  l»orn  in  Bourl)on  county, 
Kentucky,  March  13.  1825.  a  son  of  Hughes 
and  Elizaljeth  (Payne)  lUnvles.  lxith  of 
whom  were  natives  of  \'irginia.  whence  they 
removed  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day.  The 
father  there  followed  farming  and  was  also 
a  minister  of  the  (.'hrislian  church.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  Bhie  Grass  state  until 
1830,  when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Bli- 
nois,  settling  in  that  part  of  Sangamon  coun- 
ty which  is  now  a  part  of  DcWitt  county. 
Their  home  was  near  Midlanil  City  and  also 
near  the  Lincoln  county  line.  There  the  ?a- 
ther  entered  land  from  the  government  and 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Deceml)er  28,  184(1.  J''*' 
wife  i)assed  away  April  20,  1847.  Elder 
Bowles  had  been  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  w  ith  Ruth  Prather.  and  after  her 
death  he  married  l-^lizabeth  Payne,  the  moth- 
er of  our  subject. 

By  the  first  marriage  there  were  seven 


OF  TMt 

UH^VtRSHY  Of  lamois 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


267 


children  :  Apderson,  who  was  born  January 
19.  1 80S.  married  Margaret  Carter,  and  died 
September  24.  1890:  Jo-'^epii.  who  was  born 
September  6,  1809,  married  Reljecca  Green, 
and  he  is  also  deceased :  \\aher  P..  born 
January  5.  iSii.  was  a  minister  of  tlie  Chris- 
tian church,  well  kn^wn  in  Logan  county, 
married  Lsabelle  Wallace,  and  died  March 

19,  1863:  Betsy  T..  born  October  12.  1812, 
married  Henry  Hall,  and  died  December  11, 
1890;  Eleanor,  who  was  born  September  24. 
1814.  became  the  wife  of  Harrison  Baker, 
and  departed  this  life  December  16,  1872: 
\'erlinda.  who  was  born  July  20,  1816.  mar- 
ried Hirani  Daniels,  and  is  also  deceased; 
and  Henry  H.,  who  was  Ijorn  July  10.  1818. 
married  Casander  Hall,  and  died  Septemlier 

20,  1845.  ^y  t'l^  second  marriage  of  Elder 
Bowles  were  born  six  children  :  Rebecca  R.. 
boni  March  19,  1821.  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
r:iige  to  Charles  C.  Wallace,  and  died  in 
June.  1893:  Julia.  lK>rn  September  15.  1822. 
is  the  wife  of  Peter  J.  Hawes.  and  resides 
in  Augusta,  Kansas :  Sallie  Ann.  born  Feb- 
ruary- 26,  1824.  died  in  infancy :  David  is  the 
next 'younger :  Jesse  P..  Ixirn  June  18.  1827. 
married  Maria  Bevan.  and  resides  in  Mul- 
vane.  Kansas :  and  ^^'iIliam  F..  bom  October 
5,  1829,  married  Rebecca  F.  Martin,  and 
lives  in  Delphos,  Iowa. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  family, 
David  Bowles  acquired  only  a  common- 
school  education.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
the  work  of  the  farm  in  DeW'itt  county,  and 
while  there  was  married  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1845,  ^liss  Elizal)eth  Ryan  becoming  his 
wife.  She  was  lK)rn  in  Logan  county.  Ken- 
tucky, February  9.  1824,  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  William  and  Frances  (Edgar)  Ryan, 
who  removed  to  Logan  ci>unt\-,  Illinois,  at 
an  early  day  and  here  spent  much  of  their 
lives.  The  mother  passed  away  in  1850  in 
this  countv.  and  the  father  died  in  Missouri 


in  1878.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  minister 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  preached 
throughout  this  county.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowles  has  ]>een  blessed  with 
seven  children:  Francis  E.,  who  was  born 
April  20.  1846,  died  March  3,  1847;  ^Vill- 
iam  Hughes,  who  was  born  Decemljer  20, 
1847,  married  Jennie  Small  wood,  and  they 
reside  on  a  farm  on  section  2,  Orvil  town- 
ship, in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of- 
which  he  conducts  a  grain  elevator  in  Em- 
den ;  Rebecca  A.,  born  Xovember  2,  1851. 
died  INIarch  29,  1852;  George  H..  born 
April  2^.  1853,  married  Mollie  Rogers,  and 
is  living  in  Mahaska  county,  Iowa;  Sarah  A., 
Ix>rn  April  17,  1855,  is  the  wife  of  D.  H. 
Gamberling.  a  resident  agriculturist  (if  Or\il 
township;  Charles  R.,  born  December  12. 
1856.  married  Annie  Simpson,  and  is  living 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Orvil  township :  and 
David  L..  born  December  23.  i860,  married 
Annie  Rogers,  and  resides  in  Emden.  where 
he  is  engaged  in  general  merchandising  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  D.  L.  Bowles  &  Com- 
pany. 

After  his  marriage  yiv.  Bowles,  of  this 
re\iew.  remained  upoii  the  old  lumiestead 
fami  near  Midland  City  until  his  fathers 
death,  in  1846.  He  then  removed  to  Orvil 
ttnvnship  and  settled  on  what  is  now  section 
2.  where  he  entered  land  from  the  go\- 
ernment,  for  which  he  paid  sixty-two  and  a 
half  cents  per  acre,  having  a  ^Mexican  land 
warrant.  He  was  the  first  settler  in  that  i)art 
of  the  county.  He  began  making  impnne- 
ments,  and  as  the  years  passed  addetl  ail  the 
modern  accessories  and  conveniences,  tlui< 
transforming  a  barren  tract  of  prairie  land 
into  one  of  the  most  desirable  country  seats 
in  the  county.  He  successfully  carried  on 
general  farming  until  1895,  when,  having 
acquired  a  handsome  competence,  he  resolved 
to  rest  from  his  lalx)rs,  and  removed  to  Em- 


268 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


den.  where  lie  is  now  living  retired,  although 
lie  still  owns  the  honie  place  of  more  than 
three  hnndreil  acres  of  valuable  land.  His 
long  residence  in  the  county  has  made  him 
well  known,  and  the  regard  in  which  he  is 
held  throughout  the  community  is  shown 
hy  the  fact  that  he  is  often  si^.ken  i>f  ;is 
'•Uncle  Davy."  He  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired public  oflice.  but  gave  his  supi)ort  to 
the  Republican  party  until  1896,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  a  Prohibitionist.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  meml)ers  of  the  Christian 
church  in  Orvil  township,  in  which  he  is  also 
serving  as  elder,  and  in  its  wi>rk  he  takes  a 
deq>  interest,  contributing  generously  to  its 
supiK>rt.  He  owns  a  l)eautiful  resilience  on 
one  of  the  principal  streets  of  Emden.  iukI 
there  he  and  his  estimable  wife  expect  to 
si)en(l  their  remaining  days.  His  life,  up- 
right and  honorable  in  all  relations,  has  l)een 
one  crownetl  with  success  in  business  and 
with  high  regard  in  scxial  life. 


A.\l)Ki:\V   J.    lU'.KRVlllLI.. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  .spending 
the  dosing  years  of  a  long  antl  useful  life 
free  from  business  cares  at  his  pleasant 
home  in  Lincoln.  He  was  born  near  Bell- 
brook,  (ireenc  county,  Ohio.  March  22, 
1827,  a  son  of  Samuel  an<l  I'olly  (Crum- 
ley) Berrybill.  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  \irginia  and  of  Scotch  descent.  His 
liaternal  grandfather  was  .\le\ander  Ik-rry- 
liill.  while  the  maternal  gran.lparents  were 
Aaron  and  Sarah  (MLTccr)  Crumley. 
These  families  were  aci|uaiuted  in  \'ir- 
ginia  prior  to  their  removal  to  Ohio.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  the  Blue 
kidge  .Mountains,  in  iKcw.  and  in  early  life 
went  to  Ohio,  wliere  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage   with     -Miss     Polly    Crumley.      Ihey 


made  their  home  in  (Ireene  county,  where  he 
dieil  in  1849.  his  wife  in  1854.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  as  a  life  occuiiation,  and 
also  ojierated  a  distillery  for  some  years. 
His  family  numbered  tifteen  children,  eleven 
sons  and  four  daughters,  of  wli.ini  twelve 
reached  mature  years,  married  and  reare<l 
families  of  their  own.  These  were  William 
C. :  .\le.\ander  F. :  .Minerva  ]..  wife  of 
Joshua  Hoblit:  .\ndrcw  J.,  our  subject; 
.\aron  Mercer:  Samuel  Lee:  Mary  M..  wife 
of  Roliert  Brelsford:  Lemnion  T. :  Eleacum 
1*..;  Hannah  Samantha :  and  .\urelius  P. 

During  his  Ix.yh.wxl  Andrew  J.  Berry- 
iiill  attended  the  common  sch<H»ls  near  his 
home,  and  remained  under  the  parental  nnif. 
aiding  in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  twenty 
vears  of  age.  He  then  married  Miss  Sarah 
Hatfield,  of  (ireene  county,  a  daughter  of 
Wheatley  Hatfield.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  in  Bellbrook.  where  Mr.  Ber- 
rvhill  engaged  in  merchandising  one  year, 
and  then  removed  to  a  farm  in  his  native 
county.  In  1849  his  wife  died  of  cholera, 
leaving  one  daughter.  Mary  J.,  now  the  wife 
of  I.  W  .  Haas.  He  sub.se(iuently  we<lded 
Miss  Elizabeth  Jane  Sullivan,  also  of 
Cireene  county.  Ohio,  who  died  February  2, 
•S04. 

In  the  spring  of  i85()  Mr.  Berrybill  came 
to  Illinois,  and  after  spending  alxnit  a  year 
in  Menard  county,  located  in  la)gan  county, 
buying  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  north  of  Bcasnn.  for  which  he  paid 
two  thousand  dollars.  He  subsetiuently 
purchased  more  land,  and  still  owns  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which  he  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  fol- 
lowed diversified  farming  tpiite  success- 
fully until  i8(>4.  when  he  retired  from  ac- 
tive lalM)r  and  has  since  made  his  home  in 
Lincoln,  where  he  owns  a  pleasant  residence 
;it  (i.^i  (."ollege  avenue. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


>69 


For  his  present  wife  Mr.  Berryman  mar- 
ried Miss  Ida  Beers,  of  Lincoln,  in  1894. 
She  is  a  native  of  Logan  county,  and  a 
daugliter  of  Thomas  and  Hettie  J.  (Mar- 
tin lieers.  Her  mother  (hed  in  1898,  the 
fatiier  in  October.  1883.  By  this  union  Mr. 
Berryman  has  two  children :  A.  J.  and 
Hettie  Karine. 

In  his  political  affiliations  our  subject  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  in  his  religious 
views  was  a  Methodist,  liaving  lieen  a  mem- 
ber of  that  church  for  many  years.  In  1884 
he  helped  organize  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian church  at  Center  Point,  of  which  he 
was  trustee  and  elder,  and  he  has  since  been 
a  member  of  that  demiminatinn.  He  not 
only  takes  an  active  part  in  churcli  work,  but 
contributes  liberally  to  its  support,  and  has 
hiied  most  of  the  offices  in  the  church.  He 
is  pre-eminently  public-spirited,  and  is  held 
in  high  regard  b\-  all  who  know  him. 


ADOLPH   RIMERMAX. 

Adolph  Rimerman.  a  retired  farmer  and 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Lincoln.  Illinois, 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  on  the  3d 
<.f  March,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Fredericka  (  Xansted )  Rimerman,  who 
emigrated  to  America  in  1845.  They  land- 
ed in  Xew  Orleans  after  a  voyage  of  three 
months'  duration,  and  proceeded  up  the 
Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
whence  they  came  to  BatJi,  Mason  county,  Il- 
linois, and  located  upon  a  farm.  After 
making  their  home  there  until  1864.  the 
father  removed  to  West  Lincoln  township, 
Logan  county,  where  he  purchased  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land;  to  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
until  called  to  his  final  rest,  March  2.  1887. 
He  was  born  December  16,  1797.     His  wife. 


whose  birth  occurred  January  29,  1802,  died 
May  18,  1874.  linth  were  members  of  the 
Evangelical  church,  and  he  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only 
seven  years  old  when  he  came  w ithh  is  par- 
ents to  the  new  world,  and  during  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  state  through  the  win- 
ter months,  while  during  the  summer  season 
he  worked  on  the  home  farm.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four  he  left  the  parental  roof  and 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer, 
his  father  giving  him  eighty  acres  of  land 
the  following  year. 

On  the  f)tli  of  February,  1862.  Mr. 
Rimerman  married  Miss  Henrietta  Gilbach, 
of  Mason  county.  Illinois,  who  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  (lerniany.  and  came  to  the  Unitetl 
States  with  her  mother.  She  died  Septem- 
ber 24,  1883.  and  four  of  the  ten  children 
born  of  that  union  are  also  deceased.  Those 
living  are  Mary  F.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
William  Gale,  of  Lincoln,  and  has  three 
sons.  Ralph.  Roy  and  Robert;  Emma  F., 
Frederick  A.:  X'ictor  H..  a  dentist  of  Li.n- 
coln :  Clara:  and  Minnie.  The  mother  of 
these  children  was  a  faithful  member  of 
St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Rimerman  was  again  married.  Ajjril 
30,  1885,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Lucy  Shear,  of  Lincoln,  a  daughter  of  .\mos 
and  Sarah  (  Bailey )  Higgin.  The  children 
b\-  her  former  marriage  were  Eugene,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lincoln:  .\nna  Lillian,  wife  of  Rev. 
H.  Smith,  an  Evangelical  minister  of  Xiles 
Center,  Illinois:  and  Frederick,  an  under- 
taker of  Xebraska  City,  Xebraska. 

.\t  the  time  of  his  first  marriage  Mr. 
Rimerman  owned  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Mason  county,  and  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  in  West  Lincoln  township,  Logan 
county.  an<l  u])on  the  latter  tract  he  and  his 


270 


THF.   r.IOGRArmCAL  RECORD. 


)oung  wife  took  up  their  abode.  There  he 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
;md  st.KTk-raising  until  1886.  when  he  rented 
his  farm  and  removed  to  Lincoln,  where  he 
has  since  practically  lived  rctirol,  cnj.-ying 
the  fruits  ..f  former  toil.  lie  assisted  in  i>r- 
ganizing  the  (lerman-.Xmerican  Hank.  I'f 
which  he  was  president  for  alxnit  eiglit 
years,  lie  also  hcli>ed  t<>  organize  the 
I-'armers  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  and 
has  served  as  its  treasurer  ever  since  with 
exception  of  one  year,  and  is  also  one  of  its 
directors. 

The  Democratic  party  finds  in  .Mr. 
Kimcrman  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  princi- 
ples, and  lie  lias  taken  a  very  acti\e  and  in- 
Huential  part  in  political  affairs,  serving  as 
sui)ervisnr  of  West  Lincoln  township  two 
>ears.  lie  also  tilled  the  otiice  of  county 
treasurer  from  1890  to  1894.  and  has  heen 
alderman  of  the  city  from  the  third  ward, 
having  heen  a  second  time  elected  to  that 
office  in  the  spring  of  ujoo.  His  otYicial 
duties  have  always  l)een  most  capahly  and 
satisfactorily  performed,  winning  for  him 
the  commendation  i>f  all  concerned.  He  is 
puhlic-spiriled  and  progressive,  and  gives 
his  support  to  all  worthy  enterprises  who.se 
object  is  to  jiromote  the  general  welfare  ot 
the  community  in  which  he  lives.  Relig- 
iously he  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church  of  Lincoln,  in  which  he  .served  as 
deacon  for  fifteen  years,  hut  since  resign- 
ing that  position  has  held  110  church  office. 


|(  )ll\    A.    MMI'.^i  '\. 

John  .\.  Simpson,  of  this  review,  is  one 
of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders  of 
Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  has  been  an  esteemed 
resident  of  this  citv  since  October  8.   iSiq. 


The  birth  of  Mr.  Simpson  t)ccurred  in 
R. .Chester.  Oakland  county,  Michigan.  May 
30,  185J,  and  he  was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and 
Sarah  D.  (  Hoppins)  Simpson. 

Jeremiah  Sinii)son.  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  Ixirn  in  Trenton.  New  Jersey, 
in  1818,  and  is  now  hale  and  hearty,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  In  young  man- 
hood he  learned  the  tr.ide  of  .shoemaker,  and 
later  the  cari)enter's  tra»le,  in  New  York, 
but  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war  was  a  resident  of  \\  arren  county,  Ohio. 
He  enlisted  f<'r  service  in  Company  L 
I'ourth  Ohio  Cavalry,  in  which  he  was  ser- 
geant, and  was  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer 
until  he  was  disabled  in  one  of  the  kittles 
and  was  honorably  discharged  in  1864.  To 
his  daring  and  bravery  the  government  was 
indebted  deeply,  as  the  following  letter  will 
testify: 

■■.\k.mv   ok   Cl.mueki.a.nu. 

"C.v.Mi'  St.\.m.i:v.  Tknn..  .\i)ril  19.  d.v 
■Cii/^hiin  Mn-rt  B.  Dodd. 

"SiK:  I  sent  Sergeant  Simpson's  de- 
scrijitive  roll  to  him  at  Cleveland.  Ohio,  on 
I'ebruary  i.  18^3.  as  soon  as  he  sent  for  it. 
He  left  the  regiment  at  Huntsville.  Ala- 
bama, as  a  recruiting  officer,  is  the  reason 
he  did  not  get  his  jiaj.ers.  1  am  sorry  his 
health  is  such  that  he  caniu>t  return  to  us. 
His  courage  and  jiatriotism  while  with  us 
won  the  friendship  of  all  that  knew  him  in 
the  company.  We  miss  him.  He  was  emi- 
nently a  good  soldier  ami  a  X.  O.  officer. 
He  has  lost  his  health  in  defen.se  of  his 
country,  and  his  government  ought  to  re- 
member him.  He  has  st.«Kl  by  me  in 
dangers,  never  shrinking  from  duty,  always 
seeking  the  front.  The  government  owes 
to  him  persi>nally  the  cajiture  of  all  we  got 
at  Huntsville,  at  least  one  million  dollars. 
The  sergeant  was  one  of  the  advance  guanl, 
mounte<l  mi  a  tieet  horse,  i>ursued  the  mail 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


carrier  for  miles  after  all  the  others  gave 
out,  captured  him  and  the  mail,  keeping 
the  intelligence  from  lluntsville  of  the  ap- 
roach  of  General  Mitclu'irs  forces.  Hence 
we  took  the  place  liy  surprise  completely  on 
the  morning  of  .April  i.  1862.  From  that 
time  until  he  left  he  was  almost  constantl\- 
in  the  saddle,  scouting  and  skirmishing  with 
the  enemy. 

"I  aiu  vours  obediently, 

"joii.N  C  Stewart, 
"Eirst   Lieutenant.   Commanding  Company 

1.  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

"The  ahove  statements  are  true. 

"C.VPT.     F.     Zl.M.MERMAX. 

•"Company  K.  Fourth  Ohio  X'olunteer  C",7v- 
alry." 

Air.  Simpson  was  married  in  1850.  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  Sarah  D.  Hoppins.  who 
was  born  in  Staunton,  Virginia.  She  still 
survives,  having  always  been  a  woman  of 
remarkable  activity.  The  children  born  to 
Sergeant  and  Mrs.  Simpson  were :  Roljert, 
who  died  in  1898.  in  Peoria,  where  he  had 
been  engaged  in  business  as  carpenter,  me- 
chanic and  hotel-keeper;  John  .\..  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch :  Charles  A.,  who  lives  in 
Lincoln:  Aiuia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edwartl 
W'odeski,  a  druggist,  of  Lincoln  :  and  Doug- 
las C,  alderman  from  the  fifth  ward.  Both 
he  and  his  brother  Charles  have  long  been 
associated  with  our  subject  in  business.  All 
of  these  children  were  given  the  best  pos- 
sible school  advantages,  although  the  sons 
were  early  obliged  to  contribute  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  family,  as  the  father's  means 
were  limited  when  he  located  in  this  state. 
Since  that  time  until  his  retirement  from  ac- 
tivity Mr.  Sim])son  followed  the  trade  of 
carpenter,  contractor  and  builder,  extending 
his  labors  to  Chicago,  Indianapolis  and  Lin- 


coln. He  assisted  in  the  erection  of  many 
of  the  buildings  of  all  kinds  in  this  city, 
notably  that  of  the  Lincoln  University. 

L'ntil  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  John 
.\,  Simi)son  attended  school  and  was  an  apt 
and  ambitious  student.  His  first  essay  at 
bread-winning  was  as  a  clerk,  but  less  than 
one  year  satisfied  him  that  his  talents  must 
be  directed  in  another  direction,  lie  then 
entered  a  woolen  mill  for  a  short  time,  but 
it  was  in  uSfuj)  that  he  began  upon  ,1  trade 
which  has  brought  him  ample  rewards  and 
conspicuous  position.  His  first  work  was 
with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
three  years,  or  until  he  was  a  competent 
workman.  He  spent  much  time  in  Chicago, 
where  his  father  had  many  contracts.  Af- 
ter this  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  archi- 
tect and  contractor,  Mr.  Gayle.  but  in  1882, 
in  connection  with  his  father,  he  became  a 
nieiul)er  of  the  firm  of  builders  and  con- 
tractors which  for  the  next  six  years  did 
much  of  the  building  in  this  section.  Then 
h.e  bought  his  father's  interest  and  took  up 
in  earnest  the  architectural  part  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  in  i8g8  passed  a  very  satisfactory 
examination  in  it  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  .Simps<in  tlraws  his  own  plans,  and 
his  original  designs  give  an  attractive  ap- 
pearance to  almost  all  his  work.  He  has 
done  much  building  in  Lincoln,  choosing 
now  the  work  on  which  he  can  bestow  the 
results  of  his  study.  The  most  substantial 
and  expensive  residences  in  this  city  and 
vicinity  have  lieen  built  under  his  careful 
supervision.  Mr.  Simpson  employs  about 
eighteen  men  and  carries  on  every  branch 
:)f  :ontracting  and  building,  although  he 
makes  a  personal  specialty  of  handling  and 
setting  plate  glass.  About  seventy-five  per 
cent  of  this  work  in  Lincoln  has  been  done 
by  liim,  and  he  is  also  competent  to  figure 


272 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


en  fire  losses  and  give  estimates  for  replace- 
ment lit  tiie  j^lass. 

Mr.  Sini|)sim  was  marrie<l  in  1870,  in 
Lincoln,  to  Miss  Amy  Stewart,  who  was 
Lorn  in  Lnzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1 850.  Her  jjarents  were  residents  of  Ma- 
son county,  Illinois,  but  are  deceased.  The 
other  members  of  the  family  are:  Mrs.  A. 
S.  (iuthrie,  of  Hlunt,  South  Dakota:  Henry, 
an  attorney  in  Missouri:  Mrs.  Louis  -.V. 
Jackson,  of  (ireen  Bay,  Wisconsin:  Charles 
v.  lieck,  a  half-brother,  in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness in  Chicago;  and  Harry  Heck,  a  farmer. 
of  Mason  county. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Simp.son  were  as  follows:  Sylvester  A., 
the  eldest,  ilicd  on  January  10,  1901.  He 
learned  the  trade  under  his  father,  was  a 
bright,  intelligent  young  man  of  twenty-four 
years,  was  time-keeper,  and  at  w(jrk  when 
he  fell  from  a  building  and  was  killed.  His 
education  had  been  ac(|uired  in  the  public 
schiKjls  and  in  the  Lincoln  Business  College. 
Myra  L.,  Julia  C.  Carl  E.  and  Amy  I.  have 
all  been  well  educated.  The  family  resi- 
dence was  erected  in  1H75.  and  is  one  of  the 
most  comfortable  and  attractive  in  its  vicin- 
ity. The  religious  connection  of  the  family 
is  with  the  Christian  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Simpson  has  been  trustee  for  several  years. 
Although  Mr.  Simji-son  is  an  ardent  Kopuli- 
lican  and  an  interested  worker  for  his  jiarty. 
he  has  never  consented  to  hold  oflice.  Mis 
social  membership  is  with  the  Independent 
{^rder  of  Odd  Fellows:  is  president  of  the 
order  K.  of  ('•..  and  is  very  prominently 
identified  with  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  has 
pas.sed  three  chairs  in  that  order  and  was 
chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Detroit  I-juamp- 
ment,  from  Illinois,  in  ii**)H.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder and  was  formerly  a  trustee  in  the 
Lincoln  Building  ,\ssociation.  lie  is  one  of 
the  leading  and  reliable  citizens  of  Lincoln. 


LORENZO  D.  DOWNING. 

.\mong  the  old  and  highly  esteemed 
resiilents  of  Chester  township,  Ljgan  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  who  enjoys  the  distinction  of 
being  the  oldest  continuous  citizen,  is 
Lorenzo  D.  Downing,  whose  name  is  a 
familiar  one  through  this  part  of  the  county. 
The  birth  of  Mr.  Downing  goes  far  back  in 
the  history  of  the  state,  taking  place  Decem- 
l>er  27,  1829.  His  father  was  Kol>ert 
Downing,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  taken  to  Ohio  by  his  parents 
when  a  latl  and  there  received  a  frontier 
school  education,  later  teaching  scIkkiI  for 
a  few  terms.  His  wife  was  ft>rmerly  Jane 
Morrow,  who  was  Ixirn  in  Cayuga  county. 
New  N'ork.  but  died  in  Logan  county,  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years,  her  husband  surviving 
to  the  age  of  ninety-three  years  and  si.\ 
months.  Both  sleej)  in  the  Templeman 
cemetery,  a  daughter  l)eing  the  first  ^)erson 
interred  in  that  ground. 

The  Downing  family  landed  in  Logan 
county  in  August.  1822.  At  that  time 
there  were  but  few  houses  along  the  timber 
belt  where  they  settled,  but  Robert  Downing 
worked  hard,  cleared  up  a  property  and  then 
went  to  Galena,  where  lalxirers  were  wanted 
in  the  lead  mines.  Here  he  was  employed 
for  two  years,  and  in  this  time  he  accunui- 
latcd  enough  to  return  to  Logan  county  and 
buy  eighty  acres  of  land.  fi>r  which  he  ))aid 
one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  jier  acre. 
This  was  but  a  begiiming,  for  as  time  went 
on  his  industry  was  rewarded  and  he  finally 
owned  nine  hundred  acres  of  land  in  this 
county.  Ten  children  were  born  into  this 
home,  these  being:  jolm,  who  died  in  Mc- 
Lean county:  .Mary,  now  living  in  Iowa,  the 
wife  of  George  Roberts,  formerly  of  Logan 
coiuUy  :  Lorenzo  D..  who  was  born  in  San- 
gamon   county    before    the    di\  ision :    .\le\- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


2/"3 


ander.  who  is  now  living  in  Lincoln,  a  re- 
tired carpenter,  formerly  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war;  Malita,  the  widow  of  Thcmias 
Downing,  of  Logan  connty:  Elizaheth,  de- 
ceased, who  married  Samuel  Downing;  De- 
lilah, the  wife  of  D.  Shelhammer.  residing 
in  Laenna  township ;  Henry  Clay,  deceased, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  his  service;  and  Rohert 
H..  now  a  resident  of  Mt.  Pulaski  township. 
The  land  was  all  divided  among  the  chil- 
dren, who  had  been  given  all  of  tiie  educa- 
tional advantages  possible  at  that  time. 
The  ancestry  of  the  family  was  Scotch- 
Irish.  Robert  Downing  was  a  tine  speci- 
men of  physical  manhood. 

During  the  winter  through  his  boyhood 
Lorenzo  Downing  attended  school  as  oppor- 
tunity afforded,  but  the  summers  were  oc- 
cupied in  farm  work.  L'ntil  he  was  twenty- 
four  years  of  age  he  remained  witli  Ills 
father.  At  that  time  he  married,  and  tlie 
next  year  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  whicli  he  imprcned,  and  built 
a  small  house  upon  it  in  1856,  adding  land 
until  he  now  owns  seven  hundred  acres, 
eighty  of  which  is  in  timber.  The  balance 
is  under  cultivation  and  is  farmed  by  his 
children.  All  of  his  land  has  been  well  im- 
l)roved,  and  to  much  of  it  he  gave  his  per- 
-sonal  attention  until  1890,  when  lie  retired 
from  active  labor,  leaving  the  burdens  to 
younger  hands. 

Mr.  Downing  was  first  married  Janu- 
ary I,  1854,  to  Miss  Angeline  Shoup,  who 
died  in  October,  1854.  In  1856  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Shoup. 
who  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  In  1873  siie 
])assed  away,  the  three  surviving  children 
of  the  family  of  seven  born  to  this  union 
being:  Ellen,  the  wife  of  William  Milner, 
who  resides  in  Mt.  Pulaski  township ;  Will- 
iam  L..  wiio  resides  in  Chester  townshi]): 


and  John  M.,  who  resides  in  Aetna  town- 
ship, all  of  the  children  Ijeing  located  on 
property  belonging  to  their  honored  father. 
In  1875  Mr.  Downing  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Xancy  (Hainline)  Bradley,  who  was  torn 
in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  July  4,  1838. 
She  had  one  daughter  living, — Alice,  who 
married  William  H.  Smith,  and  resides  in 
h'ast  Lincoln  township.  To  our  subject 
and  wife  two  children  have  been  born,  of 
whom  one  died  in  infancy.  Mora  B.  is  the 
wife  of  Josej)!!  M.  Shoup,  and  they  have  one 
son  living,— Cecil.  Our  subject  lives  at 
the  home  of  his  daughter  in  Chester  town- 
shi]).  surrounded  by  every  C(imfort  and  be- 
loved by  his  large  family. 

In  politics  Mr.  Downing  has  been  an 
acti\e  worker  in  Re[)ublican  ranks.  Init  lia< 
never  tlesired  ])arty  recognition.  Mrs. 
Downing  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  Mr.  Downing  cheerfully  and 
liberally  contributes  to  the  support  and  ad- 
\ancement  of  all  Christian  enterprises.  He 
is  financially  interested  as  a  stockholder  in 
the  First  National  Bank  at  Mount  Pulaski, 
and  has  been  the  organizer  and  promoter  of 
many  of  the  leadjjig  interests  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Downing"  is  the  oldest  continuous  resi- 
dent of  Chester  township  now  living  there, 
and  has  been  an  intelligent  and  interested 
witness  of  the  wonderful  changes  which 
ha\e  taken  place. 


WILLIAM   H.   XEKL. 

One  of  the  most  energetic  and  enterpris- 
ing business  men  of  Atlanta  is  William  H. 
Xeel,  pr. )])rietor  of  the  leading  livery  and 
feed  stable  of  that  place.  He  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  Pike  county,  August  7, 
1864,  and  was  only  two  years  old  when 
brought    to    l.ogan   county   by    his    parents. 


Till     i:i(»(.kAPHICAL  RECokli 


,,....v  .„,..  ,>.„,>,,.,  ,  ....„..,,  ^..,.  The 
iatlier  was  Ixtrn  in  I'cnnsylvania,  of  Irish 
aiul  (Jernian  dcsceiU.  ami  there  learned  tlie 
car|)enter's  trade,  wliicli  he  followed  in  con- 
nection witii  farming  throughout  the  greater 
jart  of  his  life.  In  the  fall  of  1S50  he  came 
I..  I'ike  county,  Illinois,  and  finally  located 
in  Logan  county  in  iS^f),  his  home  heing  on 
M  farm  east  of  Lincoln,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  .^ 
i89<^.  I  lis  w  ife.  who  still  resides  on  the  old 
home  farm  with  a  son  and  daughter,  was 
l>orn  in  1SJ4.  and  is.  therefore,  seventy- 
seven  years  of  age  at  the  present  writing. 
()i  the  five  children  lx>rn  to  them  only  three 
now   survive. 

William  H.  Xeel  grew  to  manhood  upon 
the  home  farm,  and  was  provided  with  g<K>d 
sch<H)l  privileges,  attemling  first  the  com- 
mon schiKils.  later  the  Lincoln  lUisiness  Col- 
lege and  completing  his  education  at  the 
Lincoln  I'niversity.  He  hegan  his  husiness 
career  as  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer,  and  con- 
tinued to  follow  those  pursuits  quite  .suc- 
cessfully until  he  emharked  in  his  present 
business  at  Atlanta  in  1S94.  He  has  a 
well-stocked  stahle.  and  receives  a  liberal 
patronage.  Upright  and  reliable  in  his 
business  dealings,  he  has  gained  the  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
Contact.  Jn  his  (Militicai  affiliations  he  is  a 
Kepublic.'ui.  and  in  his  social  relations  is  a 
meml)er  of  the  In<lependent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Rel)ekahs  and  tlie  Modern 
W'owlmen  of  America. 


f;i:oK(;i:\i:RKV. 

fieorge  \'erry,  now  living  retired  in  At- 
lanta, Illinois,  has  s|)ent  his  entire  life  in  this 
state.  His  life  is  .in  exemplification  of  the 
fact   that    there  .ire   no   rules    for   building 


characters,  ai...  .m  ,,v  ...  ..w.ic.mg  success. 
The  man  who  can  rise  from  the  ranks  to  a 
]>osition  of  eminence  is  he  who  can  see  and 
utilize  the  op|K)rtunities  that  surround  his 
iwth.  The  essential  conditions  of  hiuiian 
life  arc  ever  the  same,  the  surroundings  of 
individuals  differ  but  slightly.  When  one 
]>asses  another  on  the  highway  of  life  it  is 
Inrcause  he  has  the  jxiwer  to  use  advantages 
which  probably  cncomi)ass  the  whole  human 
race. 

.\  native  of  Illinois.  Mr.  X'erry  was  born 
in  Tazewell  comity  on  the  13th  of  April. 
1S51.  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  a 
giHwl  old  Xew  England  family.  His  father. 
William  .\.  X'erry.  was  Ixirn  January  17, 
i8i<).  in  Massachusetts,  of  which  state  his 
grandfather.  William  C  X'erry.  wa.s  also  a 
native,  his  birth  occurring  in  Boston.  May 
^^o.  1795.  riie  great-grandfather,  who  also 
bore  the  name  of  William,  was  likewise  lx)rn 
in  Massachusetts,  and  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  .\t  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years  XXilliam  C.  X'erry  mar- 
ried Miss  Lucinda  llorton.  of  Massachusetts. 
In-the  fall  of  iSjj  they  removed  with  their 
family  to  Illinois.  an<l  first  located  in  Bond 
county.  biU  the  following  year  took  uj)  their 
resi<lencc  in  Morgan  county,  lieing  ani<«ig 
the  earliest  settlers  of  that  locality.  There 
the  grandfather  entered  land  and  engaged  in 
farming. 

W  illiam  A.  X'erry  was  reared  ui>on  his 
fathers  farm  in  Morgan  county,  and  ac- 
quired his  e<lucation  in  a  log  school-house 
of  the  neighborhiHHl.  On  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  left  the  parental  roof  and  started 
tint  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
was  married  Octol)er  .'o.  iS4_>.to  Miss  Sarah 
.\nn  I'arnsworth.  a  native  of  Missouri,  and 
a  daughter  of  Lnos  and  b'rances  I'arnsworth. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  X'erry  was  furnished 
will)  a  team  of  horses  and  wagon,  and  in 


GEORGE   VERRY. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1843  '1^  removed  to  Tazewell  county,  taking 
up  his  residence  in  a  small  frame  house  nn  a 
tract  of  forty  acres  of  land  which  he  hail  ]>ur- 
chased.  fleeting  with  excellent  success  in 
his  farming  operations,  he  atlded  to  this 
property  from  time  to  time  until  he  owned 
twenty-four  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land. 
He  was  not  only  one  of  the  most  prosj^erous 
and  substantial  fanners  of  his  community, 
but  was  also  one  of  its  most  prominent  and 
influential  citizens.  He  died  in  Tazewell 
county  May  21.  1898.  and  his  wife  passed 
awav  on  the  22d  of  March,  the  same  year. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living:  William  E., 
George,  Elon  F.  and  Frances. 

Our  subject  attended  school  near  his 
boyhood  home,  and  received  a  good  practi- 
cal education.  Reared  on  a  farm,  he  early 
acquired  an  excellent  knowledge  of  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  he  made  that  occupation 
his  life  work.  He  remained  at  home  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  then  removed 
to  a  farm  belonging  to  his  father  in  Mount 
Hope  township,  McLean  county,  Illinois. 
For  many  years  he  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  farming  interests,  and  also  en- 
gaged in  st(Kk-raising  to  some  extent.  His 
efforts  were  crowned  with  success,  so  that 
to-day  he  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  citi- 
zens of  Logan  county,  owning  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  improved  land.  In 
1891  ^Ir.  Verry  decided  it  was  time  to  take 
a  rest,  and  accordingly  he  erecte<l  a  lieautiful 
and  commodious  residence  in  Atlanta  at  a 
cost  of  several  thousand  dollars,  where  he 
and  his  most  estimable  wife  are  now  spend- 
ing their  days  in  ease  and  comfort.  Al- 
though retired  from  the  more  active  pur- 
suits of  life,  he  still  looks  after  his  many 
interests. 

On  the  8th  of  Octol>er.  1874.  Mr.  \'erry 
\vas  united  in  marriage  with   Miss   Emma 


A.  Grain,  a  daughter  of  William  D.  and 
Martha  (McMillan)  Grain,  who  were  natives 
of  Kentucky,  and  were  descendants  of  old 
and  prominent  families  of  the  Blue  Grass 
state.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Verry  were  born 
two  children :  Edna  F.,  who  is  now  taking  a 
classical  course  at  the  Chicago  L'niversity; 
and  Xora  E.,  who  died  August  28,  1876. 
Mrs.  Verry  is  a  meniber  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  while  the  daughter  luilds 
membership  in  the  Baptist  church. 

Socially  Mr.  Verry  is  a  meml>er  of  At- 
lanta Lodge,  Xo.  165,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Chap- 
ter Xo.  188,  R.  A.  M. ;  and  Lincoln  Com- 
mandery,  X'^o.  51,  K.  T.  He  is  of  a  retir- 
ing disposition,  never  ]nishing  himself  for- 
ward or  seeking  publicity,  but  giving  strict 
attention  to  his  personal  affairs.  A  life  of 
honest  toil  is  a  good  stepping-stone  to  pros- 
perity and  merits  a  rest  in  the  prime  of  life, 
giving  time  and  means  for  the  enjoyments 
of  life. 


PHILIP  G.  AHREXS. 

The  biography  of  very  many  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  leading  agriculturists  of  any  lo- 
cality tells  the  same  story,  that  of  energy, 
honesty  and  industry  well  repaid.  This  is 
the  case  in  the  present  instance,  for  Philip 
G.  Ahrens  in  early  life  was  forced  by  cir- 
cumstances to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  and  in  the  few  intervening  years  has 
become  the  manager  of  a  large  estate  and  the 
owner  of  an  improved  property  in  another 
state,  while  he  enjoys  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  those  with  whom  he  has  spent 
many  years. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Ahrens  occurred  in 
Cass  county.  Illinois,  .\pril  27,  1862.  and  he 
is  a  son  of  Henry  J.  and  Caroline  Ahrens, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  Sedgwick  conn- 


•78 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tv.  Kansas,  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven,  while  the  latter,  at  the  age  of  si.xty- 
tivc.  lives  in  Kansas  uixm  one  of  the  farms 
juirchasetl  i>y  iier  husband.  They  hail  a 
family  of  four  children,  namely:  William, 
who  was  a  farmer,  unmarried,  anil  died  in 
Decatur  in  187J:  Lena,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Paul  Hartwig  and  resides  in  East  Lincoln 
township:  Henry,  who  lives  a  retired  life  in 
Orvil  township:  and  Philip,  who  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  The  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Germany  and  came  to  America 
when  <|uitc  young.  They  were  married  in 
St.  Louis  and  always  followed  farming,  first 
in  Cass  county.  Illinois,  but  later  in  Macon 
county  and  then  in  Logan.  From  this 
county  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .\hrens  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  he  purchased  a  one-half  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Sedgwick  county,  which  he 
improved,  and  although  he  had  reached 
America  a  p<M)r  y(jung  man.  at  the  time  of 
liis  death  he  was  considered  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  "of  his  locality.  He  was  a 
Methodist  in  religious  faith,  and  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  being  a  great  admirer 
of  President  Lincoln.  He  gave  his  children 
as  giHKl  educational  advantages  as  he  could 
afford,  and  was  always  interested  in  their 
welfare. 

Philip  (>.  Ahrens  attended  sch.xtl  both  in 
Macon  and  Logan  counties,  and  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old  remained  at  home, 
starting  out  then  to  work  on  the  neighlxir- 
ing  farms  by  the  month.  For  two  years  he 
worked  and  save<l  his  wages,  accumulating 
<|uitc  a  sum.  In  1SS3  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage of  -Miss  .XntoinetteNeibuhr.  who  was 
J)orn  in  .McLean  county,  in  1863.  and  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Simon  and  Frances  Nie- 
buhr.  both  of  whom  live  retired  in  I^)gan 
county.  -Mr.  Niebuhr  was  a  large  land- 
owner, possessing  alxnit  fifteen  hundred 
acres  in   Logan  county.     Six  children  still 


survive  of  the  family  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Niebuhr.  namely:  Laura,  wife  of  Jolm 
Richmond,  who  lives  in  Fi)rt  Scott.  Kansas; 
.\ntoinette.  wife  of  Mr.  .\hrens;  .\le.\ander. 
a  resident  of  Peoria:  Josei)hine.  wife  of 
Eden  C.  Perkins,  of  Lincoln:  Clara,  at 
home;  and  also  .\delia.  at  lumie.  This 
family  enjoyed  exception  educational  advan- 
tages. Iwth  in  .McLean  and  b>gan  counties, 
and  one  .son  and  two  daughters  were  e<lu- 
cated  at  .\nn  .Krlior.  Michigan. 

To  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  .\hrens  two  chiUlren 
have  lieen  l)orn. — Logan  C.  and  Hugo  H.. 
Ixith  of  whom  attend  sch«K)l.  Following  his 
marriage  our  subject  engaged  in  farming 
for  one  year  in  Prairie  Creek  townshii*.  and 
then  moved  to  Sedgwick  county.  Kan.sas. 
where  he  lived  on  his  fathers  land  during 
the  following  year.  Returning  to  I,ogan 
county,  he  carried  on  farming  in  Prairie 
Creek  and  Orvil  townships  for  thirteen 
years,  coming  then  to  Chester  township,  in 
1899.  where  he  rented  a  large  farm,  con- 
sisting of  three  hundreil  acres,  owned  by 
F.  C.  W.  Koehnle.  on  section  19.  and  here 
Mr.  .\hrens  oj^rates  on  an  extensive  scale, 
carrying  on  general  farming.  He  owns 
and  rents  a  fine  eighty-acre  farm,  well  im- 
proved, in  .Mahaska  county.  Iowa.  In  jxli- 
tics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  assessor  of 
Orvil  townshij)  one  year.  The  family  is 
connected  with  the  Metluxlist  church  in  re- 
ligious belief,  and  all  arc  highly  esteemed 
here. 


hREl)i:RlCK    Ki:iSE. 

On  February  17.  iSS.S.  there  i>asse(l 
away  at  his  home  in  .\tlanta  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  review.  Loveil  and 
respected  by  all.  his  death  was  a  sad  blow 
not  onlv  to  his  own  immediate  family  but 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


279 


to  the  entire  community  in  which  he  had 
so  long  made  his  home. 

A  native  of  Germany,  his  early  schix)l 
advantages  were  limited,  but  all  through 
life  he  made  the  best  of  his  opportunities,  so 
that  when  he  was  at  last  called  to  his  final 
rest  Logan  county  lost  one  whose  place  will 
never  be  filled.  He  was  but  a  boy  when 
his  parents.  Frederick  and  Caroline  Reise. 
deciiled  that  the  new  world  offered  better 
ad\  antages  to  those  who  were  ambitious  to 
succeed  in  life.  The  passage  across  the 
broad  Atlantic  was  made  in  a  sailing-vessel, 
and  after  many  days  they  finally  landed  in 
this  country.  Here  his  father  engaged  in 
farming,  and  when  he  was  finally  called  to 
the  great  l)eyond  his  death  took  from  the 
rolls  of  America's  adopted  sons  one  who 
was  at  all  times  ready  and  willing  to  do  his 
duty,  not  only  to  his  family  but  to  his  coun- 
try. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  chil- 
dren that  as  soon  as  they  reached  man's 
estate  scattered  to  different  parts  of  the 
countrv.  Mr.  Reise  in  early  life  receivetl 
a  thorough  training  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
and  perhaps  this,  together  with  his  wonder- 
ful store  of  energ},-.  explains  why  his  life 
was  such  a  success. 

In  July,  1 85 1,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Victorine  Jaquine.  Her 
parents  were  members  of  a  distinguished 
French  family,  and  her  birth  occurred 
within  fourteen  miles  of  the  city  of  Paris. 
When  very  young  she  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  this  country  and  her  father  set- 
tled near  Peoria.  Illinois,  where  he  became 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  which 
occupation  he  followed  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  wife  only  survived  him  a  short 
time,  when  she.  too.  was  called  away.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reise  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  ten  children,    as    follows: 


George.  Julia.  Augusta,  Lizzie.  Emma. 
Clara.  Harriman,  Edwin.  Frank  and  Fred. 

Beginning  on  a  small  scale,  as  nearly  all 
our  young  men  did  in  those  early  days.  Mr. 
Reise  steadily  prospered  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  of  Lo- 
gan county.  One  had  but  to  visit  his  farm 
and  view  the  well-tilled  fields  to  find  the 
reason  of  his  success,  as  his  was  a  model 
farm. 

In  early  life  he  united  with  tlie  Luther- 
an church,  and  from  that  time  until  his 
death  he  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  fol- 
lowers of  the  divine  teachings.  Mrs.  Reise 
is  a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic  church 
of  Atlanta. 

As  a  lad  Mr.  Riese  came  to  America, 
and  with  no  capital,  started  out  in  a  strange 
land  to  overcome  the  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles in  the  path  to  prosperity.  His 
youthful  dreams  of  success  were  realized, 
and  he  was  able  to  leave  his  family  a  com- 
fortable comijetence.  He  is  gone,  and  no 
more  is  his  familiar  figure  seen,  but  his 
memory  will  always  remain  and  his  family 
may  well  be  proud  of  the  record  that  is  left 
as  a  monument  to  his  memorv. 


LYMAX  O.  BUZZARD. 

Lyman  O.  Buzzard,  chief  of  the  night 
police  force  of  Lmcoln,  is  proud  to  claim 
Illinois  as  his  native  state,  his  birth  having 
occurred  near  \'andalia.  Fayette  county, 
Februarv  18.  1850.  His  father.  .\Ivin  Buz- 
zard, was  born  in  Holmes  county.  Ohio,  in 
1834.  of  German  ancestry,  and  came  to  this 
state  in  1846.  Ten  years  later  he  became 
a  resident  of  Logan  county,  and  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Xew  Holland.     During 


Till-:   HIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  active  business  career  lie  i..lli)\\i.<l  larm- 
ing  princiiially.  but  also  engaged  in  tlic  mer- 
cantile anil  livery  inisiness.  Ihruufjli  his 
own  unaided  efforts  he  has  succeeded  in  ac- 
cumulating^ a  c<>mfortal)le  c<)m|)etencc  by 
Jiis  farming  operations  and  business  ven- 
tures, ami  is  now  able  to  lay  aside  all  busi- 
ness cares  and  spend  the  remainder  of  his 
Jife  is  ease  and  (piiet.  lie  has  never  taken 
a  very  active  i)art  in  politics,  but  has  always 
supported  the  Re])ublican  jiarty.  In  early 
manhiHid  he  married  Miss  Jane  ."-^niith.  who 
was  also  Ixjrn  in  Holmes  couiUy.  (Jhio.  May 
8.  1S33.  and  is  of  English  descent.  Unto 
them  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  tw(^ 
died  in  infancy.  Marilla.  born  in  1S48. 
married  Charles  I'hillips.  formerly  a  resi- 
ileiU  of  F.lkhart,  Illinois,  and  died  in  1S74. 
Those  living  are  as  follows:  I-yman  U., 
our  .subject:  Texas  A.,  who  is  doing  busi- 
ness at  the  Union  Stockyards  in  Chicago: 
George  and  Schuyler,  both  residents  of  New 
Hollan<l,  this  county:  Ella,  wife  of  luhvard 
Johnson,  of  Havana.  Illinois;  .Mice,  wife 
of  Charles  Crane,  of  .\urora  Springs.  Mis- 
souri; and  May,  wife  of  Charles  Kirkpat- 
rick,  a  building  contractor  of  Lincoln. 
They  were  all  reared  at  home  and  educated 
in  the  |)ublic  schools  of  Logan  oninty. 

Mr.  I'.u/.zard,  of  this  review,  attended 
the  public  schools  of  ]-:ikhart.  .\t  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  left  home  and  went  to  Kan- 
sas. Me  learned  the  butcher's  trade  in  Kan- 
sas City,  and  since  that  time  lias  followed 
that  occu])ation  uninterruptedly.  .\fter 
spending  three  years  in  Kan.sas  City  he  re- 
turne<l  to  Lincoln,  and  in  iSjfi  went  to  Chi- 
cago. I-'rom  1884  until  i88()  he  w.is  in 
Memphis.  Tenncs.see,  and  then  returned  to 
Chicago,  where  be  made  his  home  luitil 
i8(;3.  Returning  to  Logan  county,  he 
spent  two  years  at  \ew  Holland,  and  in 
i8<;(i  to. ik  u\}  his  residence  in  Lincoln,  where 


he  has  sitice  lived.  During  all  this  time  he 
has  engaged  in  the  butcher  business.  In 
May.  1901,  he  was  apjKMuted  j)oIice  cayt- 
tain  of  the  night  force,  and  is  now  tilling 
that  ofiice  in  a  most  cajjable  and  satisfac- 
tory manner. 

.\t  I'coria.  in  1S7*..  Mr.  Huzzard  mar- 
ried Miss  Aha  Erazer,  who  died  in  October, 
1 88 J,  at  Chicago,  leaving  one  daughter, 
(ioldie.  She  was  liorn  in  187S  and  is  liv- 
ing with  her  maternal  grandparents  in 
l'e<iria,  being  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  She  graduate<l  there  anil  has 
.since  engaged  in  teaching.  Mr.  Buzzard 
was  again  married  in  Chicago,  in  i8<)i.  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Leo  IJarrett, 
wh<)  was  born  in  .\lbany.  New  York,  but 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Chicago.  Her 
jjarents  are  both  deceased. 

On  national  issues  Mr.  Buzzard  always 
supports  the  Republican  party,  but  at  local 
elections  votes  for  the  men  whom  be  believes 
best  <iualitied  for  the  othces.  regardless  of 
party  lines.  He  is  a  member  of  the  blue 
lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Lincoln, 
having  been  made  a  Mason  in  1876.  He 
gives  his  aid  to  all  church  and  philanthrtipic 
work  and  uses  his  inthience  for  the  better- 
ment of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 
1  le  is  a  great  reader  and  kecjis  well  i)o.sted 
on  current  eveiUs  as  well  ;is  the  best  litera- 
ture of  the  dav. 


Till  ).M  AS  (  ).  S\N"1)I-:K. 

b'or  more  than  a  (piarter  of  a  century 
Thomas  O.  Snyder  has  been  a  representative 
of  the  building  interests  of  Mount  rula.ski 
and  Logan  couiUy.  and  in  the  line  of  his 
business  has  contribuleil  in  large  measures 
to  the  improvement  and  substantial  devlop- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


inent  of  tliis  section  of  the  state.  He  was 
born  in  tlie  city  which  is  still  his  home, 
Julv  5.  1853.  and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of 
German  lineage,  his  great-grandfather  hav- 
ing been  lx>rn  in  Germany,  whence  he  cross- 
ed the  ocean  to  the  new  world,  l)ecoming 
the  progenitor  of  the  family  on  this  side 
the  Atlantic.  George  Snyder,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
Charles  W.  Snyder,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Schuykill  county.  Penn- 
svlvania,  where  his  birth  occurred  Decem- 
ber 9.  1825.  After  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity  he  married  Jemima  J.  Baker,  who 
was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in 
183 1,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Baker,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky  and  became  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  the  Prairie  state.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Delay. 

Reared  in  his  parents  home,  Thomas  O. 
Snyder  attended  the  jiublic  schools  of  Mount 
Pulaski,  where  he  continued  his  studies  un- 
til fifteen  years  of  age.  He  was  afterward 
emi)loyed  in  Aarious  ways  whereby  he  might 
earn  an  honest  living  and  eventually  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  has  since 
followed  as  a  life  work.  In  1872  he  began 
contracting  and  building  on  his  own  account 
and  for  twenty-five  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Ralston  &  Snyder,  enter- 
ing into  partnership  with  W.  H.  Ralston — 
a  connection  that  has  lieen  maintained 
through  a  quarter  of  a  centry,  the  firm  oc- 
cupying a  foremost  position  among  the  con- 
tractors and  builders  of  this  part  of  the  coun- 
ty. They  have  taken  and  promptly  executed 
many  contracts,  and  fine  residences  and  other 
substantial  buildings  of  Mount  Pulaski  and 
tlie  surrounding  country  stand  as  monu- 
ments to  their  skill  and  handiwork.  During 
the  busy  season  of  the  year  they  employ 
from  fifteen  to  eighteen  men,  and  they  do 
much  of  their  finishing  w<«rk  both  by  hand 


and  machinery.  Their  reliability  and  faith- 
fulness to  the  terms  of  contract  have  won 
for  them  a  large  patronage,  bringing  them 
a  desirable  income. 

In  18S1  Mr.  Snyder  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Shriver,  a  native 
of  Logan  county  and  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Sarah  (^Mann)  Shriver.  They  now 
have  f(nir  children,  a  sun  and  three  daugh- 
ters: Fred  H.,  Lulu  A.,  Jessie  H.  and 
Ailine  M.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Sny- 
der is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  has  filled 
some  local  oftices,  serving  for  one  term  as 
tax  collector  and  for  three  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board.  He  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest in  everything  pertaining  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  and  is  a  progressive 
and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  belongs  to 
the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp  of  Mount  Pu- 
laski, and  has  out  only  the  regard  of  his 
brethren  of  the  fraternity,  but  of  all  who  are 
familiar  with  his  upright  life.  Industry  and 
enterprise  may  be  well  termed  his  salient 
characteristics,  for  they  have  been  the  ac- 
tive factors  in  his  long  and  honoralile  busi- 
ness career,  winning  him  a  comfortable 
competence. 


FRAXKLIX   CLEX'ELAXD   ORTOX. 

Franklin  Cleveland  Orton.  deceased, 
was  for  some  \-ears  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  business  men  of  Lin- 
coln, where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  August  20,  1900.  He 
was  born  in  Lebanon,  Xew  York,  on  the 
1 6th  of  August,  1852,  and  was  a  son  of  Dr. 
Lyman  O.  and  Julia  C.  Orton,  who  brought 
their  family  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Broadwell,  Logan  c«.>unty, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until    1864,   ami  then   removed  to 


28: 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Lincoln.  Here  he  died  in  1884.  but  his  wife 
is  still  living  and  now  resides  on  Lt>gan 
street.  In  tiie  family  were  two  chiUlren 
who  arc  still  living:  Samuel,  a  resident  of 
Kansas  City.  Missouri;  and  Julia. 

During  his  boyho<xl  Mr.  Orton  of  this 
review  took  the  full  course  in  the  Lincoln 
University,  and  afterward  learned  teleg- 
raphy at  the  Chicago  &  .Mton  Railroad  sta- 
tion in  Clinton  in  1870.  Subse(|ucntly  he  was 
made  station  agent  of  the  Peoria,  Decatur 
&  Evansville  Railroad  and  largely  contrib- 
uted to  tlie  development  of  the  company's 
business  in  this  city. 

On  the  17th  of  Xovember.  1S81.  Mr. 
Orton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Carrie  Rutledge.  daughter  of  Rev.  William 
Rutledge.  of  Jacksonville.  Illinois,  and  to 
them  were  born  eight  children,  six  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Virginia.  Lyman  O.. 
Franklin  C,  William  R.,  Louis  S.  and  Ju- 
lian R.  One  son  died  in  infancy,  and 
Gladvs  died  when  about  eighteen  months 
old.  ' 

Mr.  Orton  became  a  stockhokler  and  di- 
rector of  the  Lincoln  National  Bank  in 
1885.  and  in  July  of  the  following  year  was 
elected  cashier,  which  position  he  acceptably 
filled  until  January,  1892,  when  he  was 
elected  vice-president  and  was  succeeded  l)y 
P.  E.  Kuhl  as  cashier.  He  was  actively 
connected  with  the  management  of  the  bank 
until  July,  1894,  and  continued  to  hold  the 
office  of  vice-president  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  the  meantime  he  l>ecanie  inter- 
ested in  the  grain  business,  being  associ- 
ated with  John  W.  Si)ellman.  as  successors 
to  the  firm  of  J.  M.  Moloney  &  Company. 
Charles  W.  Spitly  was  admitted  to  a  i)art- 
nership  in  the  business  in  December.  i8()3. 
constituting  the  well  known  firm  of  Spell- 
man.  Orton  &  Sjtitly  of  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Orton  was  ill  but  a  tew  days  before 


his  death  and  was  ojK-rated  on  for  api)endi- 
citis  with  the  hoi)e  of  prolonging  his  life.but 
this  prove<l  of  no  avail,  and  he  i)asse«l  away, 
mourned  not  only  by  his  imme<liate  family, 
but  also  by  his  business  ass<K:iates  and  many 
friends.  He  was  a  devoted  husband  and  an 
indulgent  father,  and  a  true  and  loyal 
friend.  In  boyhood  he  unite<l  with  the 
Congregational  church  of  Lincoln,  and  for 
several  years  was  a  faithful  attendant  on 
its  services  and  a  worker  in  the  Sunday 
school.  When  that  church  was  disbandeil 
he  did  not  transfer  his  meml)ership  to  any 
other  church,  but  was  always  very  friendly 
to  all  religious  denominations,  and  con- 
tributed generously  to  the  sup])ort  of  the 
gosjjel.  His  career  was  that  of  a  remark- 
ably successful  business  man,  indicating 
abilities  and  resources  of  an  exceptional 
character.  In  his  dealings  he  was  ever 
I)romi)t.  reliable  and  entirely  trustworthy, 
and  although  he  gained  a  greater  degree 
of  success  than  came  to  many  of  his  fellow 
townsmen,  it  was  because  he  was  very  ener- 
getic, persevering  and  capable  in  managing 
his  affairs. 


H.  .\.   I.   P.XCL. 


H.  .\.  J.  Paul,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Or- 
vil  township.  Logan  ct>unty.  Illinois,  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county  for  nearly  half 
a  centurv.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky.  March 
^o.  1832.  and  is  a  son  of  I'.dmund  and 
Rachel  (Cray)  Paul,  Iwith  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. In  1835  the  family  moved  to  Mon- 
roe county.  Indiana  and  there  the  father  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  also  a  cixiiier. 
carjienter  an<l  wagon  maker  by  trade,  ami 
wi)rked  at  these  occupations  in  connection 
with  farming  in  Monroe  county.  Indiana, 
until  his  tlealh.     The  mother  of  our  subject 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


283 


also  died  in  the  same  county.  Eight  chil- 
<hcn  constituted  their  family  and  three  came 
w  est.  namely  :  Catherine,  now  Mrs.  McMa- 
hon,  a  resident  of  Kansas:  Elizaheth.  now 
Mrs.  Robert  Whitcsell  of  McLean  county, 
inmois:  and  llem-y  A.  J.,  our  subject.  Tlic 
others  were  William:  Taylor,  who  is  now 
deceased:  Rhoda  and  Sarah,  both  residents 
of  Indiana;  and  Davis,  who  was  drowned 
wnen  about  ten  years  of  age. 

The  education  of  Mr.  Paul  was  limited 
as  he  was  obliged  to  assist  his  father  on  the 
nome  farm  and  in  the  winter  time  after  be- 
coming old  enough  he  was  obliged  to  work 
in  the  cooper  sho]).  At  the  age  of  twentw 
he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  accimnt  and 
came  west,  direct  to  Logan  county.  Illinois, 
settling  in  Eminence  township,  where  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  four  years.  The 
first  winter  he  spent  here  he  attended  school. 

In  1855  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hilary 
Hinkle,  who  was  a  native  of  Monroe  county, 
Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Catherine  Hinkle,  nati\-es  of  South  Carolina 
and  Indiana,  respectively.  They  made  their 
home  in  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  where  the\ 
engageil  in  farming  and  both  died  there. 
Our  subject  and  wife  have  five  children, 
namely:  Alice,  wife  of  George  Scutt,  of 
Boyingtnn,  Tazewell  county.  Illinois:  Henry, 
who  married  Myra  Mathews  and  resides  on 
a  farm  in  Tazewell  county;  J.  J.,  who  mar- 
ried Leona  Miller  and  resides  in  Emden. 
this  county,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
livery  business:  James  E.,  who  married  Ida 
Edgar  and  resides  in  Delavan,  Tazewell 
count}-,  he  being  a  laljorer:  and  I)a\id,  wlm 
died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 

In  December.  1855,  Mr.  Paul  traded  the 
eighty-acre  farm  in  Orvil  township  which 
he  had  purchased  while  working  in  Emi- 
rience  township,  for  ;uiiither  eighty  ad- 
joining    his     present      farm,     known     as 


the  old  Ryan  estate.  He  then  bought 
another  eighty  acres  and  began  mak- 
ing improvements.  Later  he  purchased 
more  land  and  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
si.\ty-h\e  ;icres  of  i-ich  farming  land  in  the 
ncirthern  ])art  of  ( )rvil  township,  in  additidU 
to  eight}-  acres  in  Tazewell  count}-,  Illinois. 
L'ntil  a  few  }-ears  ago  he  carried  >  in  gen- 
eral farming,  but  he  is  now  retired  and  rents 
nearly  all  the  land,  although  he  and  his  wife 
still  reside  on  the  home  place. 

Mr.  Paul  has  held  several  offices  in  the 
township,  having  been  commissioner  and 
school  director  for  a  long  time.  He  is  a 
ver}-  stanch  Democrat  in  politics  and  has  al- 
ways \-oted  for  the  candidates  of  his  party. 
Loth  he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  earnest 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Paul 
is  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  part  of  the 
county  and  is  well  known.  His  ])ros]ierity 
is  the  result  of  his  own  efforts,  as  when  he 
came  to  this  county  he  was  in  \-er}-  limited 
circun-istances  and  what  he  has  to-dav.  he 
has  earned  b}-  hard  work,  good  manage- 
ment and  econon-i\-. 


ERVIX  L.  ADAMS. 

Sound  judgment  comljined  with  hue 
ability  in  mechanical  lines  has  enabled  the 
subject  of  this  biography  to  Ijecome  one  of 
the  leading  blacksmiths  of  Lincoln.  He 
was  born  in  this  cit}-  on  the  jjnd  nf  May, 
1867,  and  is  a  son  of  William  I.,  and  Maria 
(Hatch)  Adams,  the  former  ;i  n,-ilive  of 
Dnver.  Mass.-ichusetts.  the  latter  nf  .\ew 
\<<vk  state.  They  were  the  parents  of 
se\-t'n  children,  namely:  Jnhn.  a  resident 
I  if  .\rkansas  City,  Kansas:  Margaret,  wife 
of  Joseph  Johnson,  of  Nebraska:  Ezekiel ; 
.\elson,   who  lives  in   Lincoln;   Ervin.   our 


j84 


THE   BIOGRArillCAL  RECORD. 


sulijcct;  and  Lillian,  \m;.  Smith, 

«>t  IJncitln:  ami  one  \\h"  'liol  in  infancy. 
Tile  family  resi(le<l  in  Massachusetts  until 
iSf^ii,  when  the  parents,  accuniitanied  hy 
their  five  cliildren  came  to  Linohi.  Illinois. 
In  this  CKunty  the  father  engagjcd  in  fann- 
ing ami  dairying  until  1891.  when  he  laid 
asiilc  all  husiness  cares  and  lived  retired 
until  his  <lealh.  which  .(ccurred  in  iS(/i. 

Ervin  L.  .\dams  ac(iuired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  ot  Lincoln, 
and  also  juirsued  a  mechanical  course  of 
study  at  Scranton,  Pennsylvania.  He  re- 
mained at  home  giving  his  father  the  henelit 
of  his  lahors  until  twenty  years  of  age.  and 
then  worked  for  others  for  a  few  years. 
Learning  the  hlacksmith"s  trade,  he  at  length 
opened  a  shop  in  Lincoln,  where  he  does 
machine,  wagon  an<l  buggy  repairing  and 
general  hlacksmithing.  making  a  specialty 
of  horseshoeing.  His  shop  is  located  at 
Xo.  iiT)  Clinton  street,  and  is  one  of  the 
liest  in  the  city. 

Mr.  .\dams  was  married.  October  u. 
iHtjj.  to  Miss  Luella  Uurris.  who  was  l)orn 
in  Illinois,  in  1871.  and  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  her  education  being  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  They 
.vc  three  children,  two  sous  and  one 
daughter,  namely:  Leonard  \V.  .\..  lunmct 
\V.  and  I'lorence  R.  Mr.  Adams  owns  a 
verv  neat  and  comfortable  residence  on 
Clinton  street.  He  is  broad  and  liberal  in 
his  views  and  gives  his  support  to  all  worthy 
enteqjrises  for  the  good  of  the  community 
in  which  lie  livi- 


c.  II.  1  ik.\i:r. 

C.  H.  Turner,  c.ushier  of  the  I'eoples 
Hank  of  .\tlanta,  Illinois,  was  l)oni  near  that 
citv  on  the  i<)th  of  l.innarv,  iS;-'.  and  is  a 


son  of  Allen  and  Elizalieth  Turner,  who  have 
l)een  dead  for  .several  years,  the  fonner  pass- 
ing away  in  1836,  the  latter  in  i8r.5.  In  the 
family  were  three  children,  namely :  Thct> 
ilorc  il.,  who  was  lH>rn  in  1850,  and  died  in 
August,  1901,  in  Waco,  Texas;  Charles  H., 
our  subject;  and  Helle.  who  was  Iwrn  in 
1854,  and  died  in  1858. 

C.  H.  Turner  was  reare<l  and  c<lucated  in 
this  county,  antl  attendetl  the  normal  college 
at  Normal,  Illinois.  On  the  _'_'d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1873,  he  was  unitctl  in  marriage  with 
Miss  I-:ila  Tenney.  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Jerome 
H.  and  Martha  Tenney.  and  three  children 
blessed  this  union:  Deane  Clifford,  born 
July  13.  1881  :  Hazel  Duanc.  Ijorn  Decemlx-r 
10,  1883;  and  Walter  Carlyle,  Ixrn  Novem- 
l>er  18,  1890.  The  oldest  child  died  in  1883, 
at  the  age  of  two  years. 

In  1874  Mr.  Turner  entered  the  Ex- 
change Bank  of  Atlanta  as  bookkeei)er,  and 
C(jntinued  with  that  institution  until  July, 
1887.  at  which  time  the  business  was  sold  t.> 
other  i)artics.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  or- 
ganized the  Peoples  Hank  as  a  limitetl  part- 
nershi]).  with  a  strong  directory,  and  has 
since  served  as  its  cashier,  the  other  officers 
being  Cieorge  W.  Punk,  president:  E.  E. 
X'erry,  \  ice-prcsitlcnt :  and  R.  E.  Ouisen- 
l)erry,  teller.  This  bank  has  met  with  almost 
phenomenal  success,  which  in  a  great  meas- 
ure is  due  to  the  able  management  of  <xir 
subject,  who  has  worketl  his  way  ui)war(l 
to  a  foremost  p<^sition  among  the  prominent 
financiers  of  this  section  of  the  state.  His 
life  demonstrates  what  may  \)c  accomplished 
through  energy,  careful  management,  keen 
foresight  and  the  utilization  of  powers  with 
which  nature  has  enilowc<l  one  and  the  oiv 
]M>rtuuities  with  which  hte  times  surround 
him.  In  |)olitics  Mr.  Turner  is  a  Republican, 
l-'raternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  0<ld  h'ellow. 
and  has  p.xssed  the  chairs  of  In-th  orders. 


C.   H.  TURNER. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UmVLRSlTY  OF  ILLINOIS 


;ii':  r.ioGRAi'iiicAL  rI'Cord.  287 


LYMAX  OSGOOD  ORTOX.  M.  D.  nci-lil...r  im.l   iir'h.I  lie  was  beloved:  as  a 

husbaiul  he  was  kind,  affeclinnale  and  con- 
Ann  ms;-  llie  old  and  honored  residents  of  sidcrate;  as  a  iiarenl  he  was  a  well-sprinj;-  <>i 
Lincoln  was  Dr.  l,\nian  ( )so(iod  ( )non.  who  tenderness  and  dcxotion;  as  a  man  he  was 
was  widcl\-  and  l"a\orahl\-  known  throni^h-  conscientionsl)  jnst.  humane,  tl(.)wing  with 
out  Loyan  coinitv .  lie  was  horn  in  llaniil-  the  milk  of  human  kindness,  incapable  uf 
ton,  Xew  Nork.  in  iSk).  his  parents  hcini;-  wron<^.  It  is  therefore  but  fitting  that  he  be 
Thomas  .and  I'.culah  iRockwo,,,!)  ( )rton.  accorded  a  jilace  in  the  history  of  iiis  ad(jpted 
The  t'ather  was  a  nati\cof  Xew,  ilampshire.  count}'.  His  wiilow  still  survives  him,  and 
and  was  of  iMii^lish  descent.  The  Doctor  allliout;li  now  cis.;iity-four  years  of  a.^e  is  still 
was  educated  at  the  State  University  of  Xew-  in  po.ssessiou  of  all  her  faculties.  Like  her 
York,  and  after  Iiis  graduation  entered  the  h.usband  she  is  universally  respected  and 
medical  colle.ge  at  I-'airt'icld,  that  state,  where  csteeme<l. 
he  was  also  graduated.  *^'^ 

.\t   ^^adisou  he  was  married  in   1S41   to 

:\liss  Julia  Cleaveland.  who  was  also  born  in  C.M'TAIX  (  d  1  R  1  STOPHLR  C.  M.\SOX. 
that  place  in  1S17.  and  is  a  daughter  of  (len- 

eral  Erastus  Cleaveland.  one  of  the  pioneers  .\mong  those  deserving  of  prominent 
of  central  Xew  ^'ork.  She  \vas  eihicated  at  mention  in  the  annals  of  Logan  county  is 
Oxford  Academy,  and  in  Ihe  schools  of  Captain  Christopher  C.  IMason,  a  veteran  of 
W'aterville,  Xew  York.  Cnio  the  Doctor  lioth  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars.  His  early 
and  his  wife  were  born  se\en  children,  three  home  was  on  the  otiier  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
of  whotu  reached  man  and  w  1  mianlioi  ul :  for  he  was  liorn  in  Leeds,  England.  October 
Samuel  Cleaveland.  now  a  resident  of  Kan-  j.  i  Sjo.  his  parents  being  \\'illiaiu  and  V.\\y/d- 
sas  Citv.  Missoin-i;  Julia  R. ;  and  iM-ank  betli  1  St(inehouse  I  Mason.  In  iSjj  the 
Cleaveland.  whose  sketch  apjiears  on  another  lather  and  two  brothers  came  to  the  I'uited 
page  of  this  volume.  These  children  were  States  and  located  in  l'hiladeli)hia,  I'en.n- 
all  lx)rn  in  Lebanon.  Xew  York.  sylvania,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  re- 
For  fifteen  years  after  his  marriage  Dr.  m.ainder  of  the  family  a  year  later.  There 
Orton  was  engaged  in  practice  at  that  place,  the  f.ither  worked  at  the 'carpenter's  trade 
and  in  1855  came  to  Illinois.  The  following  for  ,1  time,  .and  on  leaving  that  city  went  to 
year  he  located  on  ;i  f.arm  two  miles  south  of  Cincinnati.  (  )liio,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
Broadwell  in  Logan  coiuUy,  and  practiced  He  w.as  next  a  resident  of  St.  Louis.  Mis- 
medicine  to  a  limited  extent  among  his  ac-  souri.  and  from  there  moved  to  Springfield, 
quaintances  for  .several  years,  but  finally  llliuoi-,.  in  iS:;_>.  Two  years  later  he  came 
withdrew  entirely  from  his  profession  in  to  Li>gan  coiuUy.  and  entered  one  hundred 
1865.  He  was  a  well-read  physician  and  and  forty  acres  of  land  on  Salt  creek,  for 
able  practitioner,  but  always  disliked  the  iiro-  which  he  p.aid  the  government  ])rice  of  one 
fession.  dollar  and  .a  (piarter  per  acre.  L'pon  that 
The  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  were  f.arm  he  ni.ade  his  home,  engaged  in  agricult- 
passed  in  Lincoln,  where  he  died  April  i<).  ui-.il  pur^^ils  until  his  death  in  1 S40  Ili~ 
1884.  It  was  truly  said  of  him  that  as  a  wileand  fauiil)  snb>cipieutly  reniove.l  to  Mt. 
citizen    be   was    universally    respected:   ,as    a  Rul.aski.  where  she  dieil  in  1S30. 


TH1-:   1510GRAPI11CAL   RECORD. 


Captain  Mason  was  quite  small  on  tlie 
cini{jration  of  the  family  to  the  new  worM. 
and  his  education  was  principally  received  in 
tlie  public  schools  of  I'luladelphia.  He  ac- 
cinpanied  his  ])arents  on  their  various  re- 
in..vals  and  on  coming  to  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois, worked  with  his  father  at  tlie  cariicn- 
ters  trade,  being  able  to  do  all  the  work  then 
ro|uircd  in  luiilding  a  house  from  cellar  to 
-arret. 

In  1846  Captain  Mason  married  Miss 
J.onisa  I.  I^ughery,  who  was  iKirn  in  this 
o-unty,  in  1S31,  and  is  a  daughter  of  David 
.uid  l-:iizal)eth  (Williams)  Laughery.  natives 
..f  Ohio  and  X'irginia.  respectively,  and  \t'u>- 
neers  of  Logan  county.  Their  entire  mar- 
ried life  has  been  passed  in  Mt.  Pulaski.  Five 
children  came  to  brighten  their  home,  namc- 
Iv:  Ailelia,  wife  of  Samuel  Curtis,  of  De- 
catur. Illinois;  Florence,  wife  of  William 
Boyd,  of  Decatur:  May,  wife  of  John  FL 
Oren.  of  Decatur:  ('.race,  wife  of  Charles 
Zigler.  of  Clnicago:  and  Lulu,  wife  of  Mer- 
man Keene.  of  l-:ikhart.  Indiana. 

During  the  Mexican  war.  Captain  Mason 
enlisted  in  Company  L  Fourth  Illinois  \ol- 
unteer  Infantry,  under  command  of  Captain 
lohn  C.  Hurt  and  Colonel  i:.  D.  P.aker.  and 
he  i)articipatcd  in  the  battles  ..f  \'era  Cruz, 
Cerro  (iordo  and  several  other  engagemeius. 
being  in  active  service  twelve  months.  On 
his  return  to  Mt.  Pulaski,  he  resumed  work 
;it  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  continued 
lo  follow  throughout  his  active  business  life. 
When  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  f.>r 
seventv-fivc  thousand  men  to  .serve  three 
months  at  the  opening  of  the  Civi!  war.  our 
-ubject  again  entered  the  service  of  his 
ailoptcd  country,  and  was  commissioned  by 
( iovernor  Yates  as  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
).any  II.  Seventh  Illinois  X'oluntcer  Infantry. 
(  ol.mel  John  Cook,  of  Springfield,  com- 
manding the  regiment.   On  the  expiration  of 


his  tcmn)f  cnlistnu  •  ii-.rably  dis- 

charged and  returned  in.mc.  Ihc  Captain 
cntinued  to  work  at  his  trade  until  1880. 
since  which  time  he  has  lived  a  retireil  life. 
Many  IntiMings  in  Ml.  Pulaski  stand  as  mon- 
uments to  his  architectural  skill  and  ability, 
including  the  Christian  church  of  that  place. 
Cajnain  Mason  laid  out  or  sul)-divided  twen- 
ty acres  which  is  known  as  Mason's  addition 
to  Mt.  Pula.ski.  and  has  sold  the  larger  part 
himself,  and  he  also  has  owned  considerable 
farm  land  that  he  has  "disiK>se«I  of.  He  is 
one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  this  section. 

He  is  to-ilay  an  honored  member  of  Sam- 
uel Walker  Post,  No.  jo;.  (i.  .\.  R.  In  jjoli- 
lics  he  was  originally  an  old  line  Whig,  but 
joined  the  Republican  party  on  its  organiza- 
tion, and  has  since  seen  no  occasion  for  trans- 
ferring his  allegiance  to  any  other  political 
partv.  For  sixty-seven  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Logan  county,  and  has  been 
|)rominently  itlentihed  with  its  growth  and 
upbuilding.  After  a  useful  and  honorable 
career  he  can  well  affortl  to  lay  aside  all 
business  cares  and  live  in  case  and  retire- 
ment. 


W  ILLI  \.\l  P..  STKOCD.  Ju. 

The  geiuleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  review  is  one  of  Logan  county's  native 
sons  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one 
of  her  i>rominent  pioneer  families.  He  was 
born  in  Imminence  township.  May  15.  1853, 
and  is  the  only  child  of  Smith  and  Priscilla 
P.  (Thompson)  Stroud.  His  maternal 
grandparents  were  Shared  anil  Catherine 
( StatTord  I  Thompson,  who  came  to  this 
county  froui  ieimessee  in  iS_>»),  and 
located  in  wii.il  i>  now  Imminence  town- 
ship. 1  icing  ,imong  the  first  settlers 
of     that     iocalitv.     Our     subjcx't's     father 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORJX 


289 


was  born  in  Tennessee,  on  tlie  15th 
of  OctuliL']-.  iSjo.  and  w  lien  tcmrlccn  years 
of  age  came  niunh  wiili  his  parents,  Teter 
and  Rebecca  ((ireeni  Stnmd.  the  jnurney 
lieing  made  in  a  iwn-w  iieel  cart.  This  fam- 
ily also  locatetl  in  Eeminence  township,  and 
took  a  very  active  and  prominent  part  in 
its  development  and  npbnilding'.  Thc}-  en- 
dured niMst  cif  the  liardships  and  privations 
incident  to  hfe  on  the  frontier,  and  amid 
such  surroundings  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject grew  to  manhood.  His  education  was 
limited  from  the  fact  that  he  was  obliged 
to  assist  in  the  farm  duties  when  a  boy.  but 
he  could  rapidly  solve  difficult  problems" 
mentally,  and  was  always  considered  one 
of  the  most  accurate  slock  judges  in  the 
county.  He  was  an  active  church  wnrker, 
being  ideutilied  with  the  Christian  church, 
and  was  president  or  director  of  the  Anti- 
Thief  Society  of  Atlanta,  Logan  county 
from  its  organization  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  18,  1877.  His  upright, 
honorable  course  in  life  gained  for  him  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  he  was 
held  in  the  highest  regard  by  the  people  of 
the  comnumity  in  which  he  so  long  made 
his  hcime.  After  his  death  the  widow  re- 
sided im  the  (lid  In  ime  place  <m  section  i 
until  her  death,  which  occurred  May  16. 
]  90 1 . 

William  V>.  Stroud  acquired  his  prim- 
ary education  in  the  district  schools  of  Emi- 
nence tiiwnshi]),  and  also  tnok  a  full  course 
in  the  high  scIkk.I  ,,i  Atlanta.  Immediately 
after  his  graduation  in  1871  he  entered  Eu- 
reka College,  at  Eurek.a.  Illinois,  where  he 
completed  his  education.  IJuring  his  en- 
tire business  career,  lie  has  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming  with  marked  success, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  up- 
to-date  agriculturists  of  I'.minence  townshi]), 
where  he  owns  seven  hundred  acres  of  well 


improved    and    valuable    land.     His  home, 

wliich  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  12, 
is  a  line  residence  with  all  modern  improve- 
ments, and  everything  about  the  place  is  in 
keejiing   with   the  same. 

Mr.  Stroud  was  married,  June  jy,  1873, 
to  Miss  I'aralee  Mountjoy,  a  daughter  of 
l\obert  ]•'.  and  Susan  Mountjoy.  one  of 
Logan  county's  old  and  prominent  families. 
They  were  nati\es  of  Kentucky  and  came 
to  Eminence  at  an  early  day,  where  they 
passed  the  reniAinder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stroud  became  the  parents  of  live  chil- 
dren, those  living  being  iNIarion  E..  born 
June  J,  1874,  married  Miss  Ollie  .Mount- 
jo\-.  a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Hem-ietta 
Mountjoy,  of  Atlanta,  and  they  Iia\e  two 
children.  Mildred  ]•..  born  June  _',:i.  1897, 
and  Paul  1).,  born  Xo\eniber  -'4,  1900. 
Smith  L.  liorn  July  _\^.  1877,  is  now  a  stu- 
dent in  the  State  University  at  Champaign. 
He  has  also  taken  a  two  years"  course  in 
Cornell  College,  New  York,  where  he  in- 
tends to  finish  later.  Anabel  F.  was  born 
February  9,  1881,  graduated  from  the  .\t- 
lanta  High  School  in  1901,  and  is  now  tak- 
ing a  course  in  music  at  Eureka  College, 
Eureka,  Illinois.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren passed  away  March  7,  1890.  and  on 
May  18,  1892.  Mr.  Stroud  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Inez,  daughter  of  Jo- 
-seph  and  Catherine  (Mover)  Gaston,  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  who  came  to  this  county  in 
early  life.  Here  the_\-  were  married  ;md  set- 
tled in  Imminence  township,  where  they 
jiassed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The 
father  died  .May  2.  njoi,  and  the  mother 
was  called  to  her  linal  rest  .-\])ril  jj.  1882. 
I'y  Mr.  .'^troud's  second  marriage  has  been 
born  twii  children:  Lucile  G.,  born  March 
I-',  i8<;4:  and  Maud  M.,  born  December  8, 
|8<K,. 

i''or  thirteen  vears  Mr.  Stroud  has  been 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


M.ricuiiv  III  liiL-  \ii.ini.i  >.  iiion  Fair  and  is 
11.. vv  treasurer  uf  tlie  Atlanta  Anti-Thief 
SiK-iety  of  Logan  county.  He  also 
.served  as  clerk  of  the  school  Ix.ard  in  dis- 
trict Xo.  1.  for  fourteen  years.  In  the  spring 
:  iHiH)  Mr.  Stroud  began  agitating  a  rural 
te  delivery  route  through  Kniinence 
i.wnsliii).  and  on  October  4  of  the  same 
\cars  the  carrier  made  his  first  trij).  The 
route  is  from  Atlanta  and  covers  twenty-five 
miles  in  the  north  half  of  Kminence  t(j\vn- 
ship.  .supplying  over  one  hundred  families 
with  the  daily  mail.  This  route,  which  is 
No.  I.  from  .\tlanta.  was  the  first  estali- 
lished  in  Logan  county.  .\s  a  progressive 
and  public-spirited  citizen.  Mr.  Stroud  gives 
his  support  to  all  enterpri.ses  calculated  to 
advance  the  moral,  educational  or  material 
welfare  of  his  township  and  county.  He  is 
«ine  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  Chri>- 
tian  church  of  1-lniinence  township,  and  has 
.served  as  elder  in  the  .same  for  fifteen  years. 
In  iwtlitics  he  is  a  .stanch  Democrat.  He 
is  a  pleasant,  genial  gentleman  who  makes 
many  friends,  and  is  highly  resi)ected  and 
esteemed  bv  all  who  know  him. 


i:i)\\.\Ki)  iLi-:s. 

This  well-known  foundryman  is  one  of 
the  important  factors  in  the  business  circles 
of  Lincoln,  and  his  life  is  an  exmplification 
>,\  the  term  "the  dignity  of  lalxir."  The 
possibilities  that  .\merica  offers  to  her  citi- 
zens he  has  utilized,  an<l  though  he  came  to 
this  country  in  limited  circumstances  he  has 
steadily  aiul  perseveringly  worke<l  his  way 
upward,  leaving  the  ranks  .«f  the  many  to 
-land  among  the  successful  few. 

.Mr.  lies  was  born  in  South  Wales,  Sep- 
i.inber  u.  1S3S.  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Sarah   (Wade)    lies.       The  lather  was  born 


in  1 81 3,  and  is  now  living  in  England.  He 
nas  been  a  very  active  and  busy  man,  and  is 
still  engaged  in  business  as  a  florist,  which 
occupation  he  has  made  his  life  work.  His 
wife,  who  was  Ijorn  in  181 0,  died  in  ic^xx 
They  had  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  William  H.  died  in 
1-jigland,  in  May.  1901.  Those  living  are 
Rh«Mla,  Martha,  Thomas.  Emily.  Matilda. 
E<lward  and  John,  all  residents  of  England 
with  excejuioii  of  our  subject. 

Edward  lies  was  reared  anil  eilucated  in 
that  country,  attending  school  until  alxiut 
thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  com- 
menced work  in  a  tin  fact<.iry  and 
remaineil  there  three  years.  He  was 
next  employed  in  a  foundry,  where 
he  thoroughly  learned  the  machinist's  trade, 
and  continued  work  in  England  until  iS8f>. 
During  that  year  he  crossed  the  broad  .\t- 
lantic.  and  after  si)ending  alxnit  a  year  in 
Clinton.  Illinois,  he  came  ti>  Lincoln,  and 
embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account. 
He  is  a  ])ractical  foundryman.  having  thor- 
oughly mastered  his  trade,  and  is  a  com- 
lietent  workman  in  l)oth  iron  and  brass. 
Purchasing  property,  he  erected  the  build- 
ings now  occui)ied  by  him  on  Clinton  street 
and  now  has  a  well  ecpiipped  plant  for  doing 
general  jobbing  work.  He  started  at  the 
very  Inittom.  but  has  steadily  worketl  his 
way  upward,  having  made  a  success  of  his 
labors.  He  now  receives  quite  a  lil)eral 
patnuiage  from  the  people  of  Lincoln  and 
I^>gan  county.  Besides  his  business  ])r<>\i- 
erty  he  owns  a  jjleasanl  home  in  Lincoln. 

Ill  Mosti.n.  Massachusetts.  Mr.  lies  was 
married,  in  .\pril  iSS»),  to  Miss  .\bbie 
Splaiii,  who  was  born,  reared  and  e<lucate<l 
in  Irelaiiil.  and  was  a  young  woman  when 
she  came  to  .\merica.  They  now  have 
three  children:  Frances  and  Sadie,  who 
are  atleu<ling  scIicmiI;  ami   .\bbie.  at  home. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


291 


selt 


Mr.  lies  gives  liis  political  support  to  the 
i\epul)lican  party,  and  is  identilied  with  tlie 
iiiipn.vcd  Order  m"  Ka\  Men  and  the 
Knights  of  I'vthias  fraternities.  V'>y  six 
vears  he  has  heen  a  memher  of  the  Lincoln 
tire  dei)artnieiU  anil  formerly  served  as 
lieutenant.  Religiously  he  is  a  memher  of 
the  Preshyterian  church,  and  gives  lihcrally 
t(.  the  support  of  church  work.  As  a  puh- 
lic-si)iritcd  citizen  he  supp.irts  all  enter- 
prises which  he  helieves  calculated  to  ad- 
vance the  general  welfare.  He  is  a 
made  man,  who  started  out  in  life  a 
bov  and  has  had  to  overcome  man\ 
stacles,  but  is  now  on  the  highroad  to 


JOHX  \V.  SMITH. 

lohn  W.  Smith,  the  well  known  editor 
and  i)roprietor  of  the  Lincoln  Times,  was 
born  on  the  10th  of  January,  1857,  in  Clin 
ton,  Monroe  county,  Missouri,  and  is  a  son 
of  Rev.  J.  D.  and  Emily  J.  (Chapman) 
Smith.  The  former  was  a  native  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  The  parents 
were  married  in  Missouri,  where  they  still 
reside,  the  father  being  still  active  in  the 
ministry  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  chinch 
there.  They  are  most  estimable  people. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  state  and 
by  private  instruction.  After  living  in 
Granville,  Missouri,  for  a  time,  he  removed 
to  Sali.sbury.  that  state,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  business,  and  later  conducted  a 
clothing  store  at  Paris,  Mis.souri.  where  he 
served  as  mayor  of  the  city,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  a  number  of  \ears. 
In  the  s])ring  of  iS(/)  he  came  to  Lincoln, 
Illinois,  and  i)urchased  the  Lincoln  Times, 
Avhich  is  the  oldest  p;iper  published  in   Lo- 


gan county  and  has  a  large  circulation  in 

Lincoln  and  the  surrounding  country.  It 
is  a  six  colunm,  eight  page  weekly,  printed 
by  electric  jtower.  and  is  a  bright,  newsy 
sheet,  ably  edited. 

On  the  ,^(nh  of  Xovember,  \Hj<).  Mr. 
Smith  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
.\llie  C.  Kii)per,  of  Granville,  .Missouri,  a 
daughter  of  J.  C.  Kipi)er,  and  to  them  has 
been  born  four  children:  Roger  L.,  who 
is  now  assiting  his  father  in  the  otlice:  Mar- 
shall Rex,  who  is  attending  school ;  Irma 
.Sibyl,  at  home;  and  X'adine,  the  first  born, 
who  died  in  infancv. 

Ill  his  jjolitical  ])roclivities  .Mr.  Smith 
is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  its  principles,  and  both  personally 
and  in  his  editoi-ial  utterances  he  has  wield- 
ed a  potent  inlluence  in  furthering  the  inter- 
est of  its  cause.  He  enjoys  a  wide  ac- 
(luaintance  and  marked  popularity  in  the 
city  of  his  adoption,  and  is  prominent  both 
in  business  and  social  circles.  Fraternally 
be  is  a  member  of  Lincoln  Lodge,  No.  210, 
.\.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  of  Paris  Lodge.  Xo. 
i<),  I.  O.  ().  I'.,  while  religiously  both  he 
and  his  wife  have  been  members  of  the 
Christian  church  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  tine  musician,  having  been  thor- 
oughly educated  by  the  l)est  vocalists  of  his 
nati\e  state,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
leader  of  one  of  the  best  choirs  in  Missouri, 
at  Paris.  He  was  also  leader  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  choir  at  Lincoln  until  liis  health 
failed. 


KL\.\S   MAM.Ml'.X. 

Klaas  .Mammen,  one  of  the  ])rosperons 
farmers  of  Prairie  Creek  township.  Logan 
count}-,  owning  one  hundred  .and  sixty  acres 
of    line    farming   land,    lias    resided    in    this 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ictunty  since  June  lo,  1867.  He  was  born 
in  (iernKiuy,  May  i,  1844.  his  parents  being 
Christ  and  Annie  Manimcn,  \vhi>  always 
hved  ill  (jennany  where  tlic  father  was  a 
j^cncral  farmer.  His  death  (K:cnrrcd  in 
1K33.  while  the  mother  died  alxmt  18S7. 
'Jiieir  children  were  as  follows:  John,  wh<j 
now  lives  in  I'rairie  Creek  township:  llalka. 
widow  of  Harm  Hildehrant  ami  a  resident 
of  I'rairie  Creek  township:  Klaas.  oiir  snl)- 
ject:  .\dam.  who  resides  in  (iermany:  and 
C.eor-ie.  whi>  die<l  at  the  aije  of  fourteen. 
.\11  nreived  their  education  in  Ccnnany. 

Ill  iS()7  our  subject  came  to  this  country 
and  located  in  I'rairie  Creek  townsliip, 
Logan  county.  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
u|)on  a  farm  for  two  years,  and  then  settled 
on  his  present  farm  on  section  15.  Here  he 
has  a  very  well  improved  farm,  which  he 
has  earned  by  his  own  hard  work.  .\s  he 
had  nothing  when  he  commenced  life  for 
himself,  naturally  the  struggle  was  a  diliti- 
cult  one,  but  his  success  ])roves  that  every- 
fiiing  is  possible  to  the  man  who  is  honest, 
tlirifty  and  hard  working. 

Mr.  Mammen  was  married  to  Mary 
Mueller,  of  ( 'iermany.  with  whom  he  had 
l>een  ac<iuaiiUe<l  before  coming  to  America. 
.She  was  a  daughter  of  John  .Mueller,  who 
died  in  (iermany.  Si.x  children  have  been 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  namely: 
Christ,  who  married  Linn  1  layden  and  lives 
ill  'I'azewell  county.  Illinois;  John,  who  mar- 
ried Tina  Cronehagen  and  lives  in  linden, 
this  county,  where  he  is  engaged  in  band- 
ling  agricultural  implements:  ICmm.i.  who 
inarrietl  Hank  Mueller,  and  lives  in  (  )r\  il 
towiLshij):  .\ndrew,  at  home:  Maggie,  wiio 
is  the  wife  of  Harm  Samper  and  lives  in 
Orvil  townshi]):  and  Klaas,  who  is  at  home. 

Ill  ixilitics  .Mr.  Mammen  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  always  snp|Mirted  the  principles 
of   tli.it    jiarty.      I'.oth    he  .ind   his    wife  are 


earnest  members  of  the  Methtxlist  church 
of  San  Jose.  Illinois.  Prior  to  coming  to 
this  country,  Mr.  Mammen  served  lor  two 
years  in  the  Cierman  army  and  left  his  na- 
tive land  the  year  following  his  honorable 
discharge,  in  18^)7.  Throughout  the  en- 
tire community  he  is  highly  esteemed  and 
his  o])inions  are  given  due  weight  among 
his  neighlK>rs  whf>  rely  uixm  liis  g<K)d  judg- 
ment and  excellent  business  kiu)wledge  as 
well  as  upon  his  honesty  of  purpose  and 
fairness  in  dealing. 


R()i;i:Kr(iiLCiikisi-. 

One  of  the  venerable  and  honoretl  citi- 
zens of  Lincoln  is  Rol)ert  (iilchri.st,  who 
for  many  years  was  identified  with  agricul- 
tural interests  in  Logan  county,  but  for 
more  than  two  decades  has  lived  retired  in 
the  city  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  He 
is  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest,  which  lias 
come  to  him  as  the  reward  of  earnest  labor 
in  former  years,  for  he  came  to  America 
ill  limited  liiiancial  circumstances  and  by 
his  industry  and  enterprise  has  achieved 
prosperity. 

Mr.  (lilchrist  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  .\ew  (lalloway.  on 
the  ijth  of  .March.  iSk).  his  parents  l>eing 
William  and  Jane  (Clark)  (iilchrist.  wIk^ 
were  also  natives  of  the  land  of  hills  and 
heather.  The  father  was  a  .shoemaker  by 
trade  an<l  followeil  that  imrsuit  in  order  ti> 
provide  for  his  wife  and  children.  Ciider 
the  paternal  roof  our  subject  spent  the  ilays 
of  his  boyhood  and  in  the  public  schools  he 
ac(|uired  a  good  education,  continuing  his 
studies  until  lifteen  years  of  age.  when  lie 
entered  uixm  his  business  career  as  an  a]i- 
prentice  to  the  c.irpeiiter's  trade,   which  be 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


293 


followed  for  about  six  years  in  the  place 
of  his  nativity.  Hearing  favorable  re|X5rts 
of  the  opportvniities  afforded  young  men  in 
the  new  world  he  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  '"the  land  of  the  free,"  and  in  1843 
sailed  with  his  bride  for  the  harbor  of  Xew 
York.  Vrom  the  metropolis  he  proceeded 
to  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  and  thence  went 
to  Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  pattern  making  in  a  cotton  fac- 
tory for  fourteen  years,  but  the  Mississippi 
valley  attracted  him  and  in  1857  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Illinois. 

Mr.  Gilchirst  located  in  Logan  county 
and  secured  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  Eminence  township,  where  he  began 
farming  and  stock-raising.  As  his  tinancial 
resources  increased  he  added  to  his  proi>erty 
until  the  home  farm  composed  five  hundred 
acres,  and  he  also  had  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  elsewhere,  but  tlie  latter  tract 
he  has  since  sold.  He  still  owns  the  five 
hundred  acres,  however,  and  the  rental  from 
the  property  returns  to  him  a  good  income. 
He  continued  to  engage  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  fields  and  the  raising  of  grain  for 
many  years,  and  prosperity  attended  his  la- 
bors. At  length  he  had  acquired  sufficient 
capital  to  enable  him  to  live  a  retired  life 
and  in  January.  1880,  he  removed  from  the 
farm  to  Lincoln,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 

Just  prior  to  his  emigration  to  America 
Mr.  Gilchrist  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Bennett,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann 
(Johnson)  Bennett,  of  the  parish  of  Bal- 
magee.  Scotland.  Their  wedding  was  cele- 
brated on  the  22(1  of  February,  1843,  ^"<^1 
on  the  26th  of  May  of  the  same  year  they 
arrived  in  the  United  States.  Mrs.  Gilchrist 
died  October  2.  1898.  She  has  been  to  her 
husband  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate 
on  the  journey  of  life,  was  a  devoted  mother 


and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church.  In  the  family  are  five 
children:  William  R..  who  is  serving  as 
justice  of  the  jieace  in  Lincoln ;  Mary 
Ann,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Niswan- 
ger,  of  Chicago;  Jane  E..  who  married 
James  Gallagher,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the 
deaf  schools  of  Chicago:  John  J.,  of  Lin- 
coln :  and  Margaret,  widow  of  Thomas  Mor- 
rison. 

While  residing  in  Eeminence  township 
Mr.  Gilchrist  served  as  road  commissioner 
for  si.K  years  and  for  twelve  years  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  was  one 
of  the  trustees  of  Lincoln  L'niversity,  hav- 
ing served  in  that  position  for  about  ten 
years,  his  last  term  expiring  in  June,  1901. 
In  p<5litics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican 
and  in  religious  faith  is  a  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian, of  which  church  he  has  been  a 
deacon  many  years,  and  his  life  is  in  har- 
mony with  his  profession,  his  action  shaped 
by  his  Christian  belief.  He  has  almost 
reached  the  eighty-second  milestone  on  his 
life's  journey,  and  his  has  been  an  active 
and  useful  career,  colored  by  honest  pur- 
pose, so  that  he  can  look  back  over  the  p.nst 
without  regret  and  forward  to  the  future 
without  fear. 


WILLIAM  B.  STROUD.  Sk. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  farm- 
ers and  leading  citizens  of  Eminence  town- 
ship is  numbered  William  B.  Stroud.  Sr.. 
who  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  actively 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
this  locality,  but  is  now  a  resident  of  Arm- 
ington,  Tazewell  county.  He  was  born  in 
Iowa,  May  3,  1853,  and  is  one  of  a  family 
i)f  seven  children,  whose  parents  were  W'ili- 


THE   BlOGKAI'llICAL  RECORD. 


i.ini  B.  aiul  Martha  (Brcxjks)  Stroud.  The 
tather  was  lM)rn.  reared  and  e<hicated  in 
Tennessee,  and  at  an  early  day  came  ti>  Illi- 
nois with  his  parents.  I'eter  and  Relnxca 
.^^tPHid.  the  journey  l»eing  made  in  a  two- 
wheel  cart.  I'or  some  years  he  followed 
I'arminjj  in  Eminence  township,  Logan 
county,  hut  <.\icm  his  last  years  in  Iowa, 
where  he  died  tlie  year  our  suhject  was 
Lorn.  Mis  wife  lonjj  survived  him.  jiassing 
away  in  1SS9.  .\  more  extended  mention  is 
made  of  the  Stroud  family  in  the  sketch  of 
William  Stroud.  Jr..  on  another  jiajje  of  this 
wi.rk. 

The  early  life  of  our  suhject  was  .spent 
in  his  native  state,  and  on  omiing  to  Illi- 
nois he  made  his  home  in  McLean  county 
for  a  time,  hut  since  1S7O  he  has  l)een  a  resi- 
dent of  Lojjan  county,  owning  and  oi)eral- 
ing  a  well  improved  and  highly  cultivated 
farm  of  one  hunderd  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  3.  Eminence  township.  The  well 
tilled  fields  and  thrifty  api)earance  of  the 
place  testify  to  his  careful  supervision  and 
show  conclusively  that  he  is  a  man  of  good 
husiness  ahility  ami  sound  judgment.  On 
Octoher  15.  m>oi.  Mr.  Stroud,  in  company 
with  C.  W.  Cruse,  lu.ught  the  hardware  and 
implement  husiness  of  W.  11.  Davidson  at 
Armington. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey  Mr.  Stroud  chose  Miss  Mary  C. 
Mountjoy.  a  daughter  of  William  Mount- 
joy,  who  is  a  successful  farmer  and  a  rc|)- 
resentative  of  one  of  Logan  county's  l)cst 
families.  .\  sketch  of  the  family  will  l)e 
found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  They  were 
married  I-Vhruary  (>.  iS-^.  and  five  children 
hlesscd  their  union,  those  living  heing  Ella 
E.,  Cassic  C.  and  Hattie  V. 

Mr.  Stroud  votes  the  IVohihition  ticket 
anrl  is  a  stanch  sui>|)orter  of  the  principles 
of   that    |tany.    heing   a    strong   temperance 


man.  S<jcially  he  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
<!ei)entlent  Onler  of  Odd  Eelkiws  and  the 
.\hKlern  W'oooihnen  of  America,  and  religi- 
ously l)i>th  lie  and  his  wife  are  devout  nicni- 
liers  of  the  Christian  church.  They  receive 
and  merit  the  high  regard  of  the  entire  com- 
munity, and  those  who  know  them  l)est  are 
numltcred  among  ilieir  warmest  friends. 


i;i:.\'j.\Mix  iiii;i:.\ui)  Bk.\L\.\RU. 

Pr<  niinent  among  the  business  men  of 
Lincoln  in  early  days  wa.s  Benjamin  Hul)- 
hard  Brainard.  who  passed  away  May  31, 
I  St)  I.  He  was  Ix.rn  May  30.  1838. 
in  Charleston.  South  Carolina,  of  which 
jilace  his  father.  Rev.  Eleazer  Brain- 
ard, was  a  city  missionary.  His  mother, 
who  Ixtre  the  maiden  name  of  Lucinda  Ree<l, 
was  a  native  of  Boston.  Massachusetts,  and 
a  most  estimable  lady.  When  our  subject 
was  yt)ung  the  family  removed  to  Ohio,  and 
he  received  his  jjrimary  educatii>n  in  the 
.schools  of  that  state,  later  attending  Earmers 
College.  Ohio,  and  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford. 

Thus  well  e(|uipi>ed  for  a  business  career, 
Mr.  l^.rainard  came  west  to  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  in  1S57,  and  in  jiartnership  with 
William  M.  Huston  oiitning  the  first  Ikink 
'  in  Lincoln,  it  being  known  as  the  Banking 
House  i>f  Brainard  &  Duston.  They  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  the  lank  until  Mr.  Brain- 
ard's  retirement  from  business.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Eirst  National 
I?ank  and  <nie  of  its  largest  stockholders. 
He  was  also  interested  in  a  mnnlier  of  busi- 
ness enterjiri-ses  and  iiulustries,  including  the 
I  l.Hlgens  Woolen  Mills  of  Lincoln.  He  was 
a  man  of  keen  |K>rcei»tion.  great  sagacity  and 
unboundeil  enterprise.  ;md  to  these  character- 


^^          ■! 

- — • — -" — -■ — 1 

\f>9e 

m. 

#   ^ 

w 

^^.^^^3 

1 

BENJAMIN   HUBBARD  BRAINARD. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


297 


istics  may  be  attributed  his  excellent  success. 
In  business  affairs  he  was  energetic,  prompt 
and  notably  reliable,  and  carried  forward  to 
successful  completion  whatexer  he  under- 
took. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1857.  Mr.  Brain- 
ard  was  united  in  marriage  widi  Miss  Ella 
\\".  Owsley,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a 
daughter  of  Henn,-  Hawkins  and  Mary 
(Finley)  Owsley.  The  only  child  born  of 
this  union  was  a  son  who  died  in  infancy. 
]\Irs.  Brainard  was  educated  at  Jacksonville 
Academy,  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  She  and  her 
husband  began  their  married  life  upon  .1 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  adjtiining  the  city  limits  of  Lincoln, 
which  is  now  within  the  corporation,  and 
here  she  still  continues  to  reside.  The  place 
was  all  wild  prairie  land  when  it  came  into 
possession  of  Mr.  Brainard,  but  he  soon 
placed  it  under  cultivation  and  converted  it 
into  a  valuable  tract.  He  had  unbounded 
faith  in  the  future  development  of  Lincoln, 
and  displayed  ranarkable  foresight  and  sa- 
gacity in  the  purchase  of  this  farm.  He  had 
eight  farms  in  the  vicinity  of  Lincoln,  and 
was  also  interested  in  western  lands,  owning 
two  thousand  acres  in  Nebraska.  After  liis 
widow  had  received  her  portion  of  this  prop- 
erty the  remainder  was  divided  among  the 
Brainard  heirs.  Since  her  husband's  death 
Mrs.  Brainard  has  continued  to  occupy  the 
homestead,  and  has  remodeled  the  residence, 
which  stands  on  a  lieautiful  elevation,  mak- 
ing it  a  most  attractive  spot  in  the  land- 
scajje. 

Mr.  Brainard  was  a  strictly  business 
man,  and  was  always  to  be  found  in  his  office 
during  oftice  hours,  but  he  was  also  domestic 
in  his  tastes,  and  during  his  leisure  hours 
found  the  greatest  enjoyment  with  his  fam- 
ily at  home.  His  fellow  citizens  having  in 
him  the  utmost  confidence,  often  called  upon 


him  to  make  investments  for  theni,  and  a 
trust  rejxjsed  in  him  was  never  misplaced. 
He  was  a  man  of  decided  views  and  convic- 
tions, and  in  politics  was  a  pronounced  Re- 
publican. Religiously  Mr.  Brainard  was  a 
devout  memljer  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Lincoln,  and  to  its  supixirt  he  con- 
tributed lil)erally.  He  led  an  upright,  hon- 
orable and  useful  life,  and  in  his  death  the 
community  realized  that  it  had  lost  a  valued 
citizen.  His  witlow  in  her  pleasant  home  in 
Lincoln  is  surrounded  by  a  host  of  wann 
friends,  who  have  for  herself  and  husband 
a  most  genuine  regard. 


FR.WK  R.  YOUXC^BERG. 

A  successful  and  highly  esteemed  farmer 
of  Chester  township  is  Frank  R.  Young- 
l)erg.  who  has  been  one  of  its  estimable  resi- 
dents since  1S89.  The  birth  of  Mr.  Young- 
berg  occurred  in  Havana,  the  county  seat 
of  Mason  county.  Illinois,  February  10, 
1862,  and  he  is  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Youngberg,  both  of  whom  died  in  Ma- 
son county  in  1873  or  "74,  when  about  fifty- 
five  vears  of  age.  They  were  natives  of 
Sweden,  where  they  married,  coming  to 
America  about  1856.  Here  Mr.  Youngberg 
was  a  farmer,  renting  land,  and  carrying 
on  a  general  line  of  farming.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  reared  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, while  two  died  in  infancv,  the  others 
being:  John  P.,  who  lives  near  Blunt, 
South  Dakota :  Victor,  who  lives  in  Harper 
county,  Kansas:  Stephen  A.,  who  lives  in 
Swift  county,  Minnesota:  Frank  R.,  who 
is  our  subject:  Tillie,  who  lives  in  Dakota: 
C.  Oscar,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Indian  Ter- 
ritory: and  .\lbert.  who  is  a  farmer  and 
lives  near  Blunt.  South  Dakota.     The  chil- 


298 


THE   BlOGkAPHlCAL  RECORD. 


dren  were  educited  in  the  common  schools 
of  Mason  comity,  and  later,  after  the  dcatli 
of  the  i)arents,  they  came  to  U»gan  county. 
The  religious  connection  of  the  family  has 
always  Ijeen   with  the  Lutheran  ciuirch. 

Frank  R.  V»'ungberg  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  attended  scIukiI  during  tiie  winter 
inontiis,  until  he  was  ten  years  old,  at  that 
time  beginning  to  take  his  place  as  a  hired 
farm  assistant  l»y  the  month.  The  years 
1884  and  1885  were  .s]H;nt  in  South  Dakota, 
where  he  took  up  a  claim  and  he  is  still  the 
owner  of  one  hundrctl  anti  sixty  acres  in 
that  jjrosperous  state  from  which  he  receives 
rent.  His  location  in  Logan  county  was  in 
1874,  and  this  county  has  Ijeen  his  home 
ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  the  two 
years  spent  in  Dakota. 

In  188S  Mr.  ^'oungbcrg  was  united  in 
marriage  in  L(jgan  county,  to  Miss  .\nianda 
lh)ei)fner,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  in 
1864,  and  was  a  daughter  of  .\ugust  Hoejjf- 
ner.  a  resident  of  Efiingham  county,  llli- 
Muds.  Her  parents'  family  consisted  of: 
.\manda,  who  l)ecame  .Mrs.  \'oungberg; 
Hugo  and  (Jeorge,  both  carpenters  in  Lin- 
coln; .\lbert  and  John,  who  are  contractf)rs 
for  cement  walks  in  Sangamon  county;  and 
Lydia,  wIkj  lives  in  h'lil'ingbam  county.  To 
our  subject  and  his  wife  one  son.  Jay  .\1- 
len,  was  born  in  1889,  and  lie  is  an  attendant 
at  the  jniblic  school. 

.Since  i88(j  our  subject  has  carried  on 
extensive  farming  and  stock-raising  on  the 
farm  where  he  is  located,  cultivating  three 
hundred  an<l  twenty  acres  in  Chester  town- 
sliii)  and  feeding  and  shipping,  since  1895, 
large  numbers  of  tine  stock.  .Success  has 
atteiide<l  his  efforts  ami  be  is  regarded  in 
this  locality  as  one  of  the  careful  and  reli- 
able farmers. 

In  national  politics  our  subject  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  in  local  affairs  he  uses  his  judg- 


ment as  to  the  l)est  man  for  the  office.  Mrs. 
Voungl)erg  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  Mr.  Youngberg  is 
known  as  one  wlio  is  lilK-ral  to  all  worthy 
objects.  His  s<jcial  memljershij)  is  with  the 
M.  W.  A.,  Camp  No.  109,  of  Lincoln,  where 
he  is  valuetl.  As  one  of  the  self-educated 
and  self-made  men  of  this  locality,  Mr. 
\'oungl)erg  deserxes  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held,  his  energy  and  industry 
gaining  for  him  the  commendation  of  all. 


.M.FRKD   H.   TOMLIXSO.X. 

The  subject  of  this  personal  narrative 
is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Mt.  Pulaski, 
where  he  is  now  living  a  retire<l  life,  free 
from  the  cares  aiul  respoiisiiiilities  of  busi- 
ness affairs.  .\  native  of  L<igan  county, 
he  was  born  in  Laenna  tt)wnship.  .Vjiril  12. 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Araminta 
(Dawson)  Tomlinson.  who  were  natives  of 
Kentucky  and  Indiana, respectively. and  were 
married  in  the  latter  state.  In  1840  the 
parents  came  to  Logan  county.  Illinois,  and 
settled  in  Laenna  township,  where  the  father 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  ami 
stock-raising  for  many  years,  but  sjienl  his 
last  days  in  ease  and  <|uiet  in  the  village  of 
Mt.  I'ulaski.  where  he  died  February  10, 
1892.  His  wife  died  in  the  same  nl.'.c'  iii 
1888.  Thus  passe<l  away  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored and  highly  respected  jiioneer  couples  in 
this  section  of  the  county.  They  liatl  a  family 
of  six  children,  but  only  our  .subject  and  his 
brother  John  M..  a  farmer  of  Logan  county, 
are  now  living. 

-\lfred  H.  Tomlinson  grew  to  nianlioo<l 
upon  the  home  farm,  assisting  his  father 
in  its  oper.ition  until  be  attained  his  major- 
ilv.      He  first  atteutlcd  the  district   >clioo|s. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


299 


and  later  was  a  student  in  the  Mt.  Pulaski 
schools  for  a  time.  In  August,  1862,  he 
joined  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Si.xth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under  Colonel  Robert  Latham,  and 
took  part  in  a  number  of  skirmishes,  but 
was  mainly  engaged  in  garrison  duty,  \\hen 
his  three  years  of  enlistmenr expired  he  was 
honorably  discharged  in  September,  1865, 
and  returned  home,  to  take  up  the  more 
quiet  pursuits  of  farm  life. 

On  October  18,  1866,  Mr.  Tomlinson  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Lucy  C. 
Wilson,  who  was  Iwrn  in  Galena, 
Illinois,  March  6.  1849,  a  daughter 
of  Hiram  and  Caroline  Wilson,  who 
were  old  settlers  in  this  county.  Hiram 
Wilson  was  born  in  Ohio  and  married  Miss 
Caroline  Reed  at  Muscatine,  Iowa.  She  was 
born  in  Buffalo.  New  York.  They  re- 
mained in  Iowa  for  a  few  years  and  came 
to  Mt.  Pulaski  from  Galena.  Illinois.  Later 
they  moved  to  Lincoln,  where  the  father 
died  and  where  her  mother  still  lives.  Four 
children  bless  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tomlinson.  namely:  Araminta  M.. 
now  the  wife  of  William  Smith,  a  resident 
of  Indianapolis.  Indiana;  George  A.,  who 
lives  on  the  old  homestead  farm;  Walter 
A.,  who  resides  in  the  vicinity  of  Mt.  Pu- 
laski; and  John  M.,  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Tomlinson  took 
up  his  residence  in  Laenna  township,  this 
county,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  with  marked  success  for  several 
years.  As  he  prospered  in  his  affairs  and 
his  financial  resources  increased  he  kept 
adding  to  his  landed  pos.sessions  until  he 
had  two  hundred  and  ninety  acres  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
Renting  his  farm  in  1891.  he  removed  to 
;Mt.  Pulaski,  where  he  owns  a  nice  home. 


and  here,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
which  makes  life  worth  the  living,  he  is 
now  living  retired.  In  his  political  views 
Mr.  Tomlinson  is  a  Republican,  but  he  is 
not  an  aspirant  for  office,  although  he  served 
as  school  director  for  twenty  years.  His 
residence  in  tliis  county,  covering  almost 
sixty  years,  has  numbered  him  among  its 
\i'lued  citizens  who  have  been  devoted  to 
the  public  welfare.  He  has  manifested  the 
same  Knalty  in  the  days  of  peace  as  in  time 
of  war,  and  all  who  know  him  have  for  him 
the  highest  regard. 


-♦ ■ 


JAMES  McLELLAX. 

Among  the  prominent  and  energetic  ag- 
riculturists of  Eminence  township,  Logan 
county,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  occupied 
a  prominent  place.  He  was  born  in  Scot- 
land. June  6,  1830,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  children  born  to  William  and  Agnes 
(Fulton)  McLellan.  The  grandparents, 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Clanahan)  McLel- 
lan, were  of  Scotch  birth  and  the  great- 
grandparents  were  also  natives  of  Scotland. 
The  father  of  our  subject  always  lived  in 
his"  native  country  and  was  a  miller  and 
butcher  by  trade.  His  death  occurred  in 
1865.  and  the  mother  pas.sed  away  alxxit 
two  years  later. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
review  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in 
Scotland,  where  he  received  a  very  limited 
education.  In  1866  he  bade  g<K^)d-bye  to 
his  native  land  and  crossed  the  .Atlantic. 
Landing  in  this  country,  he  came  immedi- 
ately to  Braidwood.  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained for  aljout  eighteen  months,  work- 
ing in  a  coal  mine.  At  the  end  of  this  time 
he   returned   to  the  home  of  his   nativity. 


300 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


wlierc  he  siient  two  years.  He  then  again 
emigrated  to  America,  and  came  at  once  to 
Lincohi,  Illinois,  arriving  here  at  the  time 
parties  were  sinking  the  fnst  coal  shaft  at 
this  place.  Five  years  later  he  purchased 
fifteen  acres  of  land  on  section  .v  Eminence 
townshi)).  gradually  adding  t..  it  until  he  at 
one  time  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
one  acres  of  well-improved  land.  Of  the 
above  property  he  has  presented  one  of  his 
sons  with  forty-eight  acres,  retaining  sev- 
enty-three for  his  own  use. 

Mr.  McLellan  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen 
Kellv.  a  daughter  of  Peter  Kelly,  of  Scot- 
land. Eight  children  have  been  l).)rn  to  this 
couple,  of  whom  five  are  living,  namely: 
Agnes.  William.  John  B..  James  and  Peter, 
the  deceased  being  Peter,  who  was  a  twin 
to  William,  ami  two  daughters,  each  hear- 
ing the  name  of  Ellen. 

Our  subject  and  his  family  are  devout 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church.  Politically  he  is  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  the  Prohibition  ticket,  and  soci- 
ally is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge.  Mr. 
McLellan  has  always  been  a  dev..ted  and  in- 
dulgent husband  and  father,  giving  his  chil- 
dren g<jo<l  educations.  Eor  several  years 
he  and  his  good  wife  have  traveled  life's 
journey  together,  sharing  with  each  other 
its  jovs  and  sorrows,  its  adversity  and  pros- 
l)erity.  and  they  are  surrounded  by  many 
warm  friends  and  relatives,  who  have  for 
ihem  the  highest  respect  and  esteem. 


C.  (i.  TAM-OK.   M.   I). 

l"or  four  years  a  resident  of  llartsburg, 
Dr.  Taylor  has  gained  a  very  enviable  rep- 
utation for  his  skill  and  ability  as  a  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  and  his  paln.nage  is  con- 


stantly increasing  Iwth  in  volume  and  im- 
jH)rtance.  He  is  a  native  of  Elkhart,  this 
county,  where  his  birth  occurred  in  1875. 
His  i)arents.  /..  T.  and  Dora  (Brady)  Tay- 
lor, are  well  known  residents  of  I-:ikhart  and 
they  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  many 
friends.  The  father  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
whence  in  1S7J  he  removed  to  Logan  coun- 
ty, taking  up  his  alxwie  in  Elkhart,  where 
he  estahlishe<l  a  drug  store.  To  this  he  has 
since  addetl  a  .stock  of  general  merchandise 
and  is  now  conducting  a  well  eciuipped  gen- 
eral .store  supplied  with  a  large  line  of  mer- 
cantile giHxls  of  every  descripti'>n.  He  was 
married  in  Elkhart  to  .Miss  Dora  Brady, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
ren:  (i.  (i..  of  this  review;  Nellie,  wife  of 
!•:.  W.  Ciilbert.  who  is  in  i)artnershii)  with 
her  father  in  Elkhart :  Lola,  at  home:  James 
B..  who  is  living  in  Elkhart:  Frank:  Zach- 
ariah  T.  and  Nannie,  who  are  yet  under  the 
paternal  roof. 

The  Doctor  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  home  schools  of  Elkhart  and  later 
was  for  two  years  a  student  in  the  univer- 
sity at  Lincoln.  Illinois.  He  later  l)egan  the 
studv  of  medicine  and  enteral  the  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  when  he  matriculated 
in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
in  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  class  of  iS(>7.  receiving  a  cer- 
tificate entitling  him  to  practice.  Thus  well 
jirepared  for  his  chosen  profession  he  came 
at  once  to  Hartsburg  and  Ixuight  out  the 
practice  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Barnett.  During  his 
four  years'  residence  here  he  has  met  with 
very  creditable  and  gratifying  success  and 
has  gained  a  high  standing  in  the  ranks  of 
the  medical  fraternity. 

The  Doctor  married  Miss  (Irace  Haas. 
of  b'armer  L'ity.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  a 
d.njglUer  of  J.  J.   Haas,  a  hardware  mer- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


chant  of  tliat  town.  Tliey  now  have  two 
children — Dorotliy.  Maude  and  Edwin.  Mrs. 
Taylor  is  a  member  of  the  Methotlist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Hartsburg  and  is  a  most  es- 
timable lady,  wlio  shares  with  her  husband 
the  warm  regard  of  many  friends.  He  ex- 
ercises his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party  and  is  now  .serving  as  township  treas- 
urer oi  the  school  funds  of  Orvil  township. 
Socially  he  is  identified  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  .)f  .\merica.  belonging  to  the 
camp  in  Hartsburg.  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  <if  Pythias  Lodge  at  Emden. 
He  is  a  young  man,  ix)ssessed  of  resolute 
purpose  and  laudable  ambition  and  therefore 
one  may  predict  for  him  a  successful  fu- 
ture. 

WlLLl.vM  ARMSTRONG. 

For  many  years  this  gentleman  has  been 
an  honored  resident  of  Beason.  where  he  is 
now  so  successfully  engaged  in  the  stock 
business.  Throughout  his  career  of  con- 
tinued and  far-reaching  usefulness  his 
duties  have  been  performed  with  the  great- 
est care,  and  business  interests  ha\e  been 
so  manageil  as  to  win  him  the  confidence  of 
the  public  and  the  prosperity  which  shouki 
always  attend  honorable  effort. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  born  in  Ireland,  in 
October.  1836.  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children  whose  parents  were  James 
and  Sarah  (Johnson)  Armstrong.  They 
spent  their  entire  lives  on  the  Emerald  Isle, 
where  the  father  died  in  1854  and  the 
mother  in  1888.  Our  subject's  paternal 
grandfather  •  w.is  Hugh  .\rmstrong.  The 
grandmother  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1838  and  .settled  in  Ohio. 

On  reaching  man's  estate  our  sul)ject 
was  desirous  of  trving  his   fortune  in  the 


new  wt)rld.  believing  that  here  better  oppor- 
tunities were  afforded  ambitious  young 
men  than  in  his  native  land,  .\ccordingly 
he  bade  good-by  to  home  and  friends,  and, 
with  his  uncle,  William  Johnson,  he  came 
to  .\merica  in  1837.  The  vessel  on  which 
he  sailed  landed  him  safely  in  Xew  Orleans, 
and  from  there  he  came  up  the  Mississippi 
river  to  Pike  county,  Illinois,  where  he  had 
relatives  living,  and  on  whose  farm  of  One 
liundred  and  sixty  acres  he  commenced 
work,  the  compensation  received  by  him  for 
his  services  being  thirteen  dollars  per  month. 
He  had  previously  become  thoroughly 
familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits  while 
working  under  the  direction  of  his  father 
uix)n  the  home  farm. 

In  1858  Mr.  Armstrong  came  to  Beason, 
where  he  worked  for  others  and  also  en- 
gaged in  dealing  in  grain  until  the  spring 
of  i860,  when  he  and  his  brother  Andrew 
liurchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  near  that  \illage  and  engaged  the  serv- 
ices oi  his  three  remaining  brothers  to  op- 
erate it.  This  venture  proved  quite  profit- 
able. From  1874.  until  1893  our  subject 
dealt  quite  extensively  in  grain  and  live 
.^tock.  but  in  the  latter  year  disposed  of  the 
former  i)usiness.  He  still  buys  and  sells 
live  st^Kk.  however,  and  is  considered  an 
excellent  judge  of  the  same.  During  all 
these  years  he  has  continued  his  farming 
operations,  and  has  met  with  good  success 
in  all  his  undertakings,  having  become  one 
of  tlie  well-to-do  citizens  of  his  community. 
Mr.  .\rmstrong  was  married  to  Miss 
Xannie  Kerney.  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
L.  and  America  (Reed)  Kerney.  both  of 
wluMU  were  natives  of  Tenneesee.  Two 
children  blessed  this  union :  William  R., 
who  was  born  June  JO.  1900,  and  is  still 
living:  and  Ivy,  who  was  born  August  9, 
1891.  and  died  October  2.   1900. 


302 


TIlii:  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Tlicre  is  pri>ljably  no  man  in  Logan 
comity  who  is  wider  or  more  favorably 
known  than  Mr.  Armstrong,  wlio  is  famil- 
iarly called  Uncle  Hilly  by  his  many  friends. 
He  has  never  songht  |niblicily.  but  his  fel- 
low citizens,  recognizing  his  worth  and  abil- 
ity, having  called  uixni  him  to  fill  several 
jiublic  positions  of  honor  and  trnst.  He 
was  once  tendered  the  olYice  of  county  treas- 
urer, but  declined  to  acce])t,  preferring  to 
give  his  attention  to  his  business  interests 
and  his  leisure  moments  to  his  home.  In 
his  political  afliliations  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  religious  belief  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  Methodists.  He  belongs  to  that  class 
of  men  whom  the  world  terms  self-made, 
for,  coming  to  this  country  empty-handed, 
he  has  conquered  all  obstacles  in  the  path  to 
success,  and  has  not  only  secureil  for  him- 
self a  handsome  competence,  but  by  his  ef- 
forts has  materially  advanced  the  interests 
of  the  community  with  which  he  is  asso- 
ciated. He  connnands  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact, and  ranks  among  tlic  leading  citizens 
of  his  localitv. 


SAMl'KL  W.  DOWXIXd. 

Sanniel  W.  Downing,  an  honored  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  Illi- 
nois, was  born  on  the  24th  of  March.  1833, 
in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  which  was  also  the 
birthplace  of  his  jiarents,  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Mathews)  Downing,  the  former  born  in 
1806,  the  latter  in  1809.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  George  and  Winnie 
Downing,  who  were  originally  from  Mary- 
land and  were  among  the  tirst  settlers  of 
Pike  comity,  Ohio.  Our  subject  was  reared 
in  his  native  county  and  eilucated  in  its  pub- 


lic schools.  In  1845  he  <^3me  with  his  par- 
ents to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Chester  township,  where  the  father  im- 
proved a  farm  of  one  hmulred  and  si.vty 
acres,  making  his  home  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  iS(>5.  Politically 
he  was  a  stalwart  Denii,>crat,  and  religiously 
was  a  faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which  his 
wife  also  belonged.  She  i)assed  away  in 
184''- 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
eight  children,  live  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, namely:  (Jeorge  and  Thomas,  both 
deceased;  Samuel  \\'..  our  subject;  William 
and  John,  both  deceased;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Jose])h  Culp  and  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Mary 
J.,  widow  of  John  Reece  and  a  resident  of 
()xford,  Kansas;  and  Elizabeth,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

During  his  minnnty  nur  subject  gave 
his  father  the  beuetit  of  his  labors  in  carry- 
ing on  the  home  farm.  In  iS(>7  he  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Downing,  of  Logan  county, 
a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Jane  (Morrow) 
Downing.  Though  of  the  same  name,  she 
was  no  relative  of  his.  L^nto  them  were 
born  eight  children,  as  follows:  Mattie  M., 
deceased;  Adelia,  wife  of  William  Laugh- 
cry,  of  Mt.  Pulaski;  Margaret  I'.,  wife  of 
Prank  Eletcher,  of  Chester  township;  Wes- 
ley, a  farmer  of  Sangamon  county;  Henry, 
who  is  now  operating  the  old  home  farm; 
George  L.,  a  farmer  of  Pmadwell  township; 
Ora  L.,  at  home;  and  John  T..  who  is  now 
clerking  in  Danner's  clothing  store  at  Mt. 
Pulaski.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in 
1888.  leaving  many  friends  as  well  as  her 
immediate  family  to  mourn  her  loss. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dt>wiiiug  began  their  mar- 
ried life  upon  his  fathers  farm,  and  he  pur- 
clia.sed  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  that 
place.      In  his  fanning  r)pLTalions    he    met 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


303 


with  excellent  success,  and  in  course  of  time 
acquired  a  fine  estate,  having  two  hundred 
and  sixtv  acres  of  land  in  Chester  and  Mt. 
Pulaski  townships,  hesides  one  hundred  and 
sixtv  acres  near  Broadwell.  In  1892  he  re- 
tireil  from  active  labor  and  removed  to  the 
village  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  He  now  rents  his  farms 
but  sees  that  they  are  kept  in  first-class  con- 
dition. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Downing  always  affil- 
iated with  the"  Democratic  party,  but  for 
the  past  ten  years  has  voted  the  Prohibition 
ticket,  as  he  is  a  strong  temperance  man  and 
bdieves  that  the  principles  of  that  party 
are  better  calculated  to  advance  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  country.  For  over  half  a  cen- 
tury he  has  now  made  his  home  in  Logan 
county,  and  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  as  an  upright,  honorable  man.  ^Ir. 
and  Mrs.  Downing  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  whicli  he 
has  served  as  steward. 


THOMAS   L.   BLACKBURX. 

Thomas  L.  Blackburn,  general  agent  for 
the  Indiana  Bridge  Company,  residing  in 
Lincoln,  is  one  of  Logan  county's  native 
sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  a  farm  in 
Broadwell  township,  April  13,  1861.  His 
parents  were  William  and  Margaret  (Gar- 
rett) Blackburn.  The  father  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to 
the  L'nited  States.  After  spending  some 
time  in  Ohio  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
first  in  Springfield.  In  1856  he  removed  to 
Logan  county  and  settled  in  Broadwell 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  general 
farming.  He  also  engaged  in  contracting 
on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  during 


its  construction  in  1853.  He  died  on  his 
farm  in  Broadwell  township  in  1869.  His 
wife,  who  still  survives,  now  makes  her 
home  with  a  daughter. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common 
schools  of  this  county  until  seventeen  years 
of  age,  and  then  went  to  Elkhart,  Illinois, 
where  he  spent  four  years  in  learning  the 
tinner's  trade  and  hardware  business.  He 
next  went  to  Chicago  and  was  employed  as 
salesman  by  Gerts,  Lumbard  &  Company 
for  five  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he 
returned  to  Lincoln,  where  he  was  for  two 
years  engaged  in  the  bakery  and  confec- 
tionery business  in  a  successful  way.  Sell- 
ing the  business  in  1888,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  agent  for  the  Indiana  Bridge 
Company.  His  territory  now  covers  five 
states — Illinois,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Mis- 
souri and  Kansas, — and  he  acts  as  general 
agent,  with  many  local  agents  under  him, 
doing  a  large  business,  it  being  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  field. 

On  the  27th  of  September,  1887,  :\Ir. 
Blackburn  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  A.  Cox,  of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  who 
was  born  in  Streator,  La  Salle  county,  this 
state,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
( Raycraft)  Cox.  The\'  now  have  fo'ir 
children :  Leo,  ]\Iarie,  William  and 
TlK^mas.  Mr.  Blackburn  has  a  pleasant 
home  at  the  corner  of  Keokuk  and  ^\■ater 
streets,  and  he  stands  high  in  the  commun- 
it\-  where  he  has  lived  so  manv  vears. 


JOSEPH  TIDD. 


Joseph  Tidd,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  active  and  highly  re- 
spected agriculturists  of  Logan  county.    His 


304 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  an  honorable  and  useful  life,  and  his 
sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity  gainetl  for 
liim  the  contiilence  and  esteem  <>f  all  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact  in  tlie  various 
walks  of  life. 

He  was  ..nc  of  a  family  of  six  children 
horn  to  John  Tidd.  his  hirth  .KTcnrring  Sep- 
temher  9.  18J5,  near  \\oo<lslieUl.  Ohi-).  At 
an  early  age  he  learned  the  carpenters  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  several  years.  1-ater 
he  took  up  farming,  which,  together  with 
his  trade,  he  followed  for  some  time.  He 
also  taught  school  in  Chicago  for  m.ivy 
years. 

In  the  year  1830  he  disjioscil  of  his  farm- 
ing interests  and  moved  to  .\tlanta.  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  a  resilience  for  himself 
and  family.  als<.  a  farm  in  .\tlanta  township, 
which  is  now  l)eing  conducted  hy  liis  widow. 
In  connection  with  his  farm,  he  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  and  around  .\tlanta 
until  his  death,  which  .KTCurrcd   .\oveml>er 

On  Septcml)er  9.  1S5S.  a  ceremony  was 
lierformed  which  unite<l  Mr.  Tidd  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Judith  .\nu  M.«>re.  daugh- 
ter of  Jacol)  and  Uarthiah  (Kdwardsl 
Moore,  of  Ohio.  They  l)ecame  the  parents 
of  two  children:  Charles,  who  resides  in 
Kan.sas  City,  was  at  one  time  superinten<l- 
ent  of  mines  in  Missouri,  but  in  later  years 
has  Ix-cn  an  extensive  real  estate  dealer,  w  ith 
lieadcpiarters  in  Kansas  City :  and  I-'lmira  re- 
sides at  hi>me  with  her  mother. 

Karnest  and  sincere  Christians.  Ix.th  Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Tidd  have  faithfully  and  actively 
scrvfd  the  Meth(Klist  Ejtiscopal  church,  he 
for  twfiUy-tive  years  acting  as  dass-lcatlcr. 
He  also  held  the  olViccs  of  trustee,  sujier- 
intendent  an<l  steward.  Politically  .Mr. 
Tidd  was  a  iVohihitiouist.  and  scrveil  as  tax 
assessor  for  three  vears.     Few   men  in  .At- 


lanta had  more  wanii  friends  than  our  ■sul>- 
ject,  and  his  death  was  a  sad  bhnv.  not  alone 
to  his  family  and  relatives  hut  to  the  com- 
munity as  well,  who  knew  how  to  appreciate 
a  good,  u|»right  man. 


HKXJAMIX  1"    .sTlT/rS.  M.  1' 

Worthy  of  emulation  is  the  career  of 
Dr.  Utnijamin  F.  Stults,  and  a  forcible  illus- 
tratji-n  of  the  heights  to  which  one  may  at- 
tain in  the  face  of  a  not  over-indulgent  early 
fortune.  In  the  estimation  of  those  who 
know  him  l)est  it  would  seem  that  he  had 
realized  the  promise  of  his  youth,  had  ai>- 
proache<l  at  least  the  rim  of  his  exjiectations. 
ami  combined  in  his  i)ersonality  ami  exi)eri- 
ence  the  finest  X\\n:  of  successful  metlical 
practitiiMier.  business  acumen  and  integrity, 
au<\  large  hearted  devotion  to  the  l)est  inter- 
ests of  the  community  which  accoiuns  him 
an  honoreil  memlier.  Though  a  resident  of 
Xew  Holland,  to  which  he  came  January  15. 
1890.  his  services  are  in  demand  throughinit 
the  surrounding  country,  and  he  numl)ers 
his  patients  fnmi  one  end  t<»  the  other  of 
I^  >gan  CI  >unty .  .\s  a  rew  ard  f<  >r  his  industry- 
he  ha-s  to  show  the  finest  residence  in  Xew 
Holland,  which  is  also  artistically  and  ele- 
gantly furnished  and  replete  with  all  nunlern 
conveniences,  built  at  a  cost  of  five  thon- 
s:uid  ilollars.  besitles  considerable  city  prop- 
erty, including  the  building  in  w  hich  he  con- 
<lucts  a  drug  store  in  jcirtnership  with  J.  E. 
Sheary.  His  store  is  valuetl  at  i\\<:  thousimd 
dollars.  In  addition  he  is  the  ]M)Sses,sor  of 
a  \vell-tille<l  farm  of  one  humlretl  an<l  sixty 
acres  in  the  vicinity  of  IK)lland,  which  is 
\ahied  at  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  A  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  he  has  never  sought  olVicial 


DR.   B.   F.   STULTZ. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPIIICAL   RECORD. 


recognition,  for,  with  tlie  entliiisiasm  of  the 
true  physician  of  men,  his  labors  have  all 
Iwen  in  the  direction  of  broadening  his  know- 
ledge of  a  truly  great  profession. 

The  Stults  family  after  emigrating  to 
America  became  identified  with  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  in  the  Quaker  state  the  grandfather, 
George  Stults,  was  born,  and  carried  on 
farming  interests  until  his  death.  Of  the 
parents  of  Dr.  Stults,  Jiicob  and  Lydia  .\. 
(Turner)  Stults,  the  former  was  born  in 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  where  he  received  a 
good  education,  and  where  for  many  years 
he  engaged  in  farming.  He  eventually  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Cumberland  county. 
where  he  farmed  on  an  extensive  scale  until 
1868,  when  he  removed  to  Piatt  county, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  October,  1879, 
his  wife  surviving  him  until  18S5. 

Benjamin  F.  Stults  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio.  January  27,  1855,  and  re- 
ceived a  common-school  etlucation  in  tiie 
Buckeye  state,  supplemented  by  attendance  at 
the  normal  school  at  Xornial.  Illinois.  To 
meet  the  expenses  attached  to  attending 
the  nomial  school  he  himself  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  after  graduation  became  the 
principal  of  the  Delands  and  W'eldon  .school. 
of  DeWitt  county.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
been  preparing  to  devote  himself  to  the  pro- 
fession of  medicine,  and  in  1884  droppetl 
all  other  interests  and  read  medicine  under 
the  capable  guidance  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Taylor, 
of  \\eldon.  He  also  attended  lectures  on 
special  diseases  and  eventually  graduated 
from  the  Keokuk  Medical  School  in  1887. 
Immediately  afterward  he  lixated  at  W'el- 
don and  practiced  medicine  for  three  years, 
or  until  his  removal  to^Xew  Holland  in 
1890. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Stults  and  KailL- 
Hitchens  occurred  August  17,  i88r.  Dr. 
Stults    is    fraternally    associated    with    the 

17 


Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order 
I  if  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Masons,  and  with 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


ALGERXOX  M.  SARCKXT.  M.  D. 

Among  those  who  devote  their  lime  au'l 
energies  to  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
have  gained  a  leading  place  in  the  ranks  of 
the  profession  is  Dr.  A.  M.  Sargent,  of  Lin- 
coln. He  is  a  native  of  Logan  county,  born 
in  Mt.  Pulaski,  February  14,  1857,  and  is 
a  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (^Millar) 
Sargent,  who  are  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Our  subject  spent  his  boy- 
hood in  Lincoln,  and  is  indebted  to  its  ])u1j- 
lic  schools  for  his  early  educational  advan- 
tages. Later  he  attended  Lincoln  Univer- 
sity three  years,  and  then  entered  the  Ohio 
Medical  College  at  Cincinnati,  where  he 
completed  the  prescribed  course  and  was 
graduated  in  1880,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 

Immediately  after  his  graduatiini  Dr. 
Sargent  opened  an  office  in  Lincoln,  where 
he  has  since  successfully  engaged  in  general 
practice.  He  is  a  progressive  member  oi 
his  profession,  and  took  a  post-graduate 
course  at  Bellevue  Medical  College,  Xew 
Vory  City,  in  1884,  and  at  the  Post-Grad- 
uate  College  in  1900.  His  skill  and  ability 
are  attested  by  the  liberal  patronage  he  en- 
joys, and  he  ranks  among  the  leading  physi- 
cians of  the  county.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  American  ^Medical  Association ;  the 
State  Medical  S»x:iety ;  and  the  Brainard 
l^istrict  Medical  Society.  He  also  belongs 
to  Logan  Lodge,  X'o.  210,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

In  1884  Dr.  Sargent  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lorena  Jenkins,  of  Lincoln. 
a  daughter  of  J.>hn  T.  and  Minnie  Tenkin-. 


3o8 


THE   mUGKAl'lIICAL   RECORD. 


of  this  city.  Mrs.  Sargent  died  in  January. 
n;oo.  leavinjj  three  cliildreti :  Li>rcna.  I'cr- 
rec  an<l  .Mgcrnoii  .M..  jr. 


i'i-:ti:r  oi'iiardt. 

Tliis  well-known  retired  fanner  of  Mt. 
J'ulaski  eminently  deserves  classification 
among  the  pnrely  self-made  men  of  Logan 
coonty  who  liavc  distinguished  themselves 
for  their  ahility  ti>  master  the  opposing 
forces  (jf  life  and  to  wrest  fmni  fate  a  large 
measure  of  success  and  an  honorable  name, 
lie  was  horn  in  Prussia.  Germany,  Sq)tem- 
lier  14,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Lambert  ami 
Mary  (Kulmer)  Ophardt.  The  mother 
rlicd  in  that  country  in  1S54.  There  the 
fatlier  followed  farming  uiuil  1S57.  when 
he  came  to  .\merica.  but  died  three  days 
after  arriving  at  Mt.  I'ulaski.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
(laughters. 

I'eter  Ophardt  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  land  from  the  age  of 
>i.\  to  f(jurteen  years,  and  then  aideil  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  twenty.  I'.idding  good-by  to 
home  and  family  in  1S33.  he  took  passage 
on  a  sailing  vessel  in  the  harbor  of  Bremen, 
and  after  a  long  and  te<lions  voyage  of  forty- 
three  days  landed  in  New  Vjirk  City,  lie 
went  direct  to  Racine,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  one  ye.u'.  and  in  the 
fall  of  1S54  came  to  Mt.  |'nl:iski.  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  on  the  farm  of  Watt 
Kass  for  three  years.  Later  he  worked  for 
L.  K.  Scroggin  fur  the  same  length  of  time, 
and  for  Jerry  Ruckles  ten  moiUhs. 

On  September  (^.  iSfn.  Mr.  Ophardt 
was  united    in   marriage   with    Miss    \'.V\/.a 


Heine,  of  Bearc|sti>wn.  Illinuis,  a  daughter 
of  John  an<!  Si>piiia  Heine.  To  tliis  union 
was  ))orn  one  son.  John,  who  is  ilow  on  the 
home  farm.  Mrs.  Ophardt  died  in  Novem- 
ber. iH<>(>.  and  for  his  second  wife  he  mar- 
ried .Anna  Heine,  who  died  .March  14.  1897. 
On  April  <>.  iS»/j,  Mr.  Ophardt  married 
Miss  P'mma  Rother.  who  was  als<j  boni  in 
(iermany.  but  came  to  Mt.  Pula.ski  in  1881. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Ophardt  Ijegan  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  farm  two  miles  west  of 
Mt.  Pulaski,  where  he  ha<l  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land.  Their  first  home  was  a 
l)t>ard  shanty,  which  they  occupied  for  five 
years,  and  which  was  then  replaced  by  a 
more  commodious  and  substantial  struc- 
ture. .\s  time  pas.sed  Mr.  Ophardt  stead- 
ily i)rospered  in  his  farming  o])erations,  and 
he  added  to  his  original  purchase  until  he 
had  two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  and 
highly  jirinluctive  laiul  under  e.xcellent  cul- 
tivation. He  always  gave  considerable  at- 
tention to  the  raising  of  st<tck.  and  kept  a 
goo<l  grade  of  cattle  and  hogs  v\\ym  his 
farm.  Leaving  the  place  in  charge  of  his 
son  John,  he  removed  to  Mt.  Pulaski  in 
i8yo,  and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  en- 
joying a  well-earned  rest. 

In  religious  iK'lief  Mr.  Ophardt  is  a 
Lutheran,  and  his  jMililical  supiK>rt  is  al- 
ways given  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Democratic  i)ariy.  He  deserves  great  credit 
for  the  success  that  he  has  achieved  in  life, 
.IS  on  coming  to  Mt.  Pulaski  he  had  only 
fifty  cents  in  his  jxicket  with  which  to  liegin 
his  business  career  in  this  county,  but  be  has 
always  made  the  most  of  his  advantages, 
and  by  hard  work,  strict  integrity  and  giMid 
management  be  has  succeede<l  in  accpiiring 
a  good  property,  which  now  en.ibles  him  to 
s|K'nd  his  declining  years  in  ease  and  retire- 
ment. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


309 


SAMUEL  SARGEXT,  M.  D. 

One  nf  the  early  i)liysiciaiis  of  Logan 
county  was  Dr.  Samuel  Sargent,  who  wa.s 
for  many  years  successfully  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  at  Lincoln. 
He  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
1st  of  June,  1828,  and  was  a  son  of  James 
and  Xancy  (Steinberger)  Sargent.  Ills 
father  took  quite  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs  as  a  W'liig  with  strong  anti-slavery 
views.  This  necessitated  his  being  away 
from  home  a  great  part  of  the  time,  which 
caused  the  Doctor  to  form  a  dislike  for  poli- 
tics. His  A\ife  was  ambitious  to  accumu- 
late property,  and  tried  to  inspire  the  same 
desire  in  her  children.  In  the  family  were 
ten  children,  namely:  \\illiam:  Mrs.  Sarah 
McXeil  Talbott:  Snowcl.m:  Charles;  :\Iary 
Hethman.  wife  of  L.  X.  Barnes;  James; 
Xancy  Steinberger,  wife  of  John  Burns: 
Samuel;  Elizabeth  Ellen  Prather;  and 
^Maria  Louisa,  wife  of  William  Penn.  \\ith 
exception  of  our  subject  the  sons  all  fol- 
lowed farming  and  made  their  home  in 
Ohio.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  the 
new  world  was  James  Sargent,  who  came 
to  this  ciiuntry  from  England  at  an  earlv 
day  and  settled  in  Frederickstown.  ^lary- 
land,  and  from  that  state  the  Doctor's  an- 
cestors removed  to  Ohio.  His  great-uncle, 
who  also  bore  the  name  of  James  Sargent, 
in  connection  with  Rev.  P.  Gatch,  was  in- 
strumental in  preventing  the  entrance  of 
slavery  into  the  new  state  of  Ohio ;  and  se\- 
eral  of  his  brothers  were  soldiers  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  one  taking  part  in  the 
engagement  at  Vorktowii  and  another  was 
killed  at  Valley  Forge. 

Dr.  Sargent  seemed  to  have  inherited 
his  father's  literary  taste  and  his  mother's 
energy.  After  receiving  a  limited  common 
school  education  at  home  he  completed  the 


scientific  course  at  Ohio  L'niversity,  in 
Athens.  Ohio.  His  early  life  was  largely 
inHuenced  by  surrounding  circumstances. 
He  was  fond  of  fishing,  hunting,  horse- 
racing,  wrestling  aiul  jumping,  and  hailed 
with  delight  the  ai)proacli  of  the  stage- 
coach, heralded  by  the  blast  from  the  long 
tin  horn  and  the  sharp  crack  of  the  driver's 
whip.  His  mind  was  directed  to  the  study 
of  medicine  1>\'  a  natural  inclination  and  by 
observing  the  universal  respect  paid  physi- 
cians. He  was  graduated  at  the  Cincinnati 
College  of  Medicine,  and  also  took  a  course 
at  the  University  Medical  College,  Xew 
'^I'ork,  during  the  sessions  of  1858-9. 

In  September,  1851,  Dr.  Sargent  came 
to  Illinois,  and  first  located  in  Coles  county, 
where  he  .soon  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
good  jjractice,  but  after  two  years'  residence 
there  he.  like  many  others,  was  driven  away 
by  the  ague.  On  leaving  the  state  he  was 
fully  determined  never  to  return,  but  after 
regaining  his  health,  while  on  board  an  Ohio 
river  steamer,  he  fell  into  conversation  with 
a  gentleman  from  Logan  county,  who, 
learning  his  profession,  urged  him  to  locate 
here,  stating  that  it  oflfered  fine  inducenients 
to  a  competent  young  physician.  .\  year 
later  Dr.  Sargent  took  his  advice  and  came 
to  this  county,  in  1854.  and  was  engaged  in 
practice  at  :Mt.  Pulaski  until  i860,  when  he 
removed  to  Lincoln,  following  his  chosen 
profession  at  this  place  with  marked  success 
for  almost  a  third  of  a  century.  In  iS<)_'  he 
went  to  \\'icliit;i.  Kansas,  where  he  lived 
retired  until  his  death,  which  occurred  h'eb- 
ruary  2.  1898. 

On  the  i_'th  of  May.  1856.  Dr.  Sargent 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rebecca 
Millar,  who  was  born  in  Pike  county.  Ohio, 
in  i8j;_'.  ;nid  was  a  daughter  of  ("ornelius 
Elton  :ui(l  X.incy  (James)  Millar.  1  Icr  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  classical  scholar,  removed 


)(.k Ai-nirAi.  Ki-(()ivi) 


settlcti  ill  tlie  Sciuto  valley,  on  tlie  smuhcrn 
biiiiulary  of  Pike  county.  His  wife  was 
tlie  el«lest  daiiglucr  of  Hon.  John  James, 
who  removed  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Putnams  and  others.  Mr. 
James  was  intensely  religious  and  imbued 
his  chililrcn  with  the  same  disi)osition.  In 
the  Millar  family  were  four  children :  Jane, 
wife  of  Sanfortl  Williams,  a  farmer  of  Kan- 
sas: Julia  Ann,  wife  of  Kev.  John  Q.  Gib- 
son, a  Methoflist  Episcojial  minister;  Ke- 
I^ecca.  who  became  Mrs.  Sargent:  and  Cor- 
nelius KIton.  a  farmer  and  cajjitalist  of  Sci- 
oto county.  Ohio.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Sar- 
gent were  lK>rn  four  children,  namely :  Al- 
gernon Millar,  a  |)hysician  of  Lincoln, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  volume:  Julia  and  Mary,  twins;  and 
Samuel.  Jr.  The  wife  and  mother,  who 
was  a  devout  and  earnest  Christian,  died  in 
Lincoln  in  i8<)j. 

On  attaining  his  majority  Dr.  Sargent 
became  identified  with  the  Whig  party,  and, 
being  a  strong  anti-slavery  advocate,  joined 
the  Republican  jjarty  on  its  organization, 
and  remained  one  of  its  stanch  supporters 
throughout  life.  Although  he  did  not  enter 
the  army,  he  believed  in  tlie  vigorous  jjrose- 
cution  of  the  war.  and  for  several  years  he 
served  as  examining  physician  for  pensions, 
it  being  the  only  oliice  for  which  he  ever 
maile  ajiplicatii  <ii.  I  le  never  cared  for  polit- 
ical honors,  and  was  a<l verse  to  public  speak- 
ing. I  le  was  a  man  of  line  jiersonal  ai>|)ear- 
aiue,  embodying  health  and  vigor,  and  his 
course  ill  life  was  ever  such  as  to  command 
the  rcspcci  and  confulence  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact,  either  in  business  or 
social  life.  He  met  with  many  (jbstacles  in 
the  path  to  success,  but  steadily  overcame 
them,  and  secured  for  himself  and  f.-miily  a 
comfortable     competence.      His      pleasant. 


ment   into  the  sick-ro.  .in.  and  his  ]>atients 
always  place<l  in  liiiii  the  iitin">i  coulidence. 


WILLI A.\l   i:.  SI.IDI.I 

As  sui>ervisor  and  general  manager  of 
the  Illinois  Home  for  Odd  Fellows'  Or- 
phans. Mr.  William  E.  Seidel  has  been  a 
competent  business  man,  and  has  won  the 
approbation  of  the  public.  Ihe  discharge 
c^f  his  duties  requires  the  e.xercise  of  e.\- 
ceeding  patience,  kindness  and  good  judg- 
ment, mingled  with  great  firmness  and  no 
little  e.vecutive  ability. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Seidel  <M:curred  in 
Heading.  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania.  July 
2.  i860,  and  he  is  a  son  of  John  and  Amanda 
(  Kbling)  Seidel.  Ixith  of  whom  were  Ixmi 
in  Pennsylvania,  of  (lerman  ancestry.  Piv 
trade  the  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  fol- 
l()wed  this  avi>cation  until  he  became  a 
.soldier  in  the  L'nioii  army,  during  the  Civil 
war.  4*"or  four  years  he  faithfully  jK-r- 
fornied  his  duty,  but  his  health  was  broken 
when  he  returned  home  and  he  died  in  1870, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  .still  survives, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  and  is  now 
the  wife  tif  Jacob  Warner,  a  farmer  of  Berks 
county.  Six  children  were  born  to  her  tirst 
marriage,  the  five  survivors  being:  Charles, 
a  teacher  in  Lincoln;  William  K.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Emma,  the  wife  of 
Cleorge  Dnnkleberger,  of  Pennsylvania; 
1-Llla,  now  Mrs.  Warner,  also  of  Pennsyl- 
vania: and  Sally,  the  wife  of  George  Dnn- 
kleberger, of  Pennsylvania.  These  all  at- 
tended the  common  scluxds  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  became  well  and  favorably  knitwn 
in  their  several  communities. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3'i 


William  E.  Seidel,  our  subject,  received 
a  good  common  school  education,  and  at  tlie 
age  of  eighteen  yeai's  learned  the  hatter's 
trade,  completing  his  apprenticeship  in  two 
years,  and  then  he  entered  a  foundry,  where 
for  six  months  he  gained  valuable  exiK^ri- 
ence.  Then  Mr.  Seidel  was  attracted  by 
the  fine  farming  lands  of  the  west  and  went 
to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  a  short  peril k1.  Returning  u> 
the  east,  he  located  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  and 
became  the  barber  in  the  State  Asylum  for 
Feeble  Minded,  remaining  in  that  capacity 
for  .seven  years,  when  he  was  given  charge 
as  outside  supervisor,  continuing  in  the 
duties  of  that  position  for  the  succeeding 
seven  years,  when  he  resigned  in  189O  to 
accept  the  position  as  supcr\istir  and  gen- 
eral manager  at  the  Odd  Fellows'  Orphans' 
Home.  Careful  and  closely  attentive  to  his 
duties,  Mr.  Seidel  became  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  all  of  the  details  of  this  work, 
and  as  general  manager  and  superintendent 
of  the  grounds  brings  to  bear  bis  valuable 
experience.  He  is  a  competent  gardener. 
and  has  one  assistant,  the  balance  of  the 
work  on  the  grounds  being  performed  bv 
the  boys  of  the  institution.  His  personal- 
ity is  strong  and  his  energetic  methods  in- 
spire imitation  by  the  inmates.  His  success 
in  directing  their  efforts  has  been  most  en- 
couraging. 

Mr.  Seidel  has  always  Ijelonged  to  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  been  active  in  its 
Avork.  He  contributes  liberally  to  the  suj)- 
port  of  educational  and  religious  enter- 
prises and  is  a  highly  respected  citizen. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  Lodge  Xo. 
345,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Lincoln.  Mr.  Seidel 
is  a  man  of  ample  means,  owns  forty  acres 
of  valuable  timber  land  in  Florida,  a  ])ro- 
ductive  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Edwards.  Oklahoma,  and  a  ilesirablc  resi- 


dence property  in  Park  Ridge,  Chicago,  all 
of  which  property  he  has  amassed  by  his 
own  efforts  and  judicious  investments. 


AXroX    ROMI'.K. 


The  German-. \mcrican  element  is  an 
unportant  one  in  our  conmiunwealth.  Its 
representatives  have  usually  been  men  of 
determination  who  have  come  to  the  United 
States  because  they  desired  to  enjoy  the  bet- 
ter opportunities  of  this  land,  and  who  have 
been  loyal  to  her  interests  and  her  institu- 
tions, becoming  law-abiding  and  progress- 
ive citizens,  of  value  to  the  communities  in 
which  they  have  made  their  homes.  To  this 
class  belongs  Anton  Romer,  now  a  retired 
farmer,  living  in  Mount  Pulaski.  He 
crossed  the  Atlantic  from  the  Fatherland 
and  arrived  here  empty-handed,  but,  with 
determined  purpose,  has  steadily  progressed, 
and  is  now  in  possession  of  a  handsome 
competence,  which  enables  him  to  rest  from 
active  labor. 

Mr.  Romer  was  born  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  December  19,  1835,  a  son  of  An- 
ton and  Grace  Romer.  The  mother  died  in 
Germany,  but  the  father,  after  following 
farming  there  for  many  years,  came  with 
his  family  to  the  new  world  in  t86i.  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania.  In 
i86j  he  enlisted  fi>r  three  years'  service  in 
the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  a  Maryland 
regiment,  and  on  his  return  from  the  south, 
in  1866,  he  became  a  guest  at  a  hotel  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  fell  from  a  sixth- 
story  window  and  was  instantly  killed. 

It  was  in  the  year  1853  that  Anton 
Romer.  Jr..  the  subject  of  this  rc\iew,  came 
to  .\merica.  When  he  arrived  in  Xew 
York  he  had  nut  immev  suflicient  to  i)a\-  the 


312 


THE  lilOGKAI'HICAL  RECORD. 


tirayagfe  on  Iiis  tnink  and  the  drayman  kq>t 
it  for  tlie  charges.  Tluis  lie  was  left  with- 
out anything, — a  stranger  in  a  strange  land 
— but  a  man  whom  he  had  not  previously 
known  befriended  him  and  assisted  him  to 
reach  Piiiladelphia.  where  he  S(jon  found 
emidoyment.  He  had  a  brother  living  in 
Delaware,  and  in  that  state  he  secured  work 
on  a  farm,  receiving  in  conii)ensation  for  his 
services  eight  dollars  i)er  month  and  his 
lK)ard  and  washing.  He  also  accjuircd  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  American  methods  ()f 
agriculture,  and  after  three  years  si)ent  in 
Delaware,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  home  of  his 
brother  b>sei)h,  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1850, 
I'pcating  first  in  Jacksonville.  .\b)rgan  coun- 
tv.  where  he  was  vigorously  emi)loyed  until 
he  began  feeding  cattle  for  dift'ercnt  pei>ple. 
including  John  Alexander  and  Judge 
IJrown,  of  Jacksonville,  and  .soon  gained  a 
g<M)d  rc])Utation  for  his  efficiency  and  care 
in  that  line.  For  six  years  his  time  was 
thus  passed. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Komer  came  to 
1-ogan  county,  where  he  spent  the  summer, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
twelve  years  on  rented  land.  He  not  only 
engaged  in  raising  grain  but  was  also  a  suc- 
cessful feeder  and  shii)per  of  cattle  and 
hogs,  and,  saving  his  money,  he  was,  at 
length,  enabletl  to  purchase  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  laml  in  Laenna  township. 
Removing  to  that  place,  he  there  carried  on 
farming  and  stock  raising,  becoming  one  of 
the  largest  corn  i)roducers  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  During  the  summer  of  kjoi  he  sold 
sixteen  thonsan<l  bushels  of  corn  at  forty 
cents  [Kjr  bushel.  He  contimied  his  active 
farming  operations  until  i(>ti(),  when  he  re- 
moved to  M<iunt  Pulaski,  here  erecting  a 
commodious  and  attractive  residence,  in 
which  he  and  his  family  arc  now  comfoit- 
ablv  situated,      lie  rents  his   land    an<l    is 


thus    largely    living    retired  frnm  business 
cares. 

In  1S64  Mr.  Ronier  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Hollin.  a  daughter  of  John  and  Agnes 
Hollin,  of  Sangamon  county.  Illinois.  She 
was  born  in  (iermany  and  was  brought  to 
America  when  a  little  maiden  of  five  sum- 
mers. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roiner  have 
been  Ixmi  eight  children  :  Josej)!!.  a  fanner; 
(leorge  and  Jacob,  who  also  carry  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits:  Herman,  a  druggist,  of 
Minonk.  Illinois:  Anton,  .\gnes.  (irace  and 
Magdalene,  all  at  home.  In  his  jxtlitical 
views  Mr.  Romer  is  a  Democrat,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  ollice,  (^referring  to  devote 
hi.i  time  ami  energies  to  his  business  inter- 
ests, which  have  been  so  carefully  and  hon- 
nral)ly  conducted  that  he  has  won  a  very 
creditable  fortune. 


.\.  1:.  k()DKXiu:i:K. 

One  of  the  busiest,  most  energetic  ajid 
absolutely  reliable  business  men  of  Harts- 
burg  is  .\.  K.  Rodenbeek.  a  member  ui  the 
firm  of  C.  \an  CieriJcn  &  Company,  grain 
merchants  and  dealers  in  fanning  imple- 
ments. .\  native  of  (iermany.  he  sought  in 
.\merica  a  favorable  field  for  business  ac- 
tivity, where  he  would  not  be  hampered  by 
caste  or  class,  and.  though  he  was  empty- 
banded  when  he  arrived  in  this  country,  he 
has  .steadily  worked  his  way  upwards.  br«H)k- 
ing  no  obstacle  that  could  be  overcome  liy 
determined  and  honorable  purpose. 

His  birth  occurred  in  Hanover,  Ctermany. 
.\ugust  _'4.  1S4S.  his  parents  being  Edward 
and  Hertha  Rodenbeek,  Ixitli  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  .same  kingdom,  the  father 
following  the  cariH-nlers  trade  throughout 
his  entire  life.      I'.oth  he  and  his  wife  die  I 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


313 


in  Hanover.  They  had  nine  children,  of 
wliom  five  came  to  the  United  States, 
namely:  Frank,  a  can)enter,  of  Peoria. 
Illinois;  Berend.  who  died  in  Pekin.  Illi- 
nois: Arend:  Hilke.  the  wife  of  C.  \an 
Gerpen.  of  Hartsburg :  and  Dina.  a  resident 
of  Pekin.  Illinois. 

To  the  public  school  system  of  the  fa- 
therland Mr.  Ro<lenbeek.  of  this  review,  is 
indebted  for  the  educational  privileges 
which  he  enjoyed.  He  was  a  young  man 
of  twenty  years  when,  in  1868,  he  deter- 
mined to  try  his  fortune  in  America,  and, 
bidding  good-by  to  "the  little  German  home 
across  the  sea."  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
Baltimore,  where  he  arrived  on  the  3(1  of 
July.  Making  his  way  at  once  to  Pekin, 
Illinois,  he  there  worked  at  the  blacksmith's 
trade  for  ten  years,  after  which  he  remo\  ed 
to  Warsaw,  this  state,  where  he  again  fol- 
lowed blacksmithing  through  a  decade.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  jjerioil  he  came  to 
Hartsburg.  and  the  business  interests  oi  the 
town  have  been  well  represented  by  him. 
Here  entering  into  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law.  C.  \an  Gerpen.  they  pur- 
chased a  grain  elevator  and  Ijegan  their 
present  business  of  buying  and  shipping 
grain.  Their  purchases  and  sales  are  large 
and  profitable,  and  in  addition  to  this  they 
also  handle  farm  implements,  machinery 
and  wagons,  in  which  they  have  a  large  pat- 
ronage. Their  business  methods  are  above 
reproach  and  their  honorable  dealing  and 
earnest  desire  to  please  have  secured  to  them 
a  ver\-  large  patronage. 

In  1890.  in  Brazil,  Indiana,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Rodenbeek  and  Miss 
Mattie  Witty,  of  Clay  county,  that  state,  a 
daughter  (jf  B.  Witty,  a  well-knt>wn  Indi- 
ana farmer.  They  now  have  one  child. 
?»Iattie.  who  was  lx)rn  in  1892.  Both  our 
subject  and  his  wife  are  most  estimable  peo- 


ple, and  their  circle  of  friends  is  extensive. 
In  politics  our  subject  was  formerly  very 
active,  and  his  support  is  ever  given  to  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party. 
Sociallv  he  is  connected  with  Hancock 
Lodge.  Xo.  42,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Warsaw, 
Illinois.  Such,  in  brief,  is  the  history  of 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  German-.\mer- 
ican  citizens  of  L»3gan  county.  He  has 
never  had  occasion  to  regret  his  determina- 
tion to  make  a  home  in  the  new  world,  for 
in  the  land  of  the  free  he  has  found  the  <ip- 
l)ortunitv  he  sought,  anil  through  luisiness 
ability  and  unfaltering  purjwse  has  achieve<l 
creditable  prosperity. 


J.\MES  X.   H)X(".AX. 

■  The  business  interests  of  Hartsburg  are 
well  represented  by  James  X.  Longan,  a 
wide-awake,  enterprising  general  merchant, 
whose  activity  in  commercial  affairs  adds 
considerable  to  the  business  prosperity  of 
the  community  while  promoting  his  indi- 
vidual successes.  His  residence  in  this 
portion  of  the  county  dates  from  1862.  at 
which  time  he  located  in  Orvil  township. 
He  was  born  in  Lycoming  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. July  4.  1836.  his  parents  being 
Thomas  C.  and  Mary  Ann  (;Xicf  )  Longan. 
The  father  was  born  on  the  ocean,  in  Xo- 
veniber,  1806.  while  his  parents  were  en 
route  for  the  new  world.  They  went  direct 
to  Lycoming  county,  where  the  little  son 
was  reared,  and  after  attaining  a  proper  age 
he  learned  the  harness  makers  trade,  which 
he  followed  in  the  village  of  Jersey  Shore. 
Pennsylvania,  for  several  years.  On  ac- 
c<iunt  of  ill  health  he  eventually  abandoned 
his  trade  and  began  farming  in  Lycoming 
county,  ciintinuing  in  tliat  occupati<Mi  with 


I'HICAL  RECOKI 


•  c  i-\ii'iill'>n  ol  t\M'  _vc:ii>.  •urni.;  wiiu.; 
■iiie  he  served  as  county  treaMtrer,  until  liis 
:.ies  lalxirs  were  ciuletl  in  death  in  iSyy. 
]  le  was  thrice  married,  liis  first  union  being 
.\ith  KHzalwtli  Nice,  who  died,  leaving  a 
.laughter,  to  wlumi  had  l)ecn  given  the 
mother's  name.  Mr.  Longan  then  luarried 
.Mary  Ann  Nice,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife  and 
the  nii')ther  i>f  our  subject.  Her  death  i>c- 
currcd  in  WillianisiM.rt.  Pennsylvania.  She 
h.id  five  children:  James  .\"..  of  this  re- 
\icw:  Oliver  Watson,  now  deceaseil ;  John, 
who  die<l  at  the  age  of  twelve  years:  Will- 
iam F..  a  resident  of  Denver.  Colorado:  and 
Thomas  P..  agent  for  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  at  Lincoln.  For  his  third  wife 
Mr.  Longan  clu>se  Margaret  Cummings. 
who  is  also  decea.sed.  and  hy  whom  he  had 
Mue  child,  .\lbert  Hoyd.  now  a  resident  of 
the  Keystone  state. 

.\fter  obtaining  a  common  school  edu- 
cation and  arriving  at  years  of  business 
discretion.  Mr.  Longan.  of  this  review,  be- 
gan farming  in  Lycoming  county.  IVnnsyl- 
\ania.  where  he  remaine<l  fi>r  two  years. 
He  was  married  there  in  i8f)0  to  Harriet 
A.  Minsker.  a  native  of  Delaware  and  a 
.laughter  .)f  Moses  and  Mary  Minsker.  She 
<lied  in  iSSj.  leaving  a  ilaughler.  Mary 
Irene,  who  was  horn  in  .Vpril.  iS6i.  She 
acts  as  her  father's  housekeeper  and  is  also 
engageil  in  <lressmaking  in  Hartshurg. 

Not  liMig  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Longan 
abandoned  farming  in  Lycoming  county  an<l 
removed  to  Logan  county.  Illinois,  settling 
on  a  farm  near  Hart>burg.  where  he  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil  and 
the  improvement  of  his  propi-rty  until  1S7.:. 
He  then  embarked  in  the  grain  business  in 
Tfartsburg.  representing  .\.  W.  Kay.  of 
Dclavan.  and  for  ten  or  twelve  ye:ir<  he  con- 
tinued to  buy  an<l  sell  grain  at  this  place. 
.\t  the  >ame  time  he  acted  as  agent  for  the 


Cnited  State-  ■   ^,...^-        ..., ...   -larts- 

burg.  When  he  retireii  from  the  grain 
trade  he  rested  from  business  activity  for 
aljoul  three  years,  when,  in  1S90.  he  estab- 
lished a  general  mercantile  store,  in  which 
he  carries  a  large  and  well-selected  st<jck  of 
drv  g<KKls.  groceries,  hanlware,  tinware, 
notions  and  other  gotids  usually  found  in  an 
establishment  of  this  character.  He  enjoys 
a  lilwral  patronage,  is  systematic  and 
methtxlical  in  his  business  habits,  and  by  his 
honesty  and  earnest  desire  to  please  he  has 
gained  a  large  trade.  In  connection  with 
Itis  store  he  owns  a  pleasant  residence  at 
the  north  end  ..f  .Main  street. 

Mr.  Longan  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  ami  measures 
of  the  Republican  jjarty,  an<l  for  four  temis 
has  served  as  collector  of  Orvil  township. 
He  belongs  to  the  .\ncient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  his  daughter  is  a  memljer 
of  the  Catholic  churth.  Throughout  his 
business  career  he  has  borne  an  unassailable 
reputation,  "and  ni>  one  is  more  worthy  of 
mention  among  the  representative  citizens  of 
Logan  county  than  James  N.  Long:m. 


D.WID  (ilLCllRlST. 

David  Gilchrist  i-;  living  retired  in  Lin- 
coln, having  through  years  of  active  and 
honorable  labor  ac<|uire<l  the  capital  that 
now  enables  him  to  jtut  aside  business  cares 
and  vet  enjoy  the  onnforts  which  go  to  make 
life  worth  the  living.  His  is  an  honorable 
old  age.  in  which  he  receives  the  veneration 
an<l  resiHX-t  of  young  and  old.  rich  and  |Kior, 
for  his  career  has  been  characterized  by 
fidelity  to  duty  an<l  to  j)rinciple. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  Scotland  has  furnishctl  to  Logan  conn- 


D.   GILCHRIST. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ly.  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Kirkcud- 
brightshire, on  the  2ist  of  December,  1815. 
His  parents,  Wilham  and  Jane  (Clark)  Gil- 
christ, were  also  natives  of  that  land,  and  the 
father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  The  com- 
mon schools  near  his  home  afforded  our  sul>- 
ject  his  educational  privileges,  and  under  the 
parental  roof  he  remained  until  his  majority, 
when  he  startetl  out  upon  his  business  career, 
being  employed  by  a  neighboring  famier 
until  the  spring  of  1842.  Attracted  by  the 
possibilities  of  the  new  world,  he  then 
crossed  the  briny  deep,  and  after  landing  at 
Xew  York  made  his  way  to  Bristol  county, 
Rhode  Island,  where  he  again  secured  em- 
plo\Tnent  on  a  farm,  remaining  in  that  state 
for  three  years. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr. 
Gilchrist  came  to  Illinois,  and  since  1845  h^ 
l)een  a  resident  of  Logan  county.  He  se- 
cured a  claim.of  eighty  acres,  for  which  he 
paid  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  dollars,  and 
in  true  pioneer  style  he  Ijegan  life  in  the 
west.  The  homes  of  the  settlers  were  w  idely 
scattered,  but  hospitality  reigned  supreme, 
and  many  pleasures  were  enjoyed  that  are 
not  known  at  the  present  day.  There  were 
also  many  hardships  to  be  borne  in  develop- 
ing a  new  farm,  but  with  genuine  Scotch 
thrift  and  commendable  enterprise  Mr.  Gil- 
christ continued  his  work,  and  his  lalx)rs  re- 
sulted in  developing  a  splendid  property.  As 
the  years  passed  his  labors  and  energy- 
brought  to  him  a  good  financial  reward, 
and  he  made  judicious  investments  in 
land  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  fif- 
teen hundrefl  acres — the  material  evidence 
<:'f  his  business  activity.  He  made  a  sijecialty 
of  the  raising  of  cattle  and  hogs,  which  he 
fattenetl  for  the  market  and  sold  at  a  gtX)d 
price.  He  also  had  extensive  com  and 
wheat  fields  and  his  production  in  those  lines 
was  large.     His  farming  operations  in  the 


course  of  time  became  verj-  extensive  and 
profitable,  and  with  a  very  handsome  com- 
petence he  retired  to  his  pleasant  home  in 
Lincoln  and  put  aside  the  arduous  duties 
of  tlie  fami. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  has  been  twice  married. 
He  first  wedded  Helen  McMath.  in  June, 
1839.  She  died  in  Orvil  township,  in  No- 
vember, 1858,  leaving  seven  children: 
William,  a  resident  of  Nebraska ;  James,  of 
Orvil  township:  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
Henry  C.  Johnson,  of  Ford  county,  Illi- 
nois; Mary,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Geddis, 
of  Eminence  township;  David  J.,  who  is 
also  living  in  the  same  township:  Robert, 
of  Nebraska:  and  Helen,  the  wife  of  \'.  A. 
Ellis,  of  Nebraska.  Helen  McMillan,  a 
twin  of  Robert,  died  Noveniljer  7.  1852,  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  months,  and  William  died 
in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Gil- 
christ chose  Mrs.  Mary  Marr.  the  widow 
of  Edward  Marr.  He  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  came  to  America  in  i860,  his 
death  occurring  in  1863.  Mrs.  Gilchrist 
was  born  in  Roxburyshire,  Scotland.  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1829,  and  by  her  first  marriage 
she  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: John  E.,  of  Wedington,  Arkansas; 
William  T.,  of  Fayetteville.  Arkansas; 
Mary  Anna;  and  Edward  T..  of  Ljgan 
county;  Timothy  P.  and  Thomas  Wallace, 
both  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gilchrist  have  had  four  children — 
Liffey  .\delia,  who  died  February  19.  1886, 
at  the  age  of  twenty  years  and  six  months ; 
and  Joseph  Abraham  Lincoln  Gilchrist,  of 
Lincoln ;  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

While  residing  in  Orvil  township  Mr. 
Gilchrist  served  for  several  terms  as  trus- 
tee and  was  also  a  member  of  the  school 
boaTtU  In  January,  1881.  he  rented  His 
farm  and  removed  to  Lincoln,  where  he 
now  has   a  very   pleasant   home.     He   has 


318 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  the  architect  of  his  o^vn  f(irtiines  ami 
has  huikled  wisely  and  well.  for.  thongh  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  empty-handed, 
he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  and 
his  resolute  spirit  and  laudable  ambition, 
resting  upon  untiring  effort,  have  brought 
to  hSm  most  gratiifying  and  well-merited 
prosperity.  He  had  but  one  hundred  and 
ten  dollars  when  he  arrived  in  Illinois, 
which  condition  is  in  marked  contrast  to 
his  present  financial  standing.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  ever  been  loyal 
to  the  best  interests  of  his  adopted  land. 
In  1882  he  went  to  Scotland,  visiting  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood,  which  he  had  not 
seen  for  forty  years.  Although  he  saw- 
many  familiar  landmarks,  there  were  also 
many  changes  \\l('ch  time  and  man  had 
wrought.  At  the  age  of  eighty-six.  he  is 
now  living  quietly  in  Lincoln,  hut  is  still 
hale  and  hearty,  retaining  his  faculties  un- 
impaired. He  was  reared  in  the  estab- 
lished church  of  Scotland,  but  after  coming 
to  Illinois  became  a  meml)cr  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  ruling  elder  for  a  number  (.)f 
years. 


JOHN  R.  GRINTER. 

Tohn  R.  Grinter.  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  actively  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  this  county,  and  was  a  man  of 
prominence  in  his  community.  .V  native  of 
Kentucky,  he  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
that  state,  August  17,  1823,  and  was  a  son 
of  Francis  and  Susan  (Reed)  Grinter,  who 
were  of  old  Virginian  stock  and  were  the 
parents  of  four  children. 

Our  subject  received  a  good,  practical 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 


tive state,  and  early  accjuired  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits,  which 
he  made  his  life  work.  Coming  to  Illinois, 
in  1 85 1,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Mt.  Hope, 
where  he  followed  his  chosen  occupation 
until  1863,  when  he  came  to  Atlanta,  mak- 
ing this  place  his  home  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  bought  a  farm  in 
Oran  township,  this  C(ninty,  and  to  its  cul- 
tivation devoted  his  energies  until  ca.lled 
to  his  final  rest  February  5,  1897. 

At  Jonesboro,  Tennessee,  October  19, 
1849,  Ml"-  Grinter  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  Young,  who  was  Ixirn  in 
that  state,  on  the  22d  (if  June,  1830.  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Young,  also  a  native 
of  Tennessee.  By  this  union  the  following 
children  were  born :  Francis  H..  a  resident 
of  St.  Louis;  Mary  F..  now  ]Mrs.  George 
Teal;  Mrs.  Imogene  Clark,  who  is  living 
with  her  mother;  John  S. ;  and  three  de- 
ceased. 

Mr,  (irinter  deserved  great  credit  for 
the  success  he  achieved  in  life,  as  at  an  early 
age  he  was  compelled  to  seek  his  own  live- 
lihood and  aid  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
Being  a  great  reader  and  a  lover  of  books  of 
A-aluable  information,  he  acquired  an  excel- 
lent knowledge  of  men  and  .affairs,  and  may 
be  termed  a  self-educated  as  well  as  self- 
made  man.  He  always  made  the  most  of 
his  opportunities  throughout  life  and  became 
quite  well-to-do.  Near  the  close  of  the 
:\lexican  war  he  enlisted  as  second  lieuten- 
ant in  the  Russellville  (Kentucky)  Light 
Guards,  but  was  never  called  Mnto  active 
ser\-ice  owing  to  the  cessation  of.  hostilities 
soon  afterward.  He  was  a  great  temper- 
ance worker  and  a  strong  Prohibitionist. 
Religiouslv  he  was  a  devout  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and  was 
one  of  the  chief  instigators  in  the  building 


THE  BIOGRAriilCAL  RECORD. 


319 


of  the  Lincoln  University.  He  was  a  kind 
and  devoted  luisl)an(l  and  fatlier  and  was 
well  liked  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  seemed 
to  appreciate  his  sterlinj^-  worth  and  many 
e.xcellences  of  character.  His  estiniahle 
wife  still  attends  to  his  farming  interests  in 
Oran  township,  but  lives  in  Atlanta,  where 
she  owns  a  nice  residence.  Here  she  is 
spending  her  declining  years,  surrounded  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acfjuaintances, 
who  hnld  jier  in  liieh  regard. 


DAXIEL  L.  BRAUCHER. 

For  almost  sixty  years  this  gentleman 
has  been  identified  with  the  interests  of  Lo- 
gan county,  and  is  now  efficiently  serving 
as  county  sur\eyor.  his  home  being  in  Lin- 
coln. He  was  born  in  Pickaway  county. 
Ohio.  March  i,  1833,  and  i'^  a  son  of  Isaac 
R.  and  Rachel  (Ludwig)  Braucher,  both  of 
whom  were  of  German  descent.  Our  sulj- 
ject's  paternal  grandfather,  Conrad  Brauch- 
er, was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  on  his 
emigration  to  America  settled  in  Penn.syl- 
vania.  The  father  was  born  in  that  state. 
Octoljer  8.  1800.  and  in  early  life  removed 
to  Pickaway  county.  ( )hi(>,  where  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Rachel  Ludwig. 
who  was  born  in  18 10.  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Daniel  Ludwig.  In  1835  they  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  on  the  Sangamrm  ri\er 
near  Springfield,  where  Mr.  Braucher  yjur- 
chased  a  steam  sawmill,  which  he  operated 
for  some  time,  being  a  miller  by  trade.  In 
1842  he  came  to  Logan  county  and  settled 
on  Salt  creek,  in  Aetna  township,  having 
previously  i)urchased  a  mill  site  there.  He. 
built  a  sawmill  and  m  1848  completed  the 
erection  of  a  gristmill,  which  he  successfully 
carried  on    for   some  time,   but   linallv   sold 


this  ]iroperty  and  bought  a  farm,  making  it 
his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  _'-.  1870.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject died  Ma\-  0.  1848. 

Daniel  L.  r.r:uicher,  of  this  re\'iew.  was 
educated  in  the  Liberal  Institute,  now  Lom- 
bard L'ni\crsiiy.  where  he  pursued  a  scien- 
tilic  course,  t^n  leaving  school  he  returned 
home  and  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to 
farming.  On  the  15th  of  June,  1856,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Henrietta 

C.  Hill,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Salome 
(  I'owler )  Hill.  I'.y  this  union  were  born 
nine  children:  William  B..  of  Dativille. 
Illinois:  Alma  K..  who  was  graduated  in 
medicine  and  engaged  in  practice  in  Lincoln 
for  some  time,  but  gave  up  her  office  to 
assist  in  the  care  of  her  brother's  mother- 
less child:  .\rthur  C. :  Edward  R. ;  Daniel 
L..  now  deceased:  Ernest  X..  of  Chica- 
go: Herbert  H.,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the 
Lincoln  high  .school:  Rali)h  Waldo  is  now 
an  inspector  in  the  horticultural  department 
of  Ohio:  and  Stella  May.  deceased. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Braucher  locat- 
ed on  section  29,  Aetna  township,  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  which  he  placed  ini- 
der  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved 
bv  tiling  and  erecting  good  buildings  there- 
on. Laying  aside  all  personal  interests.  Mr. 
Braucher  entered  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war.  enlisting  in  1862  in  Company 

D.  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  under  Colonel  R.  B.  Latham. 
His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  and  did  provost  duty  for  a 
time  at  Jackson,  Tennessee.  Mr.  Braucher 
took  jjart  in  several  engagements  and  skir- 
mishes, and  was  also  in  the  siege  of  X'icks- 
burg  until  the  surrender  of  that  stronghold 
on  Sunday.  July  4.  1863.  .\fter  the  fall 
of  N'icksburg  be  went  with  Ins  command  to 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Helena,  Arkansas,  and  fnim  there  to  Little 
Rock  and  Pine  Bluff.  When  hostilities 
ceased  he  was  honorahl}-  discharged  June 
12,  1S65,  and  returned  to  Lincoln,  his  wife 
having  hicated  here  while  he  was  at  the 
front. 

In  the  fall  of  1S65  ^Ir.  Braucher  was 
elected  county  surveyor  on  the  Reimlilican 
ticket,  and  served  in  that  capacity  f^ur 
years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents, hut  declincl  itulher  honors  along 
that  line.  He  then  lunied  Ins  attention  to 
the  manufacture  of  a  mill  machine,  known 
as  the  Little  Giant  Comhined  Feeder,  Snnit- 
ter  and  Separator,  and  continued  in  that 
business  until  1885,  wlien  the  roller  system 
was  introduced,  and  he  discontinued  the 
manufacture  of  his  machine.  He  had  done 
an  extensive  business  for  some  fifteen  years. 
He  then  engaged  in  civil  engineering  and. 
surveying  until  the  fall  of  1900.  when  he  was 
elected  county  surveyor  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  In  187S  he  was  elected  mayor  of 
Lincoln  on  the  Greenback  ticket,  and  credit- 
ably filled  that  ofiice  one  term.  In  politics 
he  is  independent  and  in  his  present  cajiacity 
as  county  surveyor  has  served  the  ])eoplc 
longer  than  any  other  living  citizen  in  this 
county.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  ?\lt. 
Pulaski  Lodge,  No.  87,  A.  F.  &  A.  ^I.,  fnmi 
Avhich  he  dimitted  soon  after  the  war.  He 
is  one  of  Logan  county's  honored  pioneers 
and  representative  citizens,  and  this  volume 
would  1)6  incomplete  \\-ithout  the  record  of 
his  life. 


FREDERICK  DITTUS. 

Frederick  Dittus,  a  retired  farmer  re- 
siding in  Mount  Pulaski,  is  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Logan  county, 
as  he  came  to  this  section  of  the  state  among 


those  who  laid  the  foundation  for  its  pros- 
perity and  progress  by  l)raving  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life  and  thus  ojjening  the 
way  to  civilization.  Throughout  the  long 
vears  of  his  residence  here  his  career  has 
been  an  ujjright.  honorable  one.  gaining  for 
him  the  uncpialified  c<nirKlence  and  regard 
of  his   fellow  men. 

Air.  Dittus  was  born  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  January  j8,  1831,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  .V.  (  Rents jnler)  Dittus. 
The  former,  a  farmer  l)y  occupation,  died  in 
his  native  land,  and  the  mother  afterwards 
became  the  wife  of  Erhardt  Stoll,  who  in 
1847  brought  his  wife  and  her  children  to 
the  new  world,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  a 
sailing  vessel,  which  completed  the  \o)-age 
in  forty-seven  days.  Arriving  in  New  York, 
they  proceeded  directly  by  steamboat,  canal 
and  wagon  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1848  removed  to  Logan 
ty,  locating"  in  Laenna  towns'np,  whei 
Stoll  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
added  to  this  place  nnt 


Ired  acres  at  the  tune  < 
'.ccurred  in  i860.  Hi^s 
ntinued  to  make  h 


an 


(_)im- 
Mr. 
He 
he  had  two  hun- 
f  his  death,  wlii^h 
wife  survived  him 
jr  home  on  the  old 


farm  until  called  to  her  final  rest. 

F'rederick  Dittus  is  the  oldest  living 
child  of  his  mother's  first  marriage.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  of  Germany 
between  the  ages  of  six  and  fourteen  years, 
and  with  the  family  he  crossed  the  Atlantic 
in  1847.  arriving  in  Logan  cmmty  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Here  he  assisted  in  the  culti- 
\ation  and  improvement  of  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age,  when 
he  made  preparations  for  a  lionie  of  his  own 
by  his  marriage  lo  Mi-.s  Sar.ali  1  lagcn1)ucli, 
a  native  of  Pennsyhania  and  a  tlaughter 
of  Amos  and  Sarah  Hagenbuch,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Logan  county,  coming  to 
this  state  from  Pennsylvania  in  1859. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3^1 


After  Iiis  marriage  Mr.  Dittus  piir- 
chasetl  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Chester  town- 
ship and  locating  thereon  Ijegan  its  improve- 
ment with  characteristic  energy-.  In  course 
of  time  the  entire  amount  was  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  as  the  years  passed 
and  his  financial  resources  increased  he 
made  other  purchases  until  within  the  houn- 
daries  of  his  farm  is  comprised  four  hun- 
tlretl  and  fifty  acres  of  valuable  land.  He 
successfully  engaged  in  the  raising  of  grain, 
hogs  and  cattle  and  in  his  farm  work  pros- 
peretl  from  year  to  year,  thus  annually 
augmenting  his  income.  At  length,  hi  1891. 
he  put  aside  the  more  arduous  duties  of  the 
farm,  to  which  he  had  given  his  earnest  and 
unremitting  attention  for  so  many  years, 
and  removed  to  Mount  Pulaski,  where  he  is 
now  practically  living  a  retired  life,  merely 
superintending  his  investments. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dittus 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children :  George 
F.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming;  William, 
who  folk)WS  the  same  pursuit ;  Charles  E., 
who  is  operating  the  old  homestead:  Anna, 
the  wife  of  ftr|d  ^leyer.  of  Baker  &  Son 
departmenf  store,  of  East  St.  Louis.  Illinois  : 
and  Edwatd.  a  well-known  lumber  merchant 
of  Mount  Pulaski.  The  family  is  one  of 
prominence  in  the  community,  the  sterling 
worth  of  its  members  being  widely  acknowl- 
edged. \\'hile  actively  carrying  on  his  busi- 
ness interests  Mr.  Dittus  has  found  time  to 
faithfully  perform  his  duties  of  citizenship 
and  has  rendered  efficient  service  to  his  fel- 
low men  in  public  office.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  and 
was  clerk  of  the  board  in  Chester  township. 
He  was  also  supervisor  of  Chester  town- 
sliip  for  eight  years  and  retired  from 
office  as  he  entered  it — with  the  con- 
fidence and  good  will  of  his  constit- 
uents.      He     is    now    a    Gold    Democrat 


and  has  long  advocated  the  principles  of 
Democracy.  Throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  has  served  on  the  Ixjard 
for  more  than  thirty  years  and  has  been 
church  treasurer  for  the  past  eight  years. 
His  home  is  a  fine  substantial  residence  in 
Mount  Pulaski,  a  monument  to  his  thrift 
and  enterprise  in  former  years.  His  life 
record  proves  most  conclusively  that  suc- 
cess is  not  a  matter  of  genius,  but  the  out- 
come of  earnest  effort,  carefully  directed  by 
sound  judgment  and  his  example  should 
serve  to  stimulate  and  encourage  others  to 
press  forward  along  the  highway  to  pros- 
perity. 


DOUGLAS   C.   SIMPSON. 

One  of  the  most  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Lincoln  is  Douglas 
C.  Simpson,  who  is  now  so  ably  rep- 
resenting the  fifth  ward  in  the  city 
council.  He  was  born  in  ^^■arren  coun- 
ty. Ohio.  August  20,  i860,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jeremiah  Simpson,  of  whom  ex- 
tended mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
John  .\.  Simpson,  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  Our  subject  was  only  four  years 
okl  when  the  family  came  to  Lincoln,  and 
in  its  public  schools  he  received  his  literar\^ 
education,  while  his  business,  education  has 
Ijeen  self-acquired.  After  leaving  school  he 
entered  the  office  of  the  Sentinel  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade,  and  worked  two  years  on 
that  paper  and  two  years  on  the  Weekly 
Herald.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  was  at 
length  obliged  to  give  up  that  business,  and 
then  turned  his  attention  to  learning  the 
trade  of  carriage  painting,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  two  years.  He  next  worked  for 
his   father  as  a  carpenter,  ?nd  it  was  not 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


long-  before  lie  had  thoroughly  mastered 
tliat  vocatidii,  beci:)ming  a  very  competent 
workman.  He  has  had  the  superintendency 
of  all  of  the  best  work  done  by  his  lirother, 
John  A.  Simpson,  who  is  one  of  the  leading 
contractors  and  builders  of  Lincoln.  Our 
subject  has  assisted  in  the  erection  of  many 
of  the  largest  buildings  of  the  city,  and  has 
had  charge  of  resetting  the  new  plate-glass 
fronts  in  the  stores  his  father  built. 

yiv.  Simpson  was  married  in  Lincoln, 
December  _^8,  1882,  to  :\liss  Hannah  Belle 
Kern,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  June  18,  i860, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Champaign.  Her  parents  were  Wesley  and 
Nancy  (Shull)  Kern,  natives  of  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  In  1872 
Mr.  Kern  brought  his  family  tn  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
hfe.  By  trade  he  was  also  a  carpenter,  and 
was  killed  while  at  work  on  a  building  in 
1892,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His 
wife  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  sixty.  They 
had  nine  children,  of  whom  two  sons  and 
two  daughters  are  now  deceased.  Those 
living  are  Mrs.  W.  X.  Sherman,  Airs.  AI. 
E.  Lasher,  Alonzo  H.  and  Airs.  Sadie 
Strickler,  all  residents  of  Chicago ;  and  Airs. 
D.  C.  Simpson,  wife  of  our  subject.  Air. 
and  Airs.  Simpson  have  •  seven  children : 
Harry  C,  John  A.,  Jesse  W.,  Nellie  D., 
Alay  L.,  Earl  R.  and  Anna  Alargaret. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Air.  Simpson 
purchased  a  nice  home  on  North  Hamilton 
street.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republi- 
can, and  has  taken  a  very  active  part  in 
party  work,  Ialx)ring  untiringly  to  promote 
its  interests.  In  the  spring  of  igoi  he  was 
elected  alderman  of  the  fifth  ward,  and  is 
now  filling  that  ofiice  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents.  He  is  a  member  of  several 
important  committees,   such  as  streets   and 


alleys,  lights,  printing,  fire  and  water,  public 
grounds  and  buildings,  sanitary,  sewer  and 
drainage,  and  miscellaneous.  He  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  promoting  all  move- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  the  city  and  has 
done  his  part  in  pushing  them  to  completion. 
Air.  Simpson  was  one  of  a  committee  who 
were  instrumental  in  getting  the  two  per 
cent,  tax  from  the  state  for  the  benefit  and 
support  of  public  libraries.  He  is  decidedly 
in  favor  of  municipal  ownership  and  agi- 
tates such  cjuestions  very  strongly.  Frater- 
nall}-  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans, his  father  having  served  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  local 
fire  department  and  the  Illinois  State  Fire- 
man's Association.  This  department  has 
alwa_\-s  been  of  great  interest  to  him.  and  he 
does  all  within  his  i>ower  for  its  benefit. 


PETER  SANDEL. 


This  well-known  and  successful  farmer 
and  stock  dealer,  residing  oil  section  20. 
Chester  township,  is  a  native  of  Baden,  Ger- 
many, born  near  Heidelberg,  on  the  29th 
of  January.  1861.  His  parents,  Alichael  and 
Alary  (Bock)  Sandel,  were  born  in  the  same 
place,  the  former  in  1828,  and  the  latter  in 
1833.  After  acquiring  a  good  common 
school  education  the  father  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Iiis  native  land  until  1880.  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  bringing  with 
him  his  family.  On  landing  in  this  country 
he  proceeded  at  once  to  Illinois,  his  destina- 
tion being  Logan  county,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  Here  he  continued  to  fol- 
low farming  until  1893,  when  he  removed 
to  Lincoln,  and  having  laid  aside  all  business 
cares  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  though  he 
still  enjovs  good  heaUh.     He  is  a  member 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


323 


of  tlie  I'"vanj^elical  churdi  of  Lincoln,  and 
takes  an  active  part  in  its  win^k.  In  his 
family  were  eleven  children,  of  wlmni  fwL- 
died  in  Germany  in  early  childhood,  and  one 
died  in  America,  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years.  Those  still  living  are  Henry,  a 
baker  of  Brooklyn,  Xew  York;  Peter,  the 
subject  oi  this  sketch;  Margaret,  wife  of 
Fred  Julcli,  a  farmer  of  Oklahoma;  Philip, 
also  a  farmer  of  Oklahoma ;  and  George,  a 
resident  of  Chester  township,  this  county. 
They  were  all  educated  either  in  the  public 
schools  of  Germany  or  this  country,  and  re- 
mained with  th.eir  parents,  working  on  the 
home  farm  until  they  established  homes  of 
their  own. 

Peter  .Sandel  attendetl  school  in  the  fa- 
therland until  fourteen  years  of  age,  but  his 
English  education  has  been  self-acquired 
since  the  emigration  of  the  family  to  Amer- 
ica. He  remained  under  the  jjarental  roof 
until  twent\-fi\e  years  of  age,  and  was  then 
married,  September  6,  1886,  to  Miss  ]\Iar\- 
Leinweber,  who  was  born  in  German}-, 
April  28,  1868,  and  was  only  a  year  old 
when  brought  by  her  parents  to  the  new 
world,  the  family  locating  in  Mason  county, 
Illinois,  where  she  was  reared,  educated  and 
married.  Her  father  is  now  deceased,  but 
her  mother  is  still  Ii\-ing  in  Mason  county, 
which  is  also  the  home  of  nine  of  her  twelve 
children.  Two  of  the  family  reside  in  Ne- 
braska, while  Mrs.  Sandel  is  the  only  one 
of  the  number  living  in  Logan  county. 
There  were  six  children  liorn  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife,  but  two  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  are  Anna,  Emil,  Hattie  and  Luella, 
all  at  home  attending  the  district  school  of 
the  neighborhood. 

After  his  marriage  'Mr.  Sandel  settled 
on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Sheridan 
township,  near  Xew  Holland,  and  in  1894 
came  to   Chester   township,   where  he   has 


since  successfully  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing on  a  tract  nf  fnur  hundred  and  se\enty 
acres  owned  by  1-".  C'.  W.  Kdchnlc.  lie  is 
also  engaged  in  buxing  and  selling  cattle 
and  in  grain  dealing.  He  has  made  all 
needed  improxements  upon  his  place,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  systematic  and 
thorough  farmers  of  his  communit}'. 

Fraternal)}-  both  Air.  and  Mrs.  Sandel 
are  members  of  the  Modern  Federal  .Vmer- 
ica  Lodge,  of  Lincoln,  and  he  carries  an  en- 
dowment insurance  of  four  thousand  dollars. 
Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church.  Formerly  he  affiliated  with 
the  Democratic  party,  but  now  votes  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  he  served  as  road 
commissioner  in  Sheridan  township.  He 
has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office,  but 
gives  his  personal  attention  to  his  farming 
interests  and  has  thereby  met  with  success. 
He  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  town- 
ship, and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 


JAAIES   BURNS. 


James  Burns,  who  is  the  operator  of  one 
of  the  largest  farms  in  Broadwell  township, 
and  a  useful  citizen  of  Logan  count}',  was 
Ijorn  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland.  Jinie  13. 
1864.  and  is  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Alargaret 
(  Day)  Burns.  Patrick  Burns  was  a  native 
and  resident  of  Ireland  for  a  number  of 
years,  coming  to  the  United  States  with  his 
family  in  September,  1864.  \Yben  James  was 
an  infant.  .\t  that  time  he  po.ssessed  but 
limited  means,  but  b}-  his  industry  and  econ- 
omy he  became  the  owner  of  a  gtxxl  farm  in 
Elkhart  township,  which  he  rented,  makiu"' 
his  home  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
James  Burns,  w-here  he  died  July  10.  1891, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.     His  death 


324 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  unexpected,  as  he  had  always  been  in 
vigorous  health.  His  widow  resides  with 
our  subject.  Although  a  good  citizen  he 
never  identified  himself  with  either  political 
]5arty.  A-oting  for  the  man  rather  than  the 
party.  Se\eral  local  offices  were  offered 
him,  but  he  declined  to  serve  in  any  official 
capacit}-.  preferring"  to  give  all  of  his  atten- 
tion to  his  farming  interests.  The  five  chil- 
dren born  to  him  and  wife  were  as  follows : 
Catherine,  the  wife  of  William  L.  Hickey, 
now  living  in  Chester  township:  John,  liv- 
ing on  a  farm  in  Corwin  township;  James, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Thomas,  a  farmer 
living  in  Broadwell :  and  Alary,  wife  of 
Thomas  F.  Mowen,  of  Clinton,  Illinois. 

While  but  an  infant  James  Burns,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Logan  county 
with  his  parents,  and  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  farm,  attending  the  public  schools  of  his 
district.  Later  he  took  an  elective  course  at 
Notre  Dame.  Indiana,  remaining  there  one 
year,  and  then  returned  home  to  assist  his 
father. 

On  Xoxember  5.  1S95.  our  subject  was 
married  to  Aliss  Julia  Tuohy,  who  was  born 
in  County  A\"exford,  Ireland,  in  1870.  She 
was  liberally  educated  in  her  native  country 
and  there  became  a  teacher.  In  1891  she 
came  to  Lincoln,  Illinois,  to  visit  her  uncle, 
the  late  esteemed  Father  Tuohy,  who  for 
twenty-three  years  had  officiaiecl  as  a  priest 
of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church,  in  this  city. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  'Mr.  and 
]\Irs.  Burns,  namely :  James  P.,  Ji.ihn  F., 
and  Julia. 

After  marriage  ]\Ir.  and  Airs.  Burns  set- 
tled upon  the  farm  they  now  occup}-.  This 
consists  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  with 
the  residence,  located  on  section  27,  Broad- 
well  township.  Air.  Burns  has  carried  on 
extensive  operations  here,  both  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  l^u^•ing  and  feed- 


ing a  large  number  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He 
has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  partly  under  culti\ati(_in,  in  western 
Nebraska,  and  he  also  owns  considerable 
property  in  Broadwell.  As  an  intelligent 
and  acti\"e  member  of  the  Democratic  party 
he  has  efficiently  filled  many  of  the  town- 
ship offices,  serving  for  four  terms  as  col- 
lector, and  in  1898  he  was  elected  supervisor, 
being  re-elected  in  1900  for  the  ensuing  two 
years.  He  is  chairman  of  the  road  and 
bridge  committees,  and  is  also  a  memljer  of 
the  committee  on  claims  and  on  fees  and 
salary.  His  administration  v\-hile  in  office 
has  given  entire  satisfaction  lO  his  constit- 
uents, and  he  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
officials  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Burns  is  also  prominent  in  the  tra- 
ternal  orders,  being  a  member  of  the  Court 
of  Honor,  of  Broadwell;  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters,  Lincoln  Couri,  No.  192,  in 
which  he  was  formerly  an  officer :  and  the 
Ancient  Order  Hibernians,  Division,  No. 
I,  in  Lincoln.  Air.  Burns  is  very  well 
known  tiirough  the  county  and  is  univer- 
sally respected.  Both  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
churcli.  ijf  which  they  are  liberal  supporters. 


HON.  LAWRENCE  B.  STRINGER. 

One  of  Logan  county's  most  promising- 
attorneys  and  influential  citizens  is  Lawrence 
B.  Stringer,  the  junior  member  of  the  law 
firm  of  Baldwin  &  Stringer,  of  Lincoln,  and 
the  Democratic  state  senator  from  the  Twen- 
ty-eighth district.  He  was  born  February 
24,  1866,  and  up  to  ten  years  of  age  resided 
in  various  localities  in  the  state  of  New  Jer- 
sey, his  father  being  a  Alethodist  clerg\'man 
and  moving  from  place  to  place  in  the  man- 
ner characteristic  of  the  ministrv  of  that  de- 


L.   B.   STRINGER, 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOIS 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL   RFX:ORD. 


327 


nomination.  In  1876  he  went  with  liis  par- 
ents to  Eeluit,  Wisconsin,  residing  there 
three  years,  and  tlien  going  to  La  Salle  conn- 
ty,  Illinois.  His  primary  education,  ac- 
quired in  the  puhlic  schools,  wa.s  supplement* 
ed  by  a  course  at  Gitting's  Seminary,  a  liter- 
ary institution  located  at  LaHarpe,  Illinois, 
which  he  attended  from  1879  until  1882, 
graduating  in  the  latter  _\ear.  During  vaca- 
tions he  was  employed  in  the  newspaper 
offices  ofjthe  village,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  practical  printer.  In  1884  he 
came  to  Lincoln  and  entered  Linci  >ln  L'niver- 
sity,  now  the  Lincoln  College  of  the  James 
oMilliken  L'niversity.  and  was  graduated  at 
that  institution  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in 
1887.  While  in  college  he  particularly  inter- 
ested himself  in  oratorical  work,  winning  the 
college  oratorical  contest  over  fi\-e  competi- 
tors in  1885,  and  again  in  1886,  and  repre- 
senting Lincoln  University  at  the  Tnfer-Col- 
legiate  State  contest  in  1886.  After  gradua- 
tic^i  he  was  connected  with  the  Lincoln 
Times  in  a  journalistic  capacity  for  several 
years.  In  1S94  he  entered  the  Chicago  Col- 
lege of  Law.  which  is  the  law  department 
of  Lake  Forest  University,  and  on  complet- 
ing the  prescribed  course  was  graduated  in 
1896  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June  of  that 
same  year.  The  following  year  he  took  a 
post-graduate  course  in  the  same  institution, 
and  was  granted  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  Pie 
I^egan  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Lin- 
coln in  August,  1898,  and  in  its  prosecution 
has  met  with  excellent  success. 

On  the  i8th  of  December,  1890,  Mr. 
Stringer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hefen  Pegram,  daugliter  of  William  A.  I'e- 
gram,  of  Lincoln.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Im- 
pro\ed  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  was  for  three 
years  grand  trustee  of  the  grand  lodge  of 
Illinois.  Knights  of  Pvthias. 


At  an  early  age  Mr.  Stringer  became  in- 
terested in  politics,  making  his-  first  cam- 
paign speeches  in  1884,  when  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  he  has  stumped  the  state  under 
the  direction  of  the  Democratic  state  com- 
mittee in  every  campaign  since.  He  was 
nominated  for  state  representative  at  Deca- 
tur in  1890  for  the  old  Macon-Logan 
county  district,  and  although  the  district 
lia.d  before  been  considered  a  Reimbli- 
can  district,  he  was  elected  by  a  plur- 
ality of  twenty-three  hundred  and  ten. 
He  was  the  youngest  member  of  the 
thirty-seventh  general  assembly,  and  re- 
ceived a  chairmanship  of  a  committee 
— an  licjnor  rarely  ever  accorded  a  first 
termer.  He  was  chosen  by  caucus  to  second 
the  nomination  of  General  John  M.  Palmer 
for  United  States  senator  in  the  joint  assem- 
bly, and  was  one  of  the  famous  "loi"'  who 
voted  eight  weeks  to  elect  General  Palmer  to 
that  position.  As  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  labor  in  that  body  he  took  especial  interest 
in  measures  introduced  on  behalf  of  organ- 
ized labor.  More  measures  were  passed  at 
this  session  of  the  legislature  in  the 
interests  of  the  coal  miners  of  the  state 
than  at  any  previous  session,  and  for  th.is 
result  the  miners'  organizations  were  not 
tardy  in  officially  giving  a  large  measure 
of  the  credit  therefor  to  Mr.  Stringer.  In 
the  Chicago  mayoralty  contest  of  1891.  up«m 
the  invitation  of  the  city  Democratic  com- 
mittee, he  made  a  speaking  campaign  of 
two  weeks  in  that  city,  and  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  accom])anied  General 
Palmer  on  a  campaigning  tour  through  the 
state  of  Iowa.  He  was  renominated  for  rep- 
resentative by  acclamation  in  1S92,  was  re- ' 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority  in  the  same 
district,  and  became  a  member  of  the  thirtv- 
eighth  general  assembly.  In  this  body  he 
was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  on  edu- 


328 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cation,  and  was  the  author  of  the  bill  which 
took  the  place  of  the  well-known  Edwards 
<:om])ulsory-educatiun  law.  He  also  assisted 
in  the  preparation  of  the  Australian  ballot 
law  which  was  passed  at  this  session.  In 
January,  1894,  he  received  an  appointment 
under  the  Cleveland  administration  in  the 
United  States  pension  servTce,  with  head- 
quarters at  Chicago.  In  June,  1900,  at  Ha- 
\-ana,  Illinois,  he  was  nominated  without  op- 
position for  state  senator  by  the  delegates 
from  the  four  counties  then  comprising-  the 
thirtv-secoud  district,  namely,  Logan,  Ma- 
son, Menard  and  Cass  counties.  During  the 
campaign  he  did  not  confine  his  attention  to 
his  immediate  district,  but  campaigned  the 
state  under  the  direction  of  the  state  com- 
mittee, accompanying  William  J.  Bryan  upon 
his  special  Illinois  tour.  Mr.  Stringer  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  by  a  ])lurality  of 
twenty-two  hundred  and  twenty-two,  being 
o\-er  two  hundred  Aotes  greater  than  Mr. 
Bryan's  plurality  in  the  district.  He  was 
selected  by  the  joint  Democratic  caucus  in 
the  forty-second  g-eneral  assembly  to  formal- 
ly present  the  njune  of  Hon.  Samuel  Alschul- 
er  as  the  Democratic  candidate  for  United 
States  senator,  the  speech  so  nominating- 
Mr.  .Vlschuler  being  delivered  in  the  state 
senate  January  22,  1901,  and  a  full  text  of 
which  was  printed  in  the  Chicago  and  St. 
Louis  papers  and  circulated  by  the  state  com- 
mittee as  a  campaign  document.  Mr.  Stringer 
^\•as  a  mei-nber  of  all  the  leading  comn-iittees 
of  the  forty-second  general  assembly,  includ- 
ing the  special  committee  on  the  revision  ot 
the  practice  laws  of  the  state,  took  an  active 
part  in  legislation,  and  was  the  author  ot  sev- 
eral important  measures  which  found  their 
way  to  the  statute  books  of  the  state.  After 
the  session  he  was  appointed  by  the  Demo- 
cratic committee  as  chainnan  of  the  sub-com- 


mittee to  inquire  into  and  pass  upon  the  con- 
stitutionality of  the  new  apportionment  act, 
with  a  view  to  attacking  it  m  the  courts. 


HURLEY  McCARREL. 

Hurley  McCarrcl,  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  leading-  and  representati\e  farmers  of 
Logan  county.  He  was  born  on  the  28th 
of  July.  1826,  in  Allegany  county,  New 
^'ork,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Miranda 
(Boardwell)  McCarrel,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ireland,  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
father  died  when  our  subject  was  onlv  six- 
years  old,  but  the  mother  long  survived  him, 
dying-  in  Texas  in  1888. 

Mr.  McCarrel  was  educated  in  the  put)- 
lie  schools  of  his  nati\e  state  and  when  a 
mere  lad  worked  in  .'i  dairy  to  assist  in  the 
support  of  his  widowed  mother.  In  1844  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  after  spending  a  short 
time  in  Bond  county  took  up  his  residence 
in  Logan  county,  where  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  throughout  life.  He  aided 
in  the  earl)-  de\'eloi)ment  and  upbuilding  of 
the  count)',  and  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  until  two  years  ])rior  to  his  death, 
when  he  lived  retired  from  active  labor,  en- 
joying a  well-earned  rest. 

In  1847  Mr.  McCarrel  married  Miss 
Xancy  Dyer,  who  was  born  i.x  Illinois,  Sep- 
teml>er  29,  1826,  and  died  January  18,  1893. 
Her  parents  were  William  and  Margaret 
I  Slatten )  Dyer,  the  former  of  Irish  and  the 
latter  of  German  descent.  Her  father  came 
to  this  state  from  Kentucky,  and  her  mother 
from  Tennessee.  Of  the  ten  children  who 
were  1x)rn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCarrel,  one, 
John  \\'.,  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are 
Minerva;     George;     Mary     Margaret,     de- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


329 


ceased  :  Elizabeth  ;  Daniel :  Hanan  C. :  Sarah 
A. :  Ilonrv  i.  and  Ida  May.  Tlic  dau-hters, 
.Misses  Sarali  A.  and  Ida  May.  reside  in 
a  cozy  Httle  lunne  in  Atlanta,  where  they 
are  snrrnnnded  hy  a  lar^e  circle  nf  friends 
and  acquaintances.  They  tenderly  cherish 
tlie  memory  of  their  beloved  parents  and 
take  great  pride  in  preservmg  all  matters 
pertaining  to  them. 

The  family  hold  membership  in  the 
Christian  church  and  Mr.  McCarrel  always 
took  an  acli\e  interest  in  its  work.  He  was 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  most  upright  and 
con.scientious  men  of  his  communit\-  and 
at  iiis  death  his  many  friends  realized  that 
the  county  had  lost  a  valued  citizen.  Bv 
his  ballot  he  supported  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Republican  party,  but  he  ne\-er 
cared  for  political  honors.  He  served  many 
years  as  school  director  in  his  district,  zuc\ 
always  gave  hjs  support  to  ail  enterprises 
calculated  to  advance  the  educational,  moral 
or  social  interests  of  his  C(.immunit\-. 


JEREMIAH  PARKER. 

Jeremiah  Parker,  familiarl}-  known  as 
Jerry  by  his  many  friends  throughout  Lo- 
gan county,  is  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Parker  &  Rudolph,  painters  and 
decorators  of  Lincoln.  He  was  born  in 
Warren  connty,  Ohio,  on  the  J4th  of  .March, 
1855,  and  was  only  two  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Lincoln  with  his  parents,  Samuel 
and  Elizabeth  (McMullen)  Parker,  who 
were  natives  of  Tennessee  and  Maryland, 
respectively.  During  his  active  business  ca- 
reer the  father  followed  blacksmithing.  but 
spent  his  last  \-ears  in  retirement  fnmi  labor. 
He  made  his  home  with  our  subject  after 
the  latter's  marriage,  and  died  in   Lincoln 


in  1895,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly 
eighty-eight  years.  lie  long  survived  his 
wife,  who  died  in  185S.  She  was  twice 
married,  her  first  husband  being  a  Mr.  Car- 
lock,  by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  now 
living.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  G.  Stark- 
ey,  of  Lincoln,  who  is  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers of  the  city.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  while  Samuel  died  at  Helena,  y\r- 
kansas,  during  his  service  in  the  L^nion  ar- 
my;  and  Thomas  B.,  who  was  also  a  soldier 
of  the  Civil  war,  died  in  Lincoln,  Illinois. 
Those  of  the  family  still  living  are  George 
\\'..  who  served  his  country  as  a  member  of 
Company  B,  Second  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  Lincoln:  Mary,  wife  of 
\\'illiam  Ragland.  of  Hutchinson.  Kansas; 
Celia,  widow  of  J.  H.  Corwine,  of  Lincoln; 
and  Jeremiah,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  elc\en 
\ears,  Jerr)-  Parker  began  work  on  a  farm 
as  a  laborer  and  was  thus  employed  for  live 
_\ears.  In  1871  he  returned  to  Lincoln, 
where  he  learned  the  tratle  of  carriage  pamt- 
ing  with  Frank  Gerard,  now  deceased,  and 
worked  for  him  for  eighteen  \ears  ha\-ing 
charge  of  the  business  fcjr  several  }-ears. 
When  the  son  succeeded  to  the  business,  Mr. 
Parker  remained  with  him  as  manager  for 
some  time.  He  was  ne.xt  with  J.  P..  Her- 
man. In  1898  he  opened  a  .shop  of  his  own. 
and  admitted  to  partnership  Mr.  I\udol])h 
in  the  s])ring  of  jyoi,  the  firm  becoming 
I'arker  &  Rudoli)h.  They  do  all  kinds  (,f  car- 
riage painting,  as  well  as  house  painting, 
decorating  and  paper  hanging,  and  hai-e 
built  up  a  good  trade,  which  is  constantly 
increasing,  as  the  superiority  of  their  work 
becomes  known. 

Mr.  Parker  was  m;u'ried  in  Lincoln  in 
1882,  to  Miss  .Annie  L.  Stoltz.  who  was 
born  in  Niagara  countv.  New  N'ork,  in  Ian- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


uary,  1857.  About  1876  her  parents  came 
with  their  family  to  Logan  county,  llh- 
nois,  and  here  remained  on  a  farm  until 
1889,  when  they  removed  to.  INhmtana, 
where  they  now  live.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Parker 
have  two  children:  Leona  and  ^linnie 
Elizabeth. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  fdund 
in  Mr.  Parker  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  of  late  years  he  has  taken 
quite  an  active  part  in  politics.  In  1896  he 
was  elected  assessor  of  East  Lincoln  town- 
sliip,  and  so  acceptably  did  he  fill  that  office 
that  he  has  been  constantly  re-  elected,  and  is 
the  present  incumbent.  He  has  given  good 
satisfaction  in  all  his  (lccisi'>ns.  Socially  he 
is  an  honored  memlier  ( if  Lincoln  Lodge,  No. 
204,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has  pa.ssed 
through  the  chairs  ;  and  also  belongs  to  Keo- 
kuk Tribe.  I.  O.  R.  M.,  and  Richard  J.  Og- 
lesby  Camp,  No.  7363,  M.  W.  A.,  and  the 
Modern  American  Fraternal  Oilder.  '  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church,  hut  Mr.  Parker  was  reared  in  the 
Methodist  church,  jovial  in  disposition,  he 
makes  many  friends,  and  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard  In-   all    who   know   him. 


WILLIAM  HUNGERFORD. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the 
leading  coutractors  and  builders  of  Lincoln. 
and  is  also  successfully  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  in  fact, 
all  kinds  of  builders'  and  mill  supplies.  He 
was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Connecticut,  May 
31,  1833.  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
an  old  New  England  family,  his  jjarents  be- 
in-  WilliaiM  ;ind  Adeline  (Keclcr)  llnnger- 
r.ird.  The  lather,  wli.i  was  ;i  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts  and   a   loricklaver   h\  trade,   died 


about    1890,   and  the  mother  passed   away 
S(.)me  years  previous. 

Mr.  Hungerford  was  reared  at  his  birth- 
place and  there  acquired  a  good  common 
school  education.  \\'hich  was  completed  by 
a  course  in  the  high  school  at  that  place. 
On  laying  aside  his  text  books  he  entered 
upon  his  business  career.  He  went  to 
Poughkee]isie,  New  ^'ork,  where  he  served 
an  apprenticeslii])  to  the  carpenter's  trade. 
Having  mastered  his  chosen  \-ocati<in,  he 
came  west  in  1S58  and  located  in  Lincoln, 
where  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  carpenter 
for  a  time.  In  1868  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  E.  L.  Beach  and  built  the  planing 
mill  at  Lincoln,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  May,  1871,  but  with  characteristic  energy 
they  at  once  rebuilt,  and  within  seventy  days 
the  machinery  was  in  running  order  and 
e\-erything  read}'  for  business.  Since  ]Mr. 
P.each  retired  from  tlic  firm  in  iS;^  Mr. 
Hungerford  has  been  alone  in  l)usiness.  and 
now  has  a  well  equipped  plant,  it  being  sup- 
plied with  the  latest  improved  machiner}'. 
r>y  gi\-ing  close  attention  t(>  his  business  he 
has  built  u])  a  large  trade  as  a  manufacturer 
of  sash,  doors,  blinds  ;uid  building  ni;iterial 
of  all  kinds,  .-ind  he  has  also  extcnsndy  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building,  ha\ing 
erected  many  dwellings  and  business  houses 
in  Lincoln  and  surrounding  country.  The 
excellence  of  his  work  has  always  been  a 
convincing  test  of  his  own  personal  worth. 
In  1855  Mr.  Hungerford  married  Miss 
Sarah  ]M.  Beach,  of  Poughkeepsie.  New 
to  them  were  born  three  children,  namely: 
York,  a  daughter  of  Phineas  H.  Beach,  and 
Adeline,  now  the  wife  of  F.  E.  Bell,  of 
Mafoon,  Illinois;  Phineas  B..  of  Lincoln; 
Martha,  wife  of  Charles  A.  ^^'arf^eld,  who 
has  been  a,  mail  carrier  of  Lincoln  since  free 
deliverv  was  established.  The  parents  hold 
membership  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


331 


of  Lincoln,  of  wliich  Mr.  Hiingerford  is 
one  of  the  eUIers.  and  are  hisflily  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  them.  Their 
home  is  a  neat  and  substantial  frame  resi- 
dence of  the  latest  architectural  design,  and 
is  the  alxtde  of  hospitality  and  good  cheer. 
Mr.  Hungerford  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
served  for  several  years  on  the  city  coun- 
cil, being  elected  on  the  temperance  ticket, 
and  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  noted  tem- 
perance agitation.  During  his  term  of  office 
the  water  works  were  put  in. 


FRANCIS  MARIOX  TUTTLE. 

Francis  ~S[.  Tuttle,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
public-spirited  men  in  Logan  county,  and 
to  him  the  people  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude, 
-which,  in  all  probability,  they  will  never 
meet.  He  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio. 
October  10.  1832,  and  was  a  son  of  James 
and  Harriet  (Hatch)  Tuttle.  in  whose  fam- 
ily were  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
father  was  Ixjrn  in  Athens,  Ohio,  in  1806, 
and  was  there  reared  to  manhood.  He  fol- 
lowed the  manufacture  of  brick  and  was  also 
a  large  distiller  in  Ohio,  but  he  later  took 
up  farming,  and  by  working  early  and  late, 
he  was  soon  enabled  to  lay  aside  all  cares 
and  spend  the  evening  of  his  life  in  ease 
and  retirement.  He  was  a  man  who  took 
considerable  interest  in  his  country,  especial- 
ly in  politics  and  was  always  ready  to  lenrl 
a  helping  hand  to  the  needy.  On  April  14. 
1899.  he  was  finally  called  to  his  last  rest, 
having  reached  the  e.xtreme  old  age  of  nine- 
ty-three years. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
the  farm  and  there  received  a  good  country 
■sch(X)ling.  and  learning  tiie  ins  and  outs  of 


farming,  which  cx:cupation  he  later  followed. 
In  1855  he  engaged  in  the  milling  business 
in  Logan  county  and  continued  in  that  ca- 
j)acity  successfully  until  the  year  of  1861. 
He  was  rudely  awakened  from  his  quiet 
dreams  of  the  future  by  the  dark  cloud  of 
war.  which  overshadowed  our  beloved  coun- 
try, and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  his 
patriotism  being  aroused,  Mr.  Tuttle  enlist- 
ed and  was  scxm  made  first  lieutenant  of 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Si.xth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  engaged 
in  several  skirmishes  and  battles,  but  he  was 
a  brave,  fearless  officer,  and  was  never  in- 
jured. He  served  his  country  faithfully  for 
two  years,  but  through  the  hands  of  his 
enemies  he  was  poisoned  while  on  his  way  to 
to  assist  in  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  on  July  29.  1863.  he  expired  at 
Snyder  Blufif,  a  distance  of  cix  miles  from 
Vicksburg.  This  being  a  time  of  war,  the 
facts  will  ne\er  become  known,  but  the 
cruelty  inflicted  upon  him  at  the  hands  of 
the  villian  ma(L>  an  irreparable  loss  to  the 
entire  company. 

On  January  24.  1856.  Mr.  Tuttle  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  A. 
Stephens,  of  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Anna  (Smith)  Stephens,  the  father  a 
native  of  \'irginia  and  the  mother  of  Penn- 
sylvania. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tuttle  were 
born  four  children,  two  of  wiiom  are  still 
living:  Ivy  L.  and  Alice  D.  The  deceased 
were  Lodema  and  Josephine. 

On  June  10,  1869.  Mrs.  Tuttle  was  mar- 
ried to  Charles  H.  Pierce,  who  is  a  farmer 
of  Atlanta.  Illinois.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pierce  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  have  the  respect  of  the  community  in 
general. 

Socially  our  subject  was  a  Mason,  also 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  ixiliticallv  he  was  a  stalwart 


332 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Republican.  His  life  record  was  one  well 
worthy  of  einulation  and  contained  many 
valuable  lessons  of  incentive.  Upright  and 
honorable  in  all  the  relations  of  life  he  mer- 
ited and  received  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 


CAPTAIN  DAVID  VAXHISE. 

With  only  ordinary  advantages  in  youth 
and  with  no  financial  aid  rendered  him  as  he 
started  out  upon  his  business  career  Captain 
David  Vanhise  has  steadily  advanced  in 
business  circles  until  he  now  occupies  a 
prominent,  creditable  and  enviable  position 
in  the  financial  world  of  Logan  county,  be- 
ing president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Mt.  Pulaski,  ^^'hen  we  examine  into  the 
secret  of  his  success  it  will  be  fmind  that 
it  has  been  gained  along  the  lines  of  old  and 
well  tried  business  principles.  Industry,  en- 
ergy, strong  purpose  and  unquestioned  hon- 
esty have  formed  the  foundation  of  his  pros- 
perity and  made  for  him  a  record  which  is 
in  every  way  worthy  of  emulation. 

The  Captain  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Fairfield  county, 
on  the  22d  of  August,  182 J,  his  parents 
being  James  and  Nancy  J.  ( W'instead ) 
Vanhise.  His  paternal  grand]oarents  were 
Abraham  and  Christine  (Stenabaugh)  Van- 
hise, the  former  a  native  of  Virginia.  The 
maternal  grandfather.  Griffin  W'instead,  was 
also  a  natix'e  of  X'irginia.  while  his  wife, 
Margaret  W'instead,  came  from  Germany  to 
America  when  fourteen  years  of  age.  The 
parents  of  our  suljject  were  both  natives  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  whence  they  removed  to 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  in  1810.  The  father 
served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of    181 2.      In   October,    i8^6,    he   removed 


with  his  wife  to  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  spent  their  remaining  days,  their 
home  being  in  Mount  Pulaski  at  the  time 
they  were  called  to  their  final  rest,  the  father 
in   1866,  the  mother  in   1858. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
ty Captain  Vanhise  pursued  his  education, 
spending  the  winter  months  mastering  the 
branches  of  English  learning  in  such  insti- 
tutions, while  in  the  summer  he  assisted  in 
the  work  of  the  home  farm.  He  assisted  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  fields  on  the  old 
homestead  until  twent\-one  years  of  age  and 
then  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account. 
He  remained  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  until 

1856,  when  he  started  with  his  family  for 
Illinois,  and  on  the  9th  of  October  took  up 
his  abode  in  Logan  county,  and  in  March. 

1857,  he  located  in  Blount  Pulaski,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  In 
1862  he  responded  to  the  countr_\-'s  call  for 
\-olunteers  to  aid  in  crushing  out  the  rebel- 
lion, becoming  a  member  of  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  of 
which  he  was  commissioned  captain,  while 
Colonel  R.  B  .Latham  commanded  the  regi- 
ment. They  proceeded  to  Jackson,  Tenes- 
see.  and  participated  in  the  operation  of  the 
army  during  the  whole  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
the  capitulation  gix'ing  an  open  waterway 
to  the  gulf.  With  his  company  Captain 
A'anhise  afterward  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Helena,  Little  Rock  and  Pine 
Bluff,  Arkansas,  and  was  ever  found  at  his 
post  of  duty,  faithfully  defending  the 
L'nion  cause  until  July,  1865.  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged  with  the  rank  of 
major.  ^ 

Returning  to  Logan  county  }>Iajor  Van- 
hise engaged  in  merchandising  at  Mount 
Pulaski,  for  four  years  having  retained  his 
interest  in  the  business  while  in  the  army, 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  manu- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


333 


facture  of  drain  tile,  establishing-  a  factory 
in  which  lie  made  tile,  from  three  to  twelve 
inches  in  diameter.  For  fifteen  years  he  was 
in  that  line  of  business  and  met  with  excel- 
lent success  in  his  undertakings,  owing-  to  the 
fine  product  which  he  turned  out  antl  his 
reliability  in  all  trade  transactions.  He  con- 
ducted one  of  the  largest  factories  in  this 
part  of  the  .state.  Eight  days  after  selling 
that  business  he  assisted  in  the  organization 
of  the  I-'irst  Xatimial  I'ank.  which  was  es- 
tablished with  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars.  John  Lincoln  Ijecame  presi- 
dent and  Captain  Vanhise,  vice-president, 
and  in  that  capacity  our  subject  continued  to 
serve  until  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  presi- 
dency, when  he  was  chosen  to  that  position, 
in  whicli  he  has  now  served  for  six  years. 
He  has  been  largely  iii.struinental  in  placing 
the  bank  upon  a  good  paying  basis  and  mak- 
ing it  one  of  the  most  reliable  financial  con- 
cerns in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  is  a 
sagacious,  far-sighted  business  man,  deter- 
mined and  resolute  in  carrying  out  his  well 
formulated  plans,  and  his  energy  and  indus- 
try have  been  the  salient  features  in  his  suc- 
cessful business  career. 

In  October,  184C),  Ca])tain  Vanhise  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Aliss  Catherine  Mar- 
tin, of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  Adam  and  Catherine  (  Pontius)  ^lartin, 
also  of  Pickaway  county,  'fliey  have  a  very 
pleasant  and  attractive  home  in  :\louiit 
Pulaski,  and  in  addition  the  Captain  (}wns 
other  city  properly  and  one  hundred  and  six. 
ty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Logan  county, 
which  he  rents.  He  is  a  member  of  Samuel 
Walker  Post.  Xo.  205,  C.  A.  R..  of  which 
he  has  served  as  commander  for  the  past  live 
years.  In  his  ])()litical  views  he  is  a  stal- 
wart Re])ublican  and  though  he  h;is  never 
sought  or  desired  ])ublic  office  he  has  al- 
wavs  faith  fully  ])erfornie<l  bis  duties  of  cit- 


izenship and  as  every  true  Anierican  should 
do.  keei)s  well  informed  on  the  cpiestions 
and  issues  of  the  day.  'Hie  cause  of  edu- 
cation tinds  in  liini  a  warm  frien<l  and  he 
did  effective  '<er\  ice  for  the  sdiools  while 
acting  as  a  member  and  president  of  the 
school  board.  Since  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
has  l)een  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  has  long'  ser\-ed  as  one  of  its 
officers,  for  four  years  was  assistant  sujjcr- 
intendent  <if  the  Sunday-school  and  for  thir- 
ty-sex-en years  has  been  superintendent.  His 
has  been  an  active  and  u.seful  career,  his 
acti\ity  in  many  lines  proving  of  benefit  to 
his  fellow  men,  while  in  the  business  world 
he  has  acliie\-ed  i)ros])erity,  his  life  history 
pro\-ing  what  it  is  possilile  to  accomplish  if 
one  has  the  courage  to  dare  and  to  do.  Xo 
history  of  this  community  wonld  be  com- 
plete withtnit  the  record  of  Captain  \"anbise. 
the  loval  soldier,  faithful  citizen  and  reliable 
business  man. 


J.  WKI'.STER  SUMXER. 

J.  W'elister  Sumner,  another  early  set- 
tler of  Logan  county,  has  been  engaged  in 
fanning  here  since  1856.  He  is  a  native  of 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  born  on  January  1.2, 
1S40,  and  is  a  son  of  Oran  L.  and  Elizabeth 
(  Carnahaii )  Sumner,  natives  of  X'ermont 
and  Scioto  county.  Ohio,  respectively.  The 
father  moved  lo  Ohio  when  he  was  (|uite 
young  and  he  and  bis  wife  were  ni.-i.rried  in 
Darke  count)-,  where  he  engaged  in  farming- 
until  his  death  in  1852.  The  mother  had  a 
brother  and  two  sisters  residing  in  Logan 
county.  Illinois,  and  after  the  death  of  her 
luiNband  she  came  here  with  her  famil\-  and 
settled  in  (  )r\  il  township,  on  the  present 
farm  of  our  subject,  where  she  reared  her 
children    ;uid   eiig-.-iged    in    farming,      .\bout 


334 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1884  slie  removed  to  the  A'illage  of  Emden 
and  there  resided  until  her  death,  in  i8<)3. 

The  parents  of  our  suhject  had  ten  chil- 
dren, five  now  living,  namely :  ^largaret, 
who  resides  in  the  village  of  Emden  :  \\'ill- 
iani  T.,  win*  married  Sarah  Bruner  and  re- 
sides in  Eminence  townshi]i:  J.  \\'.,  our  suh- 
ject; Frances,  wife  of  O.  A.  .Shirley,  of  Ford 
county,  Illinois;  Elizaheth  A.,  wife  of  T.  J- 
]\Iiller,  of  Orvil  township;  John  C.  Berthena 
and  Ella,  all  three  deceased ;  and  twi  1  others 
who  died  in  infancy. 

In  1870  our  suhject  was  married  to 
Zara  A.  Patterson,  a  native  of  the  snuthern 
part  of  Illinois,  liorn  in  1S5J.  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Lewis  and  Jane  (Cooper)  Patterson, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  Xew  Jersey,  respective- 
ly. Mr.  Patterson  was  a  farmer  in  (^hio. 
but  came  to  Logan  count}-.  IHinois.  at  an 
early  da\'.  and  died  in  Lincohi  in  iSri4.  Our 
suhject  and  wife  are  the  jiarents  of  four 
children,  namely:  Cora,  wife  of  lizra  I). 
Reardon,  of  Oklahoma  City;  William  T., 
an  attorney  of  East  St.  Louis.  Illinois; 
Frank  \\'.,  a  minister  in  the  Christian 
church,  who  is  a  student  of  the  College  of 
the  Bible  in  Kentucky ;  and  Bertha,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years. 

Mr.  Sumner  \vas  the  onl\-  one  of  his 
parents'  children  who  remained  at  home  antl 
he  helpetl  his  mother  on  the  farm  and  finally 
liecame  the  owner  of  it.  Here  he  has  spent 
his  life  in  farming,  with  the  exception  of  a 
period  devoted  to  the  defense  of  his  country. 
On  August  12,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Coiu- 
pany  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois 
Infantr}',  under  Colonel  Latham  and  Ca|)- 
tain  Beesley.  His  comjjany  \vas  in  the  siege 
of  Vickshurg  and  also  participated  in  a  num- 
ber of  small  engagements,  hut  he  was  never 
injured  in  any  way  and  received  his  hon- 
(•irable  discharge  at  Springfield  on  August  y. 
186;. 


He  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead 
in  Orvil  township,  this  county,  where  he 
is  the  owner  of  due  lumdred  and  twenty 
acres  of  fine  farming  land  on  section  10.  On 
this  excellent  property  he  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  His  land  is  well 
culti\-ated  and  the  buildings  are  substantial 
and  in  good  repair,  \vhile  his  residence  is  a 
\-ery   good   one. 

Politically  Mr.  Sunuier  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican and  he  has  lieen  honored  by  elec- 
tion to  several  of  the  luinor  oflices  of  the 
township,  althougli  his  time  is  so  occupied 
that  he  has  not  souglit  ofhcial  ])ositions. 
l)oth  he  and  his  most  excellent  wife  are 
earnest  meml)ers  of  the  Bethel  Christian 
church,  whicli  is  located  one  mile  east  of 
his  farm.  Xot  only  has  he  taken  an  active 
part  in  church  w(.irk  and  given  liberally  of 
his  means,  liut  he  and  his  wife  reared  one 
of  their  children  to  take  up  the  wcjrk  of  the 
Master.  Mr.  Sunuier  is  welt  and  favorably 
known  in  the  comnuuuty  in  which  he  resides 
and  is  often  called  by  his  friends  "Web" 
Sumner. 


COLONEL  WILFOK!)  i).  W^'ATT. 

Wilford  1).  Wyatt.  an  old  and  ]M-omi- 
nent  attorney  of  Lincoln,  is  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, born  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  county, 
September  i,  i82t,  and  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  this  state.  His  paternal  great-grand- 
father came  to  this  country  from  the  north 
of  Ireland,  and  settled  in  \'irginia,-  where 
the  grandfather,  John  Wyatt,  was  born.  The 
latter  wedded  Mary  Trimble,  who  was  liorn 
in  Pennsyl\-auia.  of  Dutch  ancestr\',  and  in 
1816  he  removed  to  Batesville.  .\rkansas, 
where  he  made  his  home  imtil  his  death. 
William    Wvatt,    our   subject's    father   was 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


337 


born  near  Harper's  Ferry,  in  Loudoun  coun- 
ty, \'irginia,  in  1790,  and  in  early  life  re- 
moved with  his  father  to  Tennessee,  locating 
near  General  Jackson's  plantation.  Later 
he  removed  to  Flynn's  Ferry,  Kentucky,  on 
the  Ohio  river,  and  in  1814  came  to  Illinois, 
being  at  that  time  a  pilot  on  the  Mississippi 
river  running  as  far  as  Xew  Orleans.  In 
1816  he  was  married  in  Madison  county,  this 
state,  to  Miss  Rachel  Kitchens,  who  was 
born  at  Kaskaskia,  of  French  and  Spanish 
parentage.  After  residing  in  Madison  coun- 
ty four  vears,  he  removed  to  Morgan  county, 
in  1820.  and  made  his  home  three  and  one- 
half  miles  south  of  Jacksonville  for  some 
time,  when  he  removed  three  and  one-half 
miles  northeast  of  Jacksonville,  where  he 
bought  a  farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
death  in  April.  1836.  He  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  1812.  His  wife  died  in  1850. 
Of  the  nine  children  born  to  them  seven 
lived  to  be  grown,  namely :  Elizabeth : 
John:  Wilford  D.,  our  subject:  Xancy  Ann: 
;Mary.  and  Savilla,  widow  of  the  late  Col- 
onel Robert  B.  Latham.  Only  our  subject 
and  his  youngest  sister  are  now  living. 

Wilford  D.  W'yatt  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  home  farm,  and  supplemented  his  early 
education,  acquired  in  the  common  schools, 
bv  a  vear's  attendance  at  the  Illinois  College 
in  Jacksonville.  In  the  spring  of  1844  he 
went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  from  there 
to  Phillips  county,  Arkansas,  where  he 
taught  school  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law  with  Judge  Josiah  B.  McKeil.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  state  in  1846,  and 
began  practice  at  Delta.  Mississippi,  where 
he  served  as  clerk  of  the  courts  of  his  county. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  enlisted  in  June. 
1846.  in  Company  B,  First  Mississippi  Regi- 
ment of  Riflemen.  C(jmman(led  by  Colonel 
Jefiferson  Davis,  and  he  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Monterev  and  Buena  X'ista.   After 


his  discharge  he  returned  to  Mississippi,  and 
shortly  afterward  went  to  \'icksburg,  where 
he  re-enlisted  in  Captain  Elisha  Crowson's 
comjjany  of  riflemen,  belonging  to  the  Fifst 
Battalion,  under  command  of  Colonel  J.  Pat- 
ton  Anderson,  and  then  went  to  Tampico, 
Mexico,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  promoted  to  second  lieu- 
tenant in  Captain  Lloyds  independent  cav- 
alry company,  which,  by  order  of  the  war 
department,  was  attached  to  the  Third 
United  States  Flying  Artillery,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Gates.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
Vicksburg.  July  3.  1848.  was  in  bad  health 
until  1849.  when  he  went  to  Pine  BlulY,  Ar- 
kansas, where  he  published  a  newspaper  and 
practiced  law  until  1853.  when  he  returned 
to  Carrollton.  Illinois,  and  practiced  law  and 
edited  a  newspaper  until  December.  1856, 
when  he  came  to  Lincoln  as  attorney  for 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  entering  the  army.  Dur- 
ing the  session  of  the  legislature,  in  1857.  he 
was  assistant  secretarv"  of  the  senate,  per- 
forming the  duties  of  the  secretary. 

In  1861.  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
war.  'SIt.  W'yatt  raised  Company  E,  of  the 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
fommissioned  the  first  lieutenant-colonel  of 
said  regiment.  He  assisted  in  organizing 
his  regiment,  and  also  in  recruiting  members 
for  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  and  other 
regiments  throughout  the  war.  Since  then 
he  has  engaged  in  the  practice  <>f  law  at 
Lincoln. 

Colonel  W'yatt  has  been  twice  married. 
In  September.  1844.  at  Carrollton.  Greene 
county,  Illinois,  he  wedded  Miss  Anna  Jo- 
sephine Blackshaw.  a  niece  of  Governor 
Thomas  Carlin.  and  to  them  were  Ijorn  four 
children:  Lammie  E..  wife  of  John  Ed- 
monds, a  resident  of  Lincoln :  William,  who 
died  in  childli.x.d :  .\nna  B..  deceased:  and 


338 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


jNIary,  wife  of  John  C.  Mathews,  of  the  law 
firm  of  Shope,  Mathews  &  Mjller,  of  Chica- 
go. The  mother  of  these  children  died  Jan- 
uary i8,  1893,  and  on  the  22nd  of  Novem- 
ber, 1899,  Colonel  \\  yatt  married  Miss  Liz- 
zie F.  Morris,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  politics  Colonel  Wyatt  is  a  stanch 
Democrat.  He  served  as  president  of  the 
Illinois  Christian  Temperance  L'nion  from 
1879  until  1 88 1,  and  is  nt)W  the  chief  coun- 
sellor of  the  branch  council  of  the  Royal 
Templars  of  Temperance,  at  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois. Colonel  Wyatt  is  well  and  favorably 
known  by  the  people  of  central  Illinois  and 
has  now  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest 
member  of  the  Logan  ci  iunt_\-  Ijar  now  in  act- 
ive practice. 


REV.   FREDERICK  W.   SCHXAT- 
HORST. 

Rev.  Frederick  W.  Schnathorst,  pastor 
of  St.  John's  Evangelical  church  of  Lincoln, 
is  a  native  of  ^^'isconsin,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Sheboygan,  April  7,  i860.  His 
l)arents.  C.  F.  and  Caroline  (Huck)  Schnat- 
horst, were  natives  of  Prussia,  Germany, 
and  emigrated  to  America  in  1857.  Land- 
ing in  New  York  City,  they  proceeded  at 
once  to  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin,  and  in  that 
state  the  father  followed  farming  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  came  to  Lincoln,  Illinois,  a 
short  time  before  his  death,  and  died  here 
in  December,  1900.  His  home  at  that  time 
Avas  in  Newton,  Iowa,  where  liis  widow  still 
resides. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  for 
some  years  ]\Ir.  Schnathorst,  of  this  review, 
took  a  four  years'  course  at  Elmhurst  Col- 
lege, in  Elmhurst.  Du  Page  county,  Illinois, 
and  was  graduated    at    that    institution  in 


June,  1883.  He  then  entered  the  Eden 
Theological  Seminary,  at  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, and  on  his  graduation,  in  June,  1886, 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Evangelical 
church  by  Professors  Haberle,  Becker  and 
Kunzman,  all  of  St.  Louis.  He  then  took 
charge  of  St.  Peter's  church  at  Grant  Park, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  four  years.  He 
was  ne.xt  called  to  Emanuel  church,  near 
Elgin,  and  had  charge  of  that  congregation 
for  seven  years.  In  Xiay.  1897,  he  assumed 
the  pastorate  of  St.  John's  church,  of  Lin- 
coln, and  under  his  ministry  the  congrega- 
tion has  increased  to  two  hundred  families. 
The  church  here  is  a  substantial  brick  edi- 
fice, having  a  seating  capacity  of  five  hun- 
dred. 

In  1894  Mr.  Schnathorst  founded  the 
Orphans'  Home  at  Bensonville,  Du  Page 
count}-,  and  helped  carry  the  work  on  to 
completiou  at  a  cost  of  twenty-three  thou- 
sand dollars.  At  first  he  took  the  responsi- 
bility of  raising  the  money,  but  after 
demonstrating  the  feasibility  of  the  project, 
the  assistance  of  all  of  the  churches  of  his 
denomination  in  northern  Illinois  was  re- 
ceived. In  this  institution  seventy-five  chil- 
dren are  now  cared  for,  besides  sex'enteen 
old  people,  who  are  given  church,  home  and 
school  privileges. 

As  founder  of  the  Deaconess  Hospital 
in  Lincoln,  Mr.  Schnathorst  has  perhaps 
reared  the  most  \-isible  and  lasting  monu- 
ment ti>  his  name.  Its  inception  was 
brought  about  in  a  peculiar  manner.  In  the 
autumn  of  iSgS  many  families  of  this  city 
were  stricken  with  typhoid  fever,  so  many, 
in  fact,  that  help  or  nurses  could  not_be  ob- 
tained in  this  locality.  Going  to  St.  Louis, 
yir.  Schnathorst  secured  a  number  of  dea- 
conesses to  come  and  care  for  his  sick.  So 
favorable  an  impression  did  they  make  that 
the    question    was    raised.  Why  cannot  we 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


339 


have  an  order  of  the  kind  here?  Our  sub- 
ject presented  tliis  tliought  t(j  his  congre- 
gation and  tlie  plan  was  faxorably  received. 
He  also  had  men  more  conversant  witli  the 
features  and  cost  of  such  an  enterprise  to 
come  to  Lincoln  and  atldress  his  congrega- 
tion. As  a  result  a  stKiety  was  eventually 
formed,  a  charter  for  a  hospital  was  ob- 
tained at  Springfield,  and  Uv.  Schnathorst 
commenced  raising  funds  for  the  erection  of 
the  necessary  building.  After  deciding  on 
the  plans  it  was  estimated  that  the  cost 
would  be  about  twenty-two  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  money  he  succeeded  in  raising, 
but  by  the  time  the  structure  was  completed 
and  furnished  ready  for  use  it  cost  alx)ut 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars,  which  amount 
has  to  be  partly  raised  by  him.  This  hos- 
pital is  open  to  all:  is  well  equipped  for  all 
surgical  and  medical  cases,  and  is  in  charge 
of  a  competent  sister  superior,  aided  by  a 
good  corjjs  of  deac(inesses  and  the  house 
committee.  It  contains  all  that  can  be  de- 
sired for  the  care  of  the  sick  in  the  most 
modern  and  approved  manner,  and  is  one 
of  the  best  hospitals  in  any  city  the  size  of 
Lincoln  throughout  the  United  States.  For 
'Sir.  Schnathorst  to  have  accomplished  such 
an  undertaking  as  this  may  well  be  consid- 
ered a  good  life  work. 

On  the  30th  of  June.  1886,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Lottie  Bergman,  of 
Xewton,  Iowa,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Louisa  (Flamkamp)  Bergman,  who  were 
both  natives  of  Prussia,  Germany.  By  this 
union  have  been  born  one  son  and  fi\-e 
daughters,  namely:  Louise,  Selma,  Lena, 
Fred  H.,  Lottie  and  Corinne. 

Mr.  Schnathorst  is  revered  and  loved  by 
his  own  congregation,  and  has  also  won  the 
honor  and  esteem  of  all  others  who  have 
seen  his  devotion  to  his  noble  calling. 
Broad  in  his  views  and  symi)athies,  a  friend 


of  the  poor  and  ojjpressed,  ever  ready  with 
helpful  counsel  for  the  perplexed  or  sorrow- 
ful, he  has  a  wide  field  for  labor,  and  well 
does  he  discharge  its  arduous  and  sacred 
duties. 


JAMES   EVERETT  JEWETT. 

.\mong  the  most  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  Lincoln  is  numbered 
James  Everett  Jewett,  the  jjrescnt  grand 
chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  the 
Domain  of  Illinois.  A  native  of  the  old 
Pine  Tree  state,  he  was  born  in  Belfast, 
Maine,  January  13,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of 
Parker  and  Mary  (Cochran)  Jewett,  the 
former  born  in  Vermont,  the  latter  in  East 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  of  Irish  parentage. 
Bv  trade  the  father  was  a  coojier,  but  his 
later  vears  were  devoted  to  farming.  He 
was  a  stevedore  on  ships  in  early  life,  and 
was  well  known  in  the  east.  On  coming, 
west,  in  1856,  he  located  in  Livingston  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
called  to  his  final  rest,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
nine  vears.  Having  met  with  success  in 
life  and  l)ecoming  cpiite  welbto-do,  he  was 
able  to  spend  his  last  days  in  ease  and  re- 
tn-ement  from  active  labor.  He  was  a 
large,  robust  man  and  enjoyed  excellent 
health.  His  wife  died  in  Illinois,  at  the  age 
of  seventv-six.  In  their  family  were  seven 
children,  five  sons  .-iiid  two  daughters,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
He  had  two  brothers  who  were  in  the  Civil 
war,  John  P.  having  served  as  cmnniissary 
sergeant  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Fremont 
Rifles:  and  Ralph  P..  as  brigade  blacksmith 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  The  latter  was  in 
the  Pinkerton  detective  service  eleven  years, 
and  died  at  r^litchell.   South  Dakota,  about 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1890.  Our  subject  has  one  sister  living, 
Emily  A.,  wife  of  George  T.  Faucett,  of 
Panora,  Iowa. 

I\Ir.  Jewett  began  his  education  in  tlie 
public  schools  of  !\Iaine,  and  after  the  re- 
movci,!  of  the  family  to  llhnois  attended 
Eureka  College,  at  Eureka,  Wdodford 
county.  \\'hen  an  undergraduate  he  left 
that  institution  and  commenced  teaching, 
being  [jrincipal  of  a  high  school  in  McLean 
county  nine  years.  During  the  latter  part 
of  that  time  he  read  law  with  J.  H.  Rowell 
and  J.  :\[.  Hamilton,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  January  8,  1878.  He  l>egan  prac- 
tice at  Chenoa,  Illinois,  and  soon  became  in- 
terested in  politics.  In  1877  he  was  first 
assistant  clerk  in  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, antl  for  six  years  was  connected  with 
the  Lhiited  States  revenue  ser\ice.  with 
headquarters  at  Pekin. 

Although  he  was  ncit  educated  for  the 
ministry,  Mr.  Jewett  took  up  Bible  study, 
and  for  some  years  engaged  in  preaching. 
From  1885  until  1888  he  had  charge  of 
evangelist  work  in  McLean  county  as  county 
evangelist,  and  in  1888  and  1889  was  pas- 
tor (if  ihc  Christian  church  at  Farmer  City; 
the  f<ill.  iwing  two  years  at  \\'ashington ;  in 
1892  and  1893  at  Lincoln:  and  then  three 
vears  at  Shelby ville.  In  January.  1897,  he 
returned  to  Lincoln  and  has  since  made  this 
place  his  home.  For  the  past  three  years  he 
has  filled  the  pulpits  of  the  Christian 
churches  at  Bethel  and  ^Midland  City  as 
preacher. 

;\Ir.  Jewett  was  numbered  among  the 
bovs  in  blue  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Re- 
bellion, enlisting  August  7,  1862,  at  Pontiac 
as  a  private,  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. He  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Resaca.  Georgia,  and  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
including  the  last  engagement  at  Peach  Tree 


Creek.  He  then  followed  Sherman  on  the 
march  to  the  sea  and  up  through  the  Caro- 
linas  to  Goldsboro.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
h.e  participated  in  the  grand  re\iew  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  mustered  out 
June  8,  1865,  and  discharged  on  the  20th 
of  the  same  month  at  Chicago.  He  saw 
some  hard  service  under  General  Buell  in 
Kentucky,  the  brigade  commander  at  that 
time  being  Colonel  Chapin,  of  the  Twent_y- 
third  ^Michigan,  and  later  Colmiel  Benjamin 
Harrison. 

In  Morton,  Tazewell  cnunty,  Illinois, 
]\Ir.  Jewett  was  married,  in  iS(i().  tn  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Graves,  who  was  burn  in  Mason 
county,  Kentucky,  in  184(1,  '"I'l  ^^'is  only 
three  years  old  when  she  came  to  Illinois, 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  Her 
father,  Charles  ^\'.  Graves,  died  in  Lincoln, 
Nebraska.  Of  the  three  children  born  to 
^[v.  and  Mrs.  Jewett  one  died  in  early  child- 
hood. Oscar  .Mien  was  educated  at  Eureka 
College,  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  but  he  soon  became  interested  in 
newspaper  work,  and  is  now  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Cowden  Reflector  at  Cowden. 
Illinois.  Everett  I',  is  a  railroad  fireman  on 
the  Toledo,  St.  L<iuis  &  Western  Railroad, 
and  resides  in  Charleston,  Illinois.  Both 
sons  are  married,  and  Everett  P.  has  one 
child. 

In  1888  Mr.  Jewett  joined  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  fraternity,  and  is  now  a  member 
of  Cdendower  Lodge,  Xo.  45,  of  Lincoln, 
in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  offices.  He  is 
to-day  one  of  the  most  prominent  members 
of  the  order  in  Illinois,  and  in  October. 
1900,  was  elected  grand  chancellor,  which 
responsible  position  he  is  now  filling  with 
distinction,  having  charge  of  si.x  hundred 
and  nine  lodges  in  the  state.  On  the  7th  of 
August,  1865,  he  was  made  a  Mason,  and 
is  to-dav  a  memlier  of  the  blue  lodge,  chap- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


341 


ter  and  council,  while  lie  is  serving-  as  grand 
chaplain  of  the  cimncil  of  the  state.  He  is 
also  a  niemher  n{  the  ( irand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  has  been  brigadier  general  of 
the  Union  \'eteran  Union,  or  Order  of  Bat- 
tlemen.  since  1900.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  all  of  these  orders  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  their  work.  Fi)r  several  years 
:\lr.  Jewett  was  president  (if  the  state  Sun- 
day-schcKil  board  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  still  devotes  considerable  time  to  church 
work.  On  his  return  to  Lincoln,  in  1897, 
he  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  law  in 
this  city,  and  is  meeting  with  good  success 
in  iiis  profession.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
Republicans  of  the  city  and  exerts  consid- 
eral)le  influence  in  its  cnuncils.  PVir  twenty- 
four  }"ears  lie  has  followed  the  fortunes  of 
John  R.  Tanner,  and  has  c\er  made  a  care- 
ful study  of  political  matters.  As  a  citizen 
he  ever  stands  ready  to  discharge  any  duty 
devolving  ui)on  him.  and  he  justly  merits 
the  esteem  in  which  he  is  universallv  hekl. 


JOHX  ZETER. 

Jijjin  Zeter,  e.K-county  sur\-e}-or  and  a 
prominent  resident  of  East  Lincoln  town- 
ship, is  now  successfully  engaged  in  dairy 
and  fruit  farming  on  section  33.  He  is  a 
nati\e  of  Ohio,  born  in  Hamilton  county. 
January  17.  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Margaret  (  Boesin)  Zeter.  who  are  of  (ier- 
man  birth  and  are  now  over  seventy  years 
of  age.  The  father  has  always  been  an  act- 
ive man  and  has  made  farming  his  life  work. 
Lie  and  his  wife  are  still  li\ing  in  Hamiltou 
county.  Ohio.  To  them  were  born  nine 
children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  five  sons  .and  one  daughter  are  now 
living,  their  homes  being  either  in  Indiana 


or  Ohio,  with  the  exception  of  our  subject, 
who  is  the  second  m  order  of  birth  in  this 
famil}'  and  the  oldest  now  li\ing. 

During  his  lioyhood  John  Zeter  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  state  and 
remained  at  home  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, when  he  commenced  work  as  a  farm 
hand.  In  1884  and  1885  he  took  an  elective 
course  at  the  Xorthern  Indiana  Normal 
School  at  N'alparaiso,  Indiana,  and  while 
there  made  a  special  study  of  surveying.  He 
then  came  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  wdiere 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  four 
xears. 

In  1888  :\Ir.  Zeter  was  marrietl  in  this 
county  t(.)  :Miss  Sarah  J.  }*Ioyer.  who  was 
born  here  in  1802,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
^Michael  and  Amanda  J.  JMoyer.  The  father 
is  deceased,  but  the  mother  is  still  living 
and  makes  her  home  with  a  daughter  in 
Champaign  county,  Illinois.  She  has  three 
daughters  and  one  son,  but  I\Irs.  Zeter  is  the 
only  one  residing  in  this  couiU}'.  Mr. 
Moyer.  who  was  a  shoemaker  and  farmer  by 
occupation,  died  at  the  home  of  our  subject. 
.\fter  securing  a  good  education  in  the 
schools  of  Logan  county,  Mrs.  Zeter  taught 
school  iiere  for  a  time.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  four  children,  namely:  Harry 
M.,  Carl,  Ceorge.  all  attending  scliool ;  and 
Therou. 

The  year  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Zeter  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  on  section  33.  East 
Lincoln  township,  consisting  of  eighty-five 
acres,  and  has  since  engaged  in  dairy  farm- 
ing and  fruit  growing,  though  he  has  recent- 
ly given  some  attention  to  the  sugar  beet 
industry.  As  a  Republican  he  has  always 
taken  quite  an  .nctiNe  and  influential  part 
in  local  ])oliiics.  and  in  1896  was  elected 
county  surveyor,  which  office  he  creditably 
filled  for  four  years.  He  has  held  several 
other  minor  ])ositions  in  his  township,  but 


342 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
office  seeking.  Through  hi.s  own  unaided  ef- 
forts Mr.  Zeter  acquired  a  good  practical 
education,  and  is  to-day  a  well-informed 
man,  who  takes  a  commendalile  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  is  always  willing  to  aid 
any  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit. 


FREDERICK  HECKARD. 

Frederick  Fleckard,  deceased,  who  re- 
sided in  Atlanta  township,  was  for-  many 
years  a  conspicuous  figure  in  Logan  county. 
He  was  the  object  of  respect  by  young  and 
old,  and  was  greeted  with  affection  and  es- 
teem by  one  and  all.  In  his  declining  days 
he  enjoyed  the  reward  of  a  well  ordered  life 
and  one  in  which  he  had  e.xerted  himself  to 
do  good  to  those  around  him.  He  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  July  21,  1835, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  H.  Heckard,  also  a 
native  of  the  same  state.  John  Heckard 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
his  death  occurred.  From  his  boyhood  days 
he  followed  the  life  of  a  farmer  and  was 
always  known  to  be  successful  in  all  his  un- 
dertakings. 

Mr.  Heckard,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
on  the  farm  of  his  father  and  received  a 
good  country  school  education.  He  was 
one  of  a  family  of  sixteen  children,  but  upon 
the  death  of  his  father  and  immediately  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  they  found  it  necessary 
ior  each  to  make  a  new  start  in  the  world, 
and  by  taking  the  advice  of  Horace  Greeley, 
our  subject  came  west  and  located  in  Atlanta 
township,  Logan  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  and  so  proved  himself  a  most 
thorough  and  skillful  farmer  until  called 
away  by  death. 


Mr.  Heckard's  first  marriage  was  with 
Miss  Mary  Snook;  to  this  union  were  born 
eight  children.  Mrs.  Heckard  died  and 
April  15,  1898,  Mr.  Heckard  wedded  Mrs. 
Desdemonia  Dunagan,  who  had  one  child 
bv  a  former  marriage,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  St. 
John,  who  resides  with  her  aged  mother 
and  who  was  the  first  child  born  in  Atlanta. 
Mrs.  Heckard  is  a  devmit  memljer  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  is  prominently  known 
-  .  ner  kind,  genial  nature,  her  charities  and 
her  earnest,  efficient  church  work,  as  was 
also  her  liusband. 

Our  subject  was  an  early  pioneer  of  Illi- 
nois, and  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  history  of  Logan  ciainty.  In  politics  he 
was  a  strong  Republican,  and  a  man  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  wIkj  knew  him.  As 
a  young  man  in  the  earl}-  days  of  Atlanta, 
when  the  country  hail  not  l)egun  to  recover 
the  losses  sustained  during  the  great  Civil 
war,  he  grew  up  with  the  country  and  lielped 
it  to  become  a  part  of  the  leading  nation  of 
the  world  to-dav. 


JAAIES  W.  COLLINS. 

One  of  the  most  successful  and  jjopular 
dentists  of  Lincoln,  Illinois,  is  James  W. 
Collins,  who  was  Ixirn  in  the  city  of  Lelta- 
non,  Kentucky,  in  1851.  and  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  a  good  old  southern  fam- 
ily, his  parents  being  James  E.  and  Lavisa 
V  Bledsoe)  Collins,  natives  of  Virginia. 
From  the  Old  Dominion  they  removed  to 
Kentucky,  where  they  made  a  permanent 
settlement,  there  spending  the  remainder  of 
their  lives. 

Dr.  Collins  grew  to  manhood  in  Law- 
renceburg,  Kentucky,  and  is  indebted  to  its 
public  and  private  schools   for  his  literary 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


343 


education.  In  1871  lie  went  to  Petersburg. 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  where  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  H. 
r>.  Davis.  In  1876  he  came  to  Lincoln  and 
opened  an  office,  being  actively  engaged  in 
practice  in  this  city  ever  since.  His  skill 
and  ability  have  won  for  him  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage, and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  competent  dentists  of  the  place. 

Dr.  Collins  was  one  of  the  principal  or- 
ganizers of  the  Mutual  and  Logan  County 
Telephone  Companies,  which  are  now  in 
successful  operation,  and  which  have  reduced 
the  cost  to  the  patrons  one-half  of  that  paid 
to  the  Bell  Company.  Their  telephone  lines 
now  connect  Lincoln  with  many  of  the 
neighlx)ring  towns  and  are  of  great  conven- 
ience to  the  farmers  of  Logan  county.  He 
also  organized  the  ^h.  Pulaski  Telephone 
Company  and  owns  considerable  of  its  stock. 
He  has  a  nice  home  in  Lincoln  on  one  of  its 
principal  resident  streets,  and  there  hospital- 
ity reigns  supreme,  the  family  having  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  who  are 
always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome  within  its 
doors. 

In  1 88 1  Dr.  Collins  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  ]\Iiss  Leila  Burgess,  of  Mt.  Perry. 
Perry  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Mary  A.  (Peyton)  Burgess.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Marguerite,  who  is  now 
a  student  in  the  Lincoln  High  School. 


HEXRY  B.  BROWX.  M.   D. 

Dr.  Henry  B.  Brown  is  a  skilled  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  Lincoln,  Illinois,  whose 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine  is 
broad  and  comprehensive,  and  whose  ability 
in  applying  its  principles  to  the  needs  of 
suffering  humanity  has  gained  him  an  en- 


viable prestige  in  professional  circles.  A  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  he  was  born  in  Hodgens- 
ville,  December  6,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Pat- 
rick and  Louisa  (Enlows)  Brown.  His  fa- 
ther was  born  in  \'irginia  in  1800,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry,  while  the  mother  was  b<jrn 
in  Kentucky  in  1813,  and  belonged  to  an 
old  family  of  that  state,  being  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  Enlows. 

Dr.  Brown  grew  to  manhood  in  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  having  come  here  in  1865. 
His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home.  Having  decided 
to  enter  the  medical  profession  he  studied 
toward  that  end,  and  read  medicine  for  some 
time  with  Dr.  John  T.  Hodgen,  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  He  then  took  a  cf>urse  of 
lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  ^ledical  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1876,  and  later 
spent  one  year  in  the  city  hospital  there,  sup- 
plementing the  knowledge  he  had  previously 
acquired  by  a  course  of  practical  training. 
In  1877  he  came  to  Lincoln,  where  he  has 
since  engaged  in  general  practice  with 
marked  success. 

The  Doctor  was  married  in  18S3  to  Miss 
Leila  Wilbur,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  C.  T.  WU- 
bur,  superintendent  of  the  state  asylum  for 
feeble-minded  children  at  Lincoln.  She  died 
in  1895.  leaving  one  son,  Charles  Hodgen. 
who  is  now  attending  Lake  Forest  Univer- 
sity. In  1897  Dr.  Brown  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Mary 
Davison,  of  Lincoln,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  !Mary  Finley. 

The  Doctor  is  a  prominent  Knight 
Templar  Mason,  a  member  of  Constan- 
tine  Commandery.  Xo.  51,  and  fraternally 
he  belongs  to  the  State  Medical  Society,  the 
American  Medical  Association,  and  the 
Brainard  District  Medical  Society.  He  is 
surgeon  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  phy- 


344 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sicians  of  this  section  of  the  state,  standing 
higli  in  the  profession,  especially  in  surgery. 
His  practice  is  therefore  extensive  and  lu- 
crative, and  he  is  one  of  the  staff  of  St. 
Clara's  Hospital.  He  is  a  director  of  Lincoln 
National  Bank,  also  a  trustee  of  Lincoln 
College,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees. 


W.  C.  R.  KAESEBIER 

W.  C.  R.  Kaesebier,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  representative  citizen  of  Prairie  Creek 
township,  resides  on  section  14  where  he 
owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  rich 
farming  land.  He  has  lived  in  Logan  coun- 
tv  since  i860.  He  was  born  in  Germany  on 
July  9,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Louisa  Kaesebier,  who  always  lived  in  their 
native  land  where  the  father  was  a  laborer, 
and  where  he  died.  Two  of  their  children 
came  lo  America,  namely :  Charles  and  our 
subject.  Charles  was  a  wagonmaker  of  Lin- 
coln, this  county,  and  died  there  in  1889, 
having  become  well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected in  that  community. 

Our  subject  settled  in  West  Lincoln 
township  and  worked  out  on  farms  until  he 
was  married,  in  1863,  to  Aliss  ]Mary  Schaup, 
a  daughter  of  John  Schaup,  who  was  a 
laborer  and  died  in  Lincoln  where  the  re- 
mainder of  his  family  still  reside.  ;\Ir.  and 
:\Irs.  Kaesebier  have  had  fourteen  children, 
as  follows :  Charles,  who  married  ]Miss 
Maggie  Hardin  and  lives  in  Sheridan  town- 
ship; William,  who  married  Catherine  Healy 
and  lives  in  Emden  village,  this  county; 
August,  who  lives  in  Orvil  township  and 
married  Emma  Cross:  Annie,  wife  of  ^^'ill- 
liam  John  Cross,  of  Orvil  township;  Ru- 
dolph, who    married    Catherine    Klokkenga 


and  lives  in  Orvil  township;  Warren,  at 
home;  ]\Iatilda,  who  married  Dick  Onkes, 
of  Orvil  township;  Adolph,  [Mary,  Lottie 
and  Ida,  all  fcau'  at  home,  and  three  who 
died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  !Mr.  Kaesebier  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  West  Lincoln  township, 
where  he  resided  six  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Orvil  township.  Three  years  later  he 
located  on  his  present  farm  and  carries  on 
general  farming  most  successfully.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Democrat  and  for  several  years 
has  served  as  school  director  of  the  town- 
ship, but  while  he  always  supports  the  can- 
didates of  his  party  on  national  affairs,  in 
local  issues  he  ^■otes  for  the  best  man.  Both 
he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church  of  Emden  and  arc  very 
highly  respected  both  in  the  church  and 
throughout  the  community  in  which  they 
reside  and  where  their  many  excellent  quali- 
ties are  well  known. 


THOMAS  M.   HARRIS. 

Among  the  practitioners  of  law  at  the 
Logan  county  bar  stands  Thomas  ^l.  Har- 
ris, of  Lincoln.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
strong  purpose  and  laudable  ambition,  of 
unfaltering  energy  and  forceful  intellectu- 
ality, and  already  he  has  won  distinction 
that  many  an  older  practitioner  might  well 
envv.  He  was  born  in  Macoupin  county. 
Illinois,  October  21,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  L.  and  Susanna  (Lake)  Harris.  The 
Harris  family  is  of  ^^'elsh  lineage,  while 
the  maternal  ancestry  of  our  subject  is 
Scotch,  although  the  Lake  family  was 
founded  in  A'irginia  at  a  very  early  day. 
The  grandfather,  Thomas  L.  Harris,  was 
born   in  the  Old  Dominon  and  married  a 


T.    M.    HARRIS. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RFXORD. 


347 


Airs.  Elizabeth  Forman.  They  removed  to 
Ilhnois  ill  183(1.  ''"''  '""^  death  occurred  in 
Macoupin  county,  this  state,  when  lie  had 
attained  the  advanced  '  age  of  ninety-two 
years.  His  son.  John  L.  Harris,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  and  after  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity  married  Susanna  Lake,  a  nati\e 
of  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thoiuas  antl  Harriet  (Dillon)  Lake, 
uho  renioxetl  from  \"irginia  to  Illinois  in 
1833  and  took  up  their  al>ode  in  Sangamon 
county. 

Thomas  M.  Harris  pursuetl  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Bedford.  Iowa, 
whither  his  parents  removed  in  his  youth. 
and  after  completing  his  literary  course  he 
engaged  in  teaching  for  three  years,  but,  de- 
termining to  make  the  i)i-actice  of  law  his 
life  work,  he  became  a  student  in  the  otrice 
and  under  the  direction  of  the  law  firm  of 
Blinn  6c  Hoblit,  of  Lincoln.  In  1893  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  for  two  years 
thereafter  was  in  the  employ  of  E.  D.  Blinn, 
with  whom  he  formed  a  partnership  in  1895. 
the  firm  of  Blinn  &  Harris  now  taking  front 
ra;ik  at  the  bar  of  Logan  county.  Mr.  Har- 
ris is  a  young  man  of  much  natural  ability, 
and  this  is  supplemented  by  industry, — 
without  which  there  is  no  success.  His 
devotion  to  his  clients'  interests  is  proverb- 
ial, and  he  prepares  his  cases  with  great 
thoroughness,  so  that  he  enters  the  court- 
room well  equipped  for  the  mental  contest. 
He  is  a  close  and  earnest  student,  and  his 
knowledge  of  the  law  is  comprehensixe  ami 
exact. 

In  October,  1895,  Mr.  Harris  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Belle  Johnston. 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Ir- 
^•ine)  Johnston,  both  of  wliom  were  nati\es 
of  Scotland  and  came  fnun  Canada  to  the 
United    States.     Tuo    children    grace    the 


marriage  of  our  subject  aiul  his  wife, — 
Homer  B.  and  Dean  J.  The  jiarent.-.  have 
a  very  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, and  the  hospitalities  of  the  best  lioiues 
are  extended  to  them.  Socially  Mr.  Harris 
is  well  known,  being  a  prominent  Mason, 
holding  membership  in  Logan  Lodge,  Xo. 
_'io,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Lincoln  Chapter,  Xo. 
147.  R.  .\.  A!.:  and  Constantine  Conimand- 
cry,  Xo.  51,  K.  T.  He  is  also  a  Xoble  of 
the  Alystic  Shrine,  belonging  to  -Mohammed 
Temple,  at  Peoria.  A  prominent  Repub- 
lican, he  is  a  man  of  influence  in  the  coun- 
cils of  his  party,  and  has  labored  effectively 
for  its  success.  From  1894  until  1896  he 
was  chairman  of  the  Republican  county 
central  committee,  and  during  that  period 
the  ]Kirty  carried  the  count}"  at  the  elections 
held.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Re])ublican 
state  committee  for  the  se\enteenth  district, 
and  is  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  secure  the 
adoption  of  Republican  principles,  believing 
them  best  calculated  to  advance  the  welfare 
of  state  and  nation.  His  attention,  how- 
e\er,  is  chiefi_\-  devoted  to  his  profession,  and 
his  ra])id  achancement  is  unmistakable 
proof  of  his  ability. 


WILLIA.M  RUPP. 


The  ability  of  a  man  to  rise  abo\e  the 
ranks  of  the  commonplace  and  attain  promi- 
nence in  the  business  world  presupposes  a 
strength  above  the  average,  a  stability  of 
character  that  will  endure  all  discourage- 
ment and  disap])ointment  and  in  tlie  end 
triumph  over  every  impediment  that  ob- 
structs the  |)atliway  to  success.  Such  quali- 
ties have  been  m;iiiil'est  in  the  career  of  Mr. 
Rupp,  who  st;u-ted  out  in  life  empty-handed. 


348 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


but  is  n(.)\v  one  of  tlie  large  land-owners  and 
jjrospenius  hankers  of  Logan  county.  He 
makes  his  liome  in  Mount  l^ilaski.  having 
remo\ed  to  this  cit}-  on  retiring  from  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Riipp  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Diegelsberg',  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wurt- 
emberg,  Germany,  IMarch  6,  1838,  a 
son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Boet- 
zel )  Rupp.  who  were  also  natives  of 
the  same  country.  In  185 1  they  left 
the  Fatherland,  and  with  their  family  sailed 
from  Havre,  reaching  New  York  after  a 
\"oyage  of  twenty-one  da}'s.  They  then  pro- 
ceeded wesj:ward  to  Bufifalo  anil  In-  way  of 
Naples,  Illinois,  to  Springfield,  and  later  to 
Logan  county.  When  they  arrived  here  the 
combined  cash  capital  of  the  family  would 
:not  ha\-e  amounted  to  forty  dollars.  For 
three  years  the  family  resided  upon  the 
farm  owned  In-  Theodore  Lorenz,  and  then 
the  father  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  near  Latham.  This  was  new  land, 
wild  and  unirnproved,  but  the  labors  of  the 
father  and  his  sons  soon  transformed  it  into 
a  valuable  and  producti\-e  tract.  Their  resi- 
dence, there  erected,  was  the  first  brick 
house  in  the  neighborhood.  P\ir  many  years 
the  father  successfully  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  in  his  later  years  was  en- 
abled to  enjoy  all  the  comforts  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life.  His  wife  died  on  the 
old  homestead  in  1886  and  he  survived  her 
three  years,  dying  in  1889.  They  were  de- 
\-out  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
earnest,  consistent  Christian  people.  The 
mother  was  a  widow,  Mrs.  ^^'eller,  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  to  George  Rupp.  She 
had  four  children  by  her  first  marriage, 
namely;  John,  who  died  in  Iowa;  Martin, 
deceased ;  George,  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Logan  county ;  and  Margaret,  widow  of 
George  Brooker.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupp 


were  born  three  sons :  Christian,  who  died 
in  infancy:  and  William  and  Christian,  of 
Mt.  Pulaski. 

William  Rupp  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  land  and  after  com- 
ing with  his  parents  to  the  new  world  he 
continued  his  studies  in  the  primitive 
schools  of  Logan  county.  liis  training  at 
farm  work  was  not  meager,  for  he  soon 
I)ecame  familiar  with  the  use  of  all  farm 
impleiuents  and  continued  to  assist  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  old  homestead  until  twen- 
ty-two years  of  age,  when  he  married,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Barbara  Stoll,  of 
Logan  county.  She  was  born  in  CJermany 
and  canie  to  .\merica  when  eight  years  of 
age  in  companv  with  her  father,  Ehrhardt 
Stoll. 

After  his  marriage  INlr.  Rup])  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  on  the  old  fam- 
ily homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which  he  now  owns.  Later  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in 
Mt.  Pula.ski,  and  at  different  times 
bought  other  tracts  of  eighty  acres,  of  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  and  the  farm  near 
Latham  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
making  in  all  six  lumdred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land.  This  is  now  very  \-aluable  and 
the  rental  from  his  farm  property  brings 
him  a  \er_\-  desirable  income.  He  engageci 
in  the  raising  of  wheat  and  corn  and  also 
made  a  specialty  (jf  the  breeding  of  fine 
hogs,  having  some  thoroughbred  males. 
His  farming  interests  were  carried  on  in- 
dustriously and  his  labors  resulted  in  bring- 
ing to  him  }ear  by  )-ear  a  handsome  in- 
come, which  in  part  was  laid  by  for  future 
u,se,  so  that  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  a 
handsome  competence.  He  lived  upon  the 
Mt.  Pulaski  farm  for  twelve  years  and  then 
removed  to  Mt.  Pulaski,  renting  his  land. 
Here  he  purchased,  in  1893,  an  interest  in 


'HE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


349 


the  Eirst  Xational  Bank,  of  wliicli  he  is  now 
one  of  the  leading  stockholders  and  a  di- 
rector. 

Mr.  Ru])p  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Mutual  Farmers  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  Logan  county,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  director  for  twelve  years,  and  takes  an  ac- 
tive part  in  its  affairs  and  has  done  much 
to  bring  tlie  success  the  company  now  en- 
joys. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rupp  ha\e  been  born 
three  sons  and  seven  daughters:  Charles, 
who  is  living  on  the  home  farm ;  \\"illiam,  a 
banker  of  Benton  Harbor,  Michigan ; 
George,  who  is  teller  in  the  Eirst  Xational 
Bank  of  ^Mount  Pulaski;  Sarah,  the  wife  of 
George  Lachenmeyer,  an  extensive  farmer 
of  Logan  county:  Pauline,  at  home;  Carrie 
and  Lillie.  b<iih  at  home:  Amelia,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Jacksonville  College ;  Effie,  attending 
the  high  school  of  Mount  Pulaski;  and 
Catherine,  deceased.  The  family  have  a 
very  pleasant  home  in  one  of  the  principal 
residence  districts  of  the  city.  The  house 
is  built  in  a  modern  style  of  architecture 
and  is  supplied  with  all  modern  conven- 
iences. In  politics,  on  national  questions. 
Mr.  Rupp  advocates  Democratic  principles, 
but  has  never  aspired  to  office,  preferring 
to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.  He  served,  however,  as 
township  treasurer  and  road  commissioner 
of  Laenna  township  for  thirteen  years.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran church,  of  which  Mr.  Rupp  has  been 
elder  for  many  years  and  secretary  of  the 
board  for  the  last  ten  years.  He  is  a  man 
of  excellent  business  judgment,  of  unflag- 
ging industry  and  strong  purpose,  and 
through  an  active  business  career  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until  he 
now  stands  in  an  enviable  position  on  the 


planes  of  affluence.  His  life  is  an  example 
well  wortliy  uf  emulation  to  all  who  wish 
to  gain  prosperity  through  honorable  ef- 
fort. 


PATRICK   O'BRIEX. 

.\mong  the  .prosperous  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Logan  county  are  man_\-  who  had 
their  nativity  in  countries  beyond  the  Atlan- 
tic, hut  in  Ijoyluwd  or  early  manhood  left  the 
lands  of  their  birth  to  seek  citizenship  and 
make  homes  for  themselves  in  this  great  re- 
public of  ours.  Among  those  who  have  won 
an  enviable  place  in  this  their  adopted  coun- 
ty is  Patrick  O'Brien,  who  resides  on  his 
farm  in  section  29.  Atlanta  township.  He 
is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Xora  (  OTJrien) 
O'Brien,  both  ni  whom  were  born  in  Ci unity 
Claire.  Ireland,  where  Michael  O'Brien  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 

Patrick  O'Brien,  one  of  four  children  in 
his  father's  family,  was  born  October  18, 
1832.  and  reared  on  a  farm.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1859  and  landed  in  the 
city  of  X'ew  York  penniless.  After  a  brief 
stay  in  that  city  he  came  to  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  by  the 
month.  Being  a  man  of  economical  habits 
he  saved  money  and  after  twenty-two  months 
purchased  about  eighty  acres  of  land.  In 
the  spring  of  1890.  he  moved  to  Logan  coun- 
ty, locating  on  the  farm  where  he  nnw  re- 
sides. It  consists  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
tive  acres  of  choice  land  within  sight  of  the 
city  of  Atlanta.  On  this  farm  he  has  been 
^•ery  successful.  The  young  man  who  land- 
ed in  the  United  States  without  money  has 
hv  his  own  efforts  secured  a  competence 
which  he  may  enjuy  with  his  many  friends 
as  long  as  he  lives. 


350 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


]\Ir.  O'Brien  was  married,  February  20, 
1865.  to  ;\Iiss  Eliza  ]\Iadigan,  a  daughter 
of  Jolin  ]\Iadigan,  who  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. Six  children  were  born  to  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  O'Brien,  namely  :  James,  whose  birth 
occurred  February  25,  1866;  Anna  L..  who 
was  born  April  3,  1868;  Mary  I.,  who  was 
born  July  i,  1871,  and  is  the  wife  of  Robert 
Bishop,  of  Atlanta:  Thomas  W'.,  who  was 
born  July  29,  1873;  John  AI.,  who  was  born 
May  8,  1875,  and  died  August  27,  1900; 
and  Eliza  C,  her  mother's  namesake,  who 
was  born  June  9.  1880.  JNIr.  O'Brien  and 
his  family  are  devout  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church. 


LAXDRCAI  BURCHETT. 

That  interesting  modern  innovation,  the 
department  store,  with  its  \aried  aggrega- 
tion of  interests  under  one  roof  within  easy 
access  of  the  most  enthusiastic  shopper,  is 
b}'  no  means  confined  to  the  larger  cities,  but 
has  representatives  conducted  with  con- 
summate skill  in  smaller  towns  of  the  union. 
At  New  Flolland  the  firm  of  Burchett  & 
Son  have  anticipated  the  all  around  needs  of 
the  community,  and  carry  a  complete  line  of 
dry-goods,  notions,  carpets,  hats  and  caps, 
general  merchandise  and  groceries,  and  have 
in  all  one  of  the  best  equipped  department 
stores  in  Logan  county,  the  value  of  the 
stock  being  between  twenty-five  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  The  firm  also  carries  on 
in  connection  with  their  general  enterprise  a 
large  private  banking  business  with  a  paid 
up  capital  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars, 
the  officers  of  the  bank  being,  president,  our 
su1>iect,  and  cashier,  C.  \V.  Binns. 

Until  his  twentieth  year  the  career  of 
Landrum  Burchett  was  uneventful,  and  not 
dilTerent  from  that  experienced  by  the  aver- 


age farm  reared  boy.  He  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  January,  1844.  and  in  his  early 
da}-s  had  unusually  good  educational  op- 
]iortunities.  His  father,  William  J.  Burch- 
ett, was  born  in  Kentuck\-.  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  nati\e  state.  Upon  at- 
taining his  majority  he  engaged  in  farming 
on  a  large  scale,  and  continued  this  occupa- 
tion with  success  until  his  death  in  1899. 
His  wife,  Emily  (Anxier)  Burchett,  still 
survives  him.  She  is  of  French  descent,  and 
is  the  mother  of  nine  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  li\-ing. 

The  beginning  of  the  Ci\-il  wav  naturally 
opened  a  vista  of  usefulness  and  adventure 
to  Landrum  Burchett,  and  in  the  early  part 
of  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Thirt\-- 
ninth  Kentucky  Volunteer  Infantr_\-,  and 
served  with  courage  and  distinction  until 
September,  1865.  .\fter  the  cessation  of 
hostilities  he  located  in  [Mason  county,  Bli- 
nois,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a 
general  merchandise  store,  and  there  gained 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  business,  manag- 
ing at  the  same  time  to  save  considerable 
mone\-.  In  May,  1875,  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  G.  M.  Laford,  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  New  Holland,  and 
continued  the  same  until  the  business  was 
destroyed  In-  fire  in  1885.  Xothing  daunted, 
he  immediately  started  up  an  even  larger 
enterprise,  taking  as  his  partner  his  son. 
Oscar,  with  whom  he  has  since  amicably 
continued  to  manage  his  large  and  growing 
enterprise.  To  his  contemporaries  in  the 
business  and  social  world  I\Ir.  Bnrcliett  is 
not  only  a  model  financier  and  sountl  busi- 
ness man,  but  he  re])resents  the  all  around 
enterprise  of  Xew  Holland,  and  is  foremost 
in  promoting  her  interests  in  whatever  direc- 
tion. .Vs  a  stanch  and  uncompromising  ad- 
herent of  the  Rei)ublican  party  he  has  al- 
ways taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  party,  but 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


has  never  had  the  time  nor  inclination  to 
liohl  ..r  .-eek  office. 

Mrs.  Burchclt  was  formerly  Harriet  \'an 
Bibber,  daughter  of  Cyrus  Wan  Bibl)er,  a 
southerner  l)y  birth,  claiming-  \'irginia  as 
his  natal  state,  and  a  farmer  by  ocupation. 
ilrs.  Burchett.  who  was  born  ]-'ebruary  21. 
i><-r\,  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  Oscar. 


HIRAM    LIA\1S  COSBY.   M.   D. 

Dr.  Hiram  Lewis  Co.sby  is  one  of  the 
best  read  and  most  successful  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  Lincoln,  and  althougli  com- 
paratively a  young  man  has  already  won  an 
enviable  jxisition  in  the  ranks  of  his  profes- 
sional brethren.  He  is  a  native  of  Logan 
county,  born  on  a  farm  in  Broadwell  town- 
ship, October  27,  1865,  and  is  a  son  ot 
Nathaniel  and  Eliza  J.  (Foster)  Cosby. 
His  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, was  born  in  Richmond,  \'irginia.  in 
1813,  and  belonged  to  a  good  old  Virginia 
family.  The  Doctor's  great-grandfather 
came  to  this  country  from  Scotland  at  an 
early  day  and  settled  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
In  1845  Nathaniel  Cosby  came  to  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  and  here  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  ]Miss  Eliza  J.  Foster,  who 
was  born  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  in  1826. 
and  was  only  four  years  old  when  brought 
to  this  state  by  her  f;ither.  Washington 
Foster,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Logan  county. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject 
was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  near  his 
boyhood  home,  and  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  at  Lake  Forest  University  at  Lake 
Forest.  Illinois,  where  he  was  a  student  for 
some  time.  He  then  commenced  the  stuily 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  II.  11.  lirown.  of  Lin- 
coln, and  later  attended   Rush  Medical  Col- 


lege. Chicago,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1889  at  the  head  of  his  class.  He  opened 
an  office  in  Lincoln  in  August  of  that  _\ear, 
and  has  since  engaged  in  practice  at  this 
place  with  most  excellent  success.  Cioing 
to  Eurtipe  in  1892,  he  took  a  special  course 
in  surgery  in  the  hospitals  of  Vienna.  Hei- 
delburg.  Paris  and  London,  remaining 
abroad  three  years.  On  his  return  to  Amer- 
ica he  resumed  practice  in  Lincoln,  and  is 
today  one  of  the  leading  practitioners  of  the 
])lace.  his  patronage  being  cpiite  extensive. 
He  is  a  close  and  thorough  student,  a  man 
of  deep  research,  and  his  investigations  into 
the  science  of  medicine  and  his  skillful  ap- 
plication of  the  knowledge  he  has  thereby 
accpiired  has  won  him  a  place  in  the  fore- 
most ranks  of  the  medical  profession.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Brainard  District  Medi- 
cal  Society. 

In  1891  Dr.  Cosby  married  Miss  Mary 
Barrett,  of  Lincoln,  a  daughter  of  M.  W". 
Barrett,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
this  place.  She  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Lincoln  and  Boston.  Massachusetts.  The 
Doctor  and  bis  wife  have  one  son.  Mark 
Barrett  Cosbw 


LEONARD  K.  SCROGCIN. 

More  than  three-score  years  and  ten  have 
passed  since  Leonard  K.  Scroggin  became  a 
resident  of  Logan  county,  and  he  is  justly 
numbered  among  her  honored  pioneers  and 
leading  citizens.  He  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  her  business  interests  as  a 
farmer  and  banker.  His  is  an  honorable 
record  of  a  conscienti(~>us  man  who  by  his 
upright  life  has  won  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  Through 
more  than  four  score  vears  lu"  has  traveled 


352 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


life's  journey,  but  although  the  snows  of 
many  winters  have  fallen  upon  him  he  has 
the  vigor  of  a  much  younger  man  and  in 
spirit  and  interests  seems  yet  in  his  prime. 
His  is  an  active  old  age,  and  his  has  been  an 
acti\e  life.  He  is  to-day  numbered  among 
the  most  prosperous  men  of  central  Illinois, 
a  position  to  which  he  has  attained  entirely 
through  his  own  efforts  and  as  the  result  of 
untiring  energy,  enterprise  and  determina- 
tion. 

Leonard  K.  Scroggin  was  l)orn  in  Gal- 
latin comity.  Illinois,  January  25.  i8iy.  and 
is  descended  from  prominent  old  southern 
families.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Hum- 
phrey Scroggin,  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina  and  married  ]\Iiss  Sarah  Kirby,  of 
Virginia.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  offered 
his  services  to  the  Continental  Army  and 
fought  throughout  the  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence, being  present  when  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  surrendered  the  British  troops  to  Gen- 
eral A\'ashington  at  Yorktown,  and  thus 
practically  ended  the  war  and  proclaimed  the 
liberty  of  the  colonists.  Carter  T.  Scrog- 
gin, the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  but  in  territorial  days  in  Illinois, 
he  came  with  his  people  to  that  common- 
wealth, locating  in  Gallatin  county,  where 
he  met  and  married  Phebe  Shelby,  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  whence  she  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Tennessee  and  thence  to 
Pope  county,  Illinois.  Her  father.  Jacob 
Shelby,  married  Miss  Easter,  and  the  great- 
grandfather was  a  native  of  ^^"ales. 

When  Carter  T.  Scroggin  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  state  in  181 1.  they  lived  in 
a  little  log  cal)in.  sixteen  by  eighteen  feet, 
and  there  endured  all  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  pioneer  life.  In  1827,  having 
married  in  the  meantime,  he  brouglit  his 
family  to  Logan  covmty,  settling  four  miles 
south   of   Blount   Pulaski,   where  he  estab- 


lished his  home,  living  in  an  unhewn  log 
house  with  puncheon  floor  that  stood  near 
the  timber  skirting  Lake  Fork.  He  purchased 
his  land  from  the  government  and  at  once 
began  the  development  of  a  farm  which  he 
improved  as  the  years  passed,  making  it  a 
valuable  property.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  also  added  to  his  prop- 
erty until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the 
owner  of  six  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land. 
The  family  went  through  the  usual  experi- 
ences of  pioneer  life,  when  comforts  and 
conxeniences  were  hard  tn  obtain  owjng  to 
the  remoteness  from  towns  and  the  lack  of 
transportation  facilities.  In  the  winter  of 
1 830-3 1  occurred  what  has  since  been  known 
in  history  as  the  "deep  snow,"  during  which 
time  the  family  lived  on  corn  meal  pounded 
in  a  wooden  mortar  and  never  tasting  wheat 
bread  from  November  until  the  following 
spring.  ]Mr.  Scroggin  died  in  1859,  leaving 
a  valuable  farm  and  other  property  to  his 
ten  children.  The  members  of  the  family 
were  Mary  A..  Russell  Shelby.  Humphrey, 
Esther  J.,  Sarah  E.,  Pleasant  ]M.,  Carter  T., 
Thomas  J.,  Ellen  and  Leonard  K. 

The  last  named  was  a  little  latl  of  only 
eight  summers  when  brought  Ijy  his  family 
to  Logan  county  and  amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  the  frontier  he  was  reared.  He  pursued 
his  education  in  a  log  school  house  during 
three  months  in  the  yeai"  and  throughout  the 
remainder  of  the  time  performed  such  work 
on  the  fann  as  his  age  and  strength  would 
permit,  at  length  becoming  able  to  do  a 
man"s  work  in  the  fields.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  began  farming  on  his  own  account 
on  forty  acres  of  his  own  entering,  also  hav- 
ing entered  forty  acres  of  timber  land.  There 
he  resided  for  eleven  years,  in  the  meantime 
extending  the  boundaries  of  the  jilace  until 
it  comprised  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
He  f(_)llowed  general  farming  and  also  raised 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


355 


cattle,  horses,  slieep  and  hogs.  Success  at- 
tended his  well  directed  efforts  and  as  the 
years  i)assed  he  made  judicious  investments 
in  land  until  he  is  n>>\\  the  owner  ui  five 
thousand  acres  in  Logan  county  alone.  His 
landed  possessions  elsewhere  aggregate 
twenty  thousand  acres,  including  land  in  Xe- 
hraska  and  Missouri  and  ten  thousand  acres 
of  Minnesota  land,  which  he  has  purchased 
within  the  last  eighteen  months.  He  is  a 
man  of  keen  husiness  sagacity,  his  judgment 
rarely  if  ever  at  fault,  and  this  quality  lias 
enahled  him  to  so  place  his  money  in  farm- 
ing property  that  he  is  reaping  a  good  finan- 
cial return  therefrom  continually.  In  May. 
1872.  Mr.  Scroggin  organized  the  Farmers 
Bank,  and  in  the  business  associated  his  son 
with  him.  The  institution  has  been  a  pay- 
ing one  from  the  beginning.  The  reliability 
of  the  owner  and  their  safe  business  methods 
have  made  it  one  of  the  solid  financial  insti- 
tutions of  the  county  and  its  patronage  has 
reached  extensive  proportions. 

In  early  manhood  Leonard  K.  Scroggin 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ^Miss  Lavinia 
Buckles,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Buckles.  She 
was  born  in  Logan  county  in  i8j6  and  the 
marriage  was  celebrated  in  1841.  Mrs. 
Scroggin  was  called  to  her  final  rest  Jan- 
uarv  16.  1863.  The  ten  children,  three  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  born  of  this  mhon  all 
grew  to  mature  years,  namely :  Alfred  C. : 
Mary  and  Elsie,  now  deceased;  Angeline; 
Phoebe  Ann;  Sarah;  Leonard;  Susan  and 
Benjamin  F.  and  Evaline.  deceased  wife  of 
George  \'eal.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  ^Ir.  Scroggin  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Rhoda  A. 
I'ickering.  the  widow  of  Thomas  Pickering 
and  the  daughter  of  George  Girtman,  form- 
erlv  of  Missouri,  whence  he  remo\e<l  to 
Mount  Pulaski  township.  Logan  county, 
where  the  l)irth  of  Mrs.  Scroggin  occurred. 


By  the  second  marriage  there  were  three 
children:  llerlicrt.  now  deceased;  Thomas 
A.,  who  is  cashier  in  the  Farmers  Bank;  and 
I'.ilna.  the  wife  ol   Logan  Andrews. 

Log:ni  L-ounty  and  especially  Mount  Pul- 
aski owes  much  to  the  enterprising  spirit  of 
Mr.  Scroggin,  who  has  been  particularly  act- 
ive in  the  upbuilding  and  improvement  of 
the  city.  He  built  the  bank,  opera  house 
and  the  Scroggin  House  in  1877,  has  erected 
other  fine  buildings  and  has  co-operated  in 
man\-  movements  and  measures  for  the  gen- 
eral good.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  unswerving  in  support  of 
the  principles  of  the  party,  although  party 
oftice  or  emoluments  have  had  no  attraction 
for  him.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  has  ever  been  a  man  of 
upright  jirinciples.  honorable  in  business  and 
trustworthy  in  every  relation  of  life.  In 
January,  1899,  on  the  eightieth  anniversary 
of  his  birth  a  family  reunion  was  held  at 
which  thirteen  families  were  represented, 
sixtv  in  all  being  present,  including,  chil- 
dren, grandchildren  and  great-grandchil- 
dren. The  family  which  'Sir.  Scroggin  has 
established  i'^  a  credit  to  his  name  and  the 
part  which  they  ha\-e  played  in  the  affairs  of 
Logan  county  is  an  important  one.  Xo  his- 
tory of  this  section  of  the  state  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  this  honored 
and  venerable  gentleman,  one  of  the  leading- 
agriculturists  of  the  state  and  a  man  oi  up- 
right principles  and  sterling  worth,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 


JOIIX  \V.  SEXTOX. 

:;■  the  siildier-citizens  of  Logan 
linois.  John  \\'.  Sexton,  of  Ches- 
liip,   is   recognized   as   one  of  the 


354 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


best  representatives  of  those  brave  men  who 
risked  their  hves  to  preserve  the  union  and 
our  liberties.  Mr.  Sexton  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, November  28,  1836,  and  went  l(j 
Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1858  from  his  native 
state. 

Later  he  came  to  Logan  county  and  here 
he  was  married  to  ]\Iiss  Sarah  J.  I'lailey. 
They  had  five  children,  fimr  nf  whom  are 
living,  namely :  George  S.,  who  is  married 
and  resides  at  home;  Anna  Rozella,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Nicholas  Hocker  and  resides  in 
Lincoln:  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Nur- 
man  A.  Scanlan  and  resides  in  Athens.  Illi- 
nois; and  Eliza  J.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Price.  The  first  wife  died  in  1875  and 
^larch  iS,  1879,  ]\lr.  Sexton  married  },Iiss 
Nancv  Lott.  bv  wlmm  he  has  had  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Clara  Hell,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Cliarles  Smock  and  resides  at  home: 
John  Edmund:  Charles  Albert:  Ernest  H. , 
and  William  McKinley,  who  are  at  liDme. 
r\Irs.  Sexton  was  born  in  Wheeling,  West 
Virginia,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1864  with 
her  parents,  George  and  Rebecca  (Bonner) 
Lott,  who  located  in  Sangamon  count}-. 

In  church  matters  Mr.  Sextnn  is  a  mem- 
l:>er  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  while 
his  wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  church, 
and  l)oth  are  very  worthy  people.  He  has 
iihvays  been  a  Repuljlican  and  supports  the 
candidates  of  that  party. 

Mr.  Se.xton  is  justly  proud  of  his  record 
as  a  soldier,  for  he  fought  bravely  for  his 
country.  He  was  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiment  of  Illi- 
nois \'olunteer  Infantry,  was  nuistered  in  at 
Springfield,  and  ser\ed  for  three  years. 
Among  the  battles  in  which  he  jiarticipated 
were  those  of  Vicksburg.  Champion  Hill. 
Tackson.  Mississippi,  tiermantown.  and 
man\-  others.    During  all  these  engagements 


"Air.  Sexton  was  never  wounded  or  cap- 
tured, although  he  was  always  in  the  thick- 
est of  the  fight.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  honoral)l_\-  discharged  at  Spring- 
field and  returned  home  to  his  more  peace- 
ful duties.  Although  he  only  received  a 
common  school  education,  he  is  well  in- 
formed on  current  topics  and  occupies  a 
well  recognized  place  among  the  substantial 
men  of  Chester  township,  where  he  has  re- 
sided for  so  manv  vears. 


WILLIAAl  N.  AIOUXTjOY. 

The  subject  of  this  jjerscuial  history  is 
one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Emi- 
nence township,  and  belongs  to  one  of  its 
pn.>nunent  old  families,  being  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Sina  A'.  (Thompson)  Alountjoy. 
The  father  was  born  in  Kentucky.  June  _'(.), 
1822.  and  in  1834  came  to  Logan  county, 
and  settled  on  section  ,:;5.  Eminence  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  for  many  years.  The 
greater  part  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  farm- 
ing, though  at  one  time  he  was  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Armington, 
Tazewell  countv,  but  was  only  interested 
there  for  about  two  years.  He  controlled 
considerable  properly,  having  met  with  ex- 
cellent success  in  his  undertakings,  enabling 
him  to  ac(|uire  a  large  estate.  He  was  a 
uell-read  man  and  a  most  capable  financier. 
His  death  occurred  April  9,  1894,  and  the 
mother  of  i>ur  subject  passed  away  Septem- 
ber _'(),  iS()0,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
vears.  The  father  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  bdvina 
Thomijson.  Of  the  eight  cliildren  born  of 
the  first  uiuou  se\en  still  sm-\i\e.  I'>y  the 
second  marriage  there  was  one  child  that 
Q-rcw  to  maturitv.  1'..  L.  Alountjoy,  a  sketch 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


357 


of  whom  will  be  found  on  another  page  of 
this  work. 

William  .\.  Mduntjuy,  of  this  review, 
was  born  in  Eminence  towiship.  on  the  i  ith 
of  March,  1850,  and  received  a  good,  prac- 
tical education  in  the  district  school.  On 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  he  chose  the  occupation  to 
which  he  had  been  reared — that  of  farming, 
— and  for  four  years  operated  a  farm  on 
section  2,  Eminence  township.  He  then 
removed  to  Mt.  Hope  township,  }^IcLean 
county,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his  re- 
moval to  his  present  farm  in  1889.  This 
place  consists  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  rich  and  arable  lantl  on  'sections  13  antl 
14.  Eminence  township,  and  is  one  of  the 
best  cultivated  and  most  desiralile  farms  of 
its  size  in  the  locality. 

In  1871  Mr.  [Nbjuntjoy  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar  Miss  Martha  C.  Stroud,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Laban  Stroud,  one  of  Tazewell 
county's  most  progressive  citizens,  and  a 
representative  of  an  old  family.  ^Irs. 
;Mountjoy,  who  was  born  October  16,  1850, 
is  a  descendant  of  one  Peter  Stroud,  her 
great-great-grandfather,  who  was  a  native 
of  Xorth  Carolina.  He  married,  and  one 
of  his  children,  Jesse,  became  the  great- 
grandfather of  Mrs.  ]Mountjoy.  The  latter's 
son,  Thomas  Stroud,  married  Sally  Thomp- 
son in  1812,  the  marriage  ceremony  being 
performed  in  Tennessee.  .\  large  family 
was  the  result  of  this  union,  one  of  whom 
was  Laban,  the  father  of  Mrs.  [Mountjoy. 
He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1830, 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Eminence  township.  Logan 
county,  wliere  they  lived  until  death  called 
them  to  their  final  rest.  Laban  Stroud,  on 
leaving  home,  took  up  his  residence  in 
Tazewell  county,  where  he  lived  until  about 
twelve  years  ago,  when  he  moved  to  Liv- 


ingston county  and  tijok  up  his  residence  in 
Pontiac,  where  he  is  n^iw  living  a  retired 
life.  He  has  met  with  success  in  his  under- 
takings and  is  able  t.)  lay  aside  the  more 
active  duties  ni  life  and  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  former  toil. 

As  a  result  of  the  union  of  William 
Muuntjoy  and  }klartha  C.  Stroud,  the  follow- 
ing children  have  been  born:  Lorain  M.. 
born  October  8,  1873;  Leslie  E.,  June 
16.  1875:  Lena  M.,  February  2^.  1877; 
Edna  B..  January  4,  1879;  Bessie  S.,  Sep- 
tember 10.  1880;  Henry  D.,  May  13, 
1883;  and  Harry  X.,  August  28,  18S7. 
Lena  M..  the  only  child  that  is  married,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Frank  Goodman. 

The  family  all  hold  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  and  Mr.  Mount  joy  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in 
supjiort  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  for  seven  years  he  effici- 
ently served  as  road  commissioner  in  his 
township.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
promoting  the  welfare  of  his  township  and 
county,  encouraging  and  financially  aiding 
all  enterprises  tending  to  benefit  the  public, 
and  enjoys  in  a  high  degree  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 


JAMES  B.  FOLEY. 

One  of  the  most  progressive  and  ener- 
getic farmers  of  .Atlanta  township  is  James 
B.  Foley,  who  is  living  on  section  i.  He  is 
one  of  Logan  county's  native  sons  and  a 
representative  of  one  of  her  old  and  hi>n- 
()re<l  families,  whose  identification  with  her 
history  dates  from  an  early  period  in  the 
development  of  the  county.  It  was  in  the 
fall  of  1834  that  his  grandiiarent-^.  Stei)hcn 


358 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  Elizabeth  Foley,  located  here  and  pur- 
chased fom-  hundred  acres  of  land  in  .Vt- 
lanta  township,  upon  which  lie  made  his 
home  until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1849. 
He  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his  wife  of 
Pennsylvania.  Her  death  occurred  here  in 
1864.      In  their  family  were  twelve  children. 

Stephen  L.  Foley,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Clarke  county,  (_)hio,  and 
was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm,  his  edu- 
cation being  acifuired  in  the  country  sclmols 
of  this  county.  In  April.  1S55,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Plmebe  Mduch- 
in,  who  died  Ajiril  14,  iSOi.  and  he  was 
again  married  .\ugust  10,  1862,  his  second 
uniiiu  l)eing  with  Miss  Emeline  Hanley,.who 
was  originally  from  Ohiu,  and  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  two  still  living,  namely: 
Fannie,  wife  of  Walter  C.  Decker,  of  At- 
lanta townshiii:  and  James  1!..  our  subject. 
Throughout  life  the  father  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  operating  the  old  home 
farm.  There  he  died  February  2~ ,  i8qt, 
and  the  mother  of  our  suljject  passed  away 
May  4,  1901. 

James  B.  Foley,  of  this  review,  was  born 
on  the  ol<l  homestead  in  Atlanta  township, 
March  i,  1867,  and  received  a  good  practical 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  this 
count}-,  at  the  same  time  accjuiring  an  ex- 
cellent knowledge  of  all  the  duties  which  fall 
to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  His  life  has 
been  spent  on  the  farm  where  he  first  ojiened 
his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day,  and  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land  on  sections  },z  and  ^j^,  Atlanta  town- 
sliilip,  and  sixteen  acres  in  Oran  township, 
which  he  rents.  He  is  a  thorough  and  sys- 
tematic farmer,  and  is  meeting  with  excel- 
lent success  in  business  affairs. 

Mr.  Foley  was  married  Novemlier  6, 
1887,  to  Miss  Helen  Mehrten.  a  daughter 
of  Deitrick  and  Catherine  (Becker)   ]\Iehr- 


ten,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Ger- 
many. One  child  blesses  this  union,  Donald, 
who  was  boni  March  6,  1890,  and  is  now 
attending  the  schools  of  Atlanta.  He  is  a 
very  bright,  energetic  lad  of  eleven  years. 
Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Foley  have  a  very  pleasant 
home  supplied  with  modern  improvements 
and  conveniences.  Both  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  are  highly  respected 
by  all  who  know  them  for  their  genial  and 
pleasant  manner.  Socially  Mr.  Foley  is  a 
member  of  the  Indeiiendent  Order  of  ^lu- 
tual  Aid,  and  politically  he  affiliates  with  the 
Repuljlican  part}-. 


I'.R.VSTL'S   \\-RlGHT"  BATES. 

The  subject  of  this  personal  narrativ- 
is  one  of  the  most  successful  and  progressive 
agriculturists  within  the  borders  of  East  Lin- 
coln town.ship,  his  home  being  on  section 
32.  He  has  made  his  special  field  of  indus- 
try an  eminent  success,  and  is  to-day  the 
owner  of  some  valuable  property.  He  has 
lieen  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  1854,  and 
after  residing  in  Sangamon  county  six  years 
came  to  Logan  county,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home. 

:Mr.  Bates  was  born  in  Orleans  county, 
A'ern-iont,  June  15,  1847,  a  son  of  William 
P.  and  Ann  i  Wright )  Bates,  who  were 
early  Settlers  of  this  county,  the  father  be- 
ing engaged  in  farming  in  Broadwell  town- 
ship for  several  years,  and  in  the  lumber 
and  real  estate  business  in  Lincoln  for  ten 
vears.  He  sub-divided  three  divisions 
of  West  Lincoln.  His  wife  was  a  sister 
of  Erastus  Wright,  who  laid  out  the  origi- 
nal plat  of  Lincoln.  William  P.  Bates  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  active  life  in  Logan 
countv,  ami  becan-ie   widel\-  and   favorably 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


known  in  this  locality,  but  was  residing  with 
a  daughter  in  Springfield  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  born  January  12,  1807,  and 
died  in  April,  1891.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  in  181 1,  died  at  the  home  of  her  son 
in  Lincoln  in  1888.  They  were  the  parents 
of  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely:  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Aldrich.  a 
widow  living  in  Chicago:  Mrs.  P.  \\'. 
'Harts,  of  Springfield:  Erastus  \\'.,  our  sub- 
ject: and  Mrs.  Emma  Hale,  of  Chicago. 
The  two  older  daughters  completed  their  ed- 
ucation in  Jacksonville.  Illinois,  and  the 
youngest  at  Andover,  Massachusetts.  The 
father  was  originally  a  ^^■hig  in  politics 
and  on  the  dissolution  of  that  party  became 
a  Republican.  In  early  life  he  was  captain 
of  militia  in  \'ermont,  and  was  always  quite 
prominent  in  the  community  where  he  made 
his  home. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of 
Lincoln,  Erastus  ^^^  Bates  ttxjk  a  commer- 
cial course  at  the  Springfield  Business  Col- 
lege. He  then  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Elkhart  township  until  1875.  when  he 
purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  for 
which  he  paid  thirty-eight  dollars  per  acre, 
but  it  has  since  trebled  in  value.  In  connec- 
tion with  farming  he  has  engaged  in  the 
stock-raising  business  on  an  extensive  scale, 
and  has  been  remarkably  successful  in  both 
undertakings.  He  now  has  twenty-six  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Lo- 
gan county,  all  under  cultivation,  which  he 
rents,  except  the  home  place  of  seventy- 
eight  acres  on  section  32.  East  Lincoln 
township,  where  he  located  in  1891.  Here 
he  has  a  very  commodious  and  elegant  mod- 
ern residence,  built  in  1893,  and  the  other 
improvements  upon  the  place  are  in  keep- 
ing with  his  home.    Besides  his  farm  prop- 


erty, Mr.  Bates  owns  some  real  estate  in 
Lincoln. 

On  the  19th  of  August,  1875,  Mr.  Bates 
married  Miss  Adaline  Gillette  Chamberlin, 
a  niece  of  John  Gillette.  She  was  lx)rn  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  in  1851,  and  after 
completing  her  education  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  pul)lic  schools  of  that  state. 
By  this  union  there  have  been  born  three 
children:  Annette  C,  at  home;  Adaline 
G.,  who  was  married  ilay  15,  1901,  to  Rob- 
ert P.  Hartwell,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and 
William  C.  who  took  a  scientific  course  at 
Lincoln  University,  and  since  his  gradua- 
tion has  traveled  quite  extensively  in  the  old 
world. 

Mr.  fjates  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  of 
Lincoln,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  a  great  party  worker.  Systematic  and 
methcKlical,  his  sagacity,  keen  discrimination 
and  sound  judgment  have  made  him  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  farmers  in  Logan  coun- 
tv.  and  he  is  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  cuntact, 
either  in  business  or  social  life. 


THOMAS  M.  CAMERER. 

This  well  known  citizen  of  Atlanta  is 
one  of  the  most  extensive  contractors  and 
builders  of  Logan  and  adjoining  counties. 
Thoroughly  reliable  in  all  things,  the  qual- 
ity of  his  work  is  a  convincing  test  of  his 
personal  worth  and  the  same  admirable  trait 
is  shown  in  his  conscientious  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  the  diflferent  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility  to  which  he  has  been 
clKisen  in  business  and  political  life. 


360 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  Camerer  is  one  of  Illinois'  native 
sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Edgar 
CL'unty.  January  7,  1833.  He  is  one  of  a 
ir.mily  of  eight  children,  whose  parents  were 
John  and  Harriet  (Dill)  Camerer.  The 
father  was  born  in  the  Keystone  state,  in 
October,  1805.  and  belonged  to  an  old  Penn- 
sylvania family.  \\'hen  a  young  man  he 
went  to  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  plas- 
terer's trade,  and  it  was  there  that  he  met 
and  married  Miss  Harriet  Dill.  In  the  fall 
of  1832  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  became 
cue  (if  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Edgar  county, 
•,^■here  he  followed  his  trade,  together  with 
farming,  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
about  1847.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
died  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  in  1849.  Her 
father  was  Benjamin  Dill,  who  was  a  farm- 
er bv  occupation  and  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  Ohin.  but  the  last  fifteen  years 
he  lived  in  this  state. 

Reared  upon  the  home  farm  in  the  midst 
of  frontier  scenes,  Thomas  M.  Camerer  oli- 
tained  a  meager  education  in  an  old  log 
school  house,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
for  a  few  months.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  commenced  learning  the  trade  of  a  cabi- 
net maker  in  his  native  county,  but  in  1856 
turned  his  attention  to  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  has  followed  ever  since.  For 
fortv-one  years  he  has  now  been  a  resident 
of  Logan  county,  and  is  to-day  tme  of  its 
most  prominent  contractors  and  Iniilders. 
His  son.  John  T..  is  now  associated  with 
him  in  business,  and  they  emplo\-  from  eight 
to  ten  men  during  the  busy  season. 

Mr.  Camerer  was  married  in  i860  to 
Miss  Marguerite  McKee,  a  daughter  of 
John  McKee,  of  Atlanta,  and  to  them  were 
born  four  children,  but  only  two  are  now 
living,  namely:  John  T.,  who  was  born  in 
1864,  and  is  now  in  partnership  with  his  fa- 
ther: and  Pearl,  wild  was  born  in  1866. 


In  business  affairs  IVIr.  Camerer  has 
steadily  prospered,  and  has  been  a  director 
of  the  Atlanta  National  Bank  since  1896. 
He  is  the  oldest  Odd  Fellow  in  the  city. 
In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  his  fellow  citizens,  recog- 
nizing his  cai^abilities,  have  called  upon  him 
to  serve  as  supervisor  of  Atlanta  township 
three  terms ;  and  alderman  of  the  city  of  At- 
lanta two  terms.  He  discharged  the  duties 
of  both  positions  in  a  most  creditable  and 
satisfactory  manner.  He  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  cit\"  and  is  noted  for  his 
iileasing  manner  and  liberalitv. 


JOHN  SPIXKER. 

John  Spinker.  a  farmer  and  owner  of 
two  hundred  acres  of  rich  farming  land  on 
section  16.  Prairie  Creek  township,  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  since  1867  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  tlie  prosperous  citizens  of  his  locality. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Germany.  May 
23,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  ]\Iaggie 
(Dowan)  Spinker.  both  of  whom  were  na- 
ti\-es  of  Germany.  They  came  to  America 
in  1S67,  and  after  landing  in  Xew  '^I'ork 
came  to  Peoria.  Illinois,  and  remained  there 
one  winter.  They  then  located  in  Prairie 
Creek  township,  Logan  county,  on  section 
16.  upon  the  farm  our  subject  now  owns, 
and  resided  there  until  their  demise,  the  fa- 
ther's death  occurring  in  1888,  and  the 
mother's  April  5,  1897.  Seven  children 
were  torn  to  them,  namely:  Hannah,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Philip  Loh,  who  resides  in 
Missouri:  Minnie,  who  married  Ed.  Yon- 
can,  and  is  now  deceased;  John,  our  sub- 
ject:  Henry,  who  died  in  1869:  \\'illie,  who 
died  in  German\-  and  two  others  who  died  in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


361 


infancy  in  Germany.  Those  who  surxiveil 
received  gXKxl  common-school  echications. 

After  comi)letiny  his  education  in  tnc 
district  schools,  yiv.  Spinker  embarked  in 
his  life  work — farming —  and  engaged  witli 
various  farmers  of  the  neighborhood  and 
assisted  his  father  on  the  old  homestead. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  he  took  cliarge 
of  the  home  jjlace  and  now  owns  one  of  the 
iUiest  farms  in  the  county,  where  he  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  in 
which  he  has  been  very  successful. 

On  July  10,  1893,  ]\lr.  Sjjinker  married 
Catherine  Ethscraper,  a  nati\e  of  Germany, 
and  five  chikh-en  have  lieen  born  of  this 
union.  namel\' :  Henry;  Oscar;  William. 
deceased;  and  Clarence  and  Esther,  twins. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  earnest  members  of  the 
Jlethodist  church  of  San  Jose,  this  county. 

The  ne])hew  of  }ilr.  Spinker,  Plarry 
Spinker,  also  resides  upon  the  farm  and  as- 
sists our  subject  in  the  conduct  of  the  farm. 
By  his  uprightness  of  purpose,  honesty  of 
deahng  and  genial  manner,  Mr.  Spinker  has 
made  many  friends  for  himself  and  is  vtvy 
jKjpular  not  onl\-  in  the  township  liut  also 
throughout  the  entire  county. 


JOSEPH  A.   T.XBKE. 

Josepli  .\.  Tabke,  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Cierman-.\mcrican  National  Bank  of 
Lincoln.  Illinois,  was  l)orn  in  Cincimiati. 
Ohio,  Xf)veml)er  14,  1859,  a  son  of  Anton 
and  Elizabeth  (Taphorn)  Talike,  who  were 
natives  of  Oldenljurg,  Germany,  and  enu- 
grated  to  the  United  States  when  young, 
their  marriage  Ijeing  cclebraleil  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  the  lather  was  engaged 
in  business  for  fifteen  _\ears.     Subsequentl 


they  were  residents  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
for  a  lime  and  then  returned  to  Cincinnati. 
In  i.SSn  they  came  t,.  Lincoln.  Illin.iis,  where 
the  father  b\ed  retired  until  his  death,  wiiich 
occurred  July  1  4.  1886.  His  wife  still  sur- 
\-ives  him  and  imw  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject  in  Lincoln. 

Josei)li  A.  Tabke  is  the  second  son  in 
his  father's  famil\-  and  the  only  one  now 
li\-ing.  J  le  receixed  the  rudiments  of  his 
education  in  the  pul)Iic  schools  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  later  attended  the  parochial  school 
at  St.  Peters.  Missouri,  where  he  prosecuted 
his  studies  for  a  time.  He  then  entered  St. 
Francis  Seminary  at  St.  Francis,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  was  graduated,  and  later  com- 
l)leted  the  jjrescribed  course  at  the  Peoria 
Normal  College,  graduating  there  in  1880. 
Coining  to  Lincoln,  Air.  Tabke  then  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  St.  AIary"s  parochial 
school  for  hve  years,  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  entered  the  emplo}-  of  the 
Lincoln  National  Bank,  where  he  remained 
about  three  years,  when  he  was  chosen  as- 
si.stant  cashier  in  the  German- American  Na- 
tional Bank,  which  responsible  position  he 
has  since  acceptalily  tilled. 

\n  189J  Mr.  Tabke  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  ]Mrs.  Mary  Spitly,  of  Lincoln, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  I\Iary  Eckert,  and 
liy  this  union  were  born  two  sons :  Joseph 
A.,  deceased;  and  Carl  W.  ^\s  a  Democrat 
l\h.  Tabke  has  taken  c[uite  an  active  and 
intluentiril  ]);irt  in  local  politics,  and  for  six 
years  he  represented  the  third  ward  in  the 
city  council,  during  which  time  the  city  hall 
was  built  and  a  number  of  other  improve- 
ments made.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Mar- 
tin's .\id  Society  and  the  Catholic  order  of 
l'"oresters.  .•iiid  is  an  affable  and  ])olished 
genlleman  of  high  social  cpialities  ami  very 
popular.  lia\iiig  a  most  extensive  circle  of 
r   friends  and  ac(|uaintances  who  esteem  him 


362 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


highly.  He  belongs  to  St.  Mary's  church, 
of  which  he  was  at  one  time  a  trustee,  and 
also  was  organist  and  director  of  the  choir. 
He  built  a  tine  house  at  309  West  Sixth 
street.  Mr.  Tabke  has  made  his  present  po- 
sition entirely  unaided,  ha\ing  started  in 
life  poor  and  worked  his  wa)-  steadily  up- 
ward. 


joHX  ^^^  eozarth,  m.  d. 

One  of  the  younger  representatives  of 
the  medical  fraternity  in  Logan  count}-  who 
has  already  attained  success  and  prominence 
that  many  an  older  practitioner  might  well 
envy  is  Dr.  John  W.  Bozarth,  of  ]\Iount  Pu- 
laski. The  inlluence  of  heredity  and  envir- 
onment upon  the  fate  of  men  are  siibjects  of 
much  comment  both  among  the  profession 
and  the  laity,  and  it  is  probable  that  both  had 
something  to  do  with  shaping  the  career  of 
our  subject.  His  father  and  his  grandfather 
were  both  successful  physicians.  The  lat- 
ter. Dr.  Tilford  Bozarth,  was  a  native  of 
France  and  emigrating  to  the  new  world 
became  a  resident  of  Kentucky,  where  he 
engaged  in  ministering  to  the  sick  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  married  Miss  Dorcas 
Biggerstafif  and  they  became  the  parents  nf 
a  son,  to  whom  they  gave  the  name  of  Da- 
vid and  who  became  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject. After  completing  his  literary  educa- 
tion he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  and 
in  1865  was  graduated  from  Scudder"s  Med- 
ical College  at  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  His  entire 
life  was  devoted  to  his  chosen  calling  and 
the  last  twenty  years  of  his  career  were 
spent  as  a  successful  medical  practitioner  at 
Stone  Fort,  Illinois,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1900.  In  early  manhood  he  had 
married  Miss  Mar\'  E.  Holloway,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Burton  and  Malinda  (^^'asson) 


Holloway,  the  former  a  minister  of  the 
^Methodist  Episcopal  church,  who  devoted 
his  energy  and  mental  activity  to  the  saving 
of  souls,  exerting  strong  influence  fur  good 
upon  those  among  whom  he  lived  and  la- 
bored. 

Dr.  Bozarth,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  review,  spent  his  childhood  days  in  his 
parents'  home  and  after  acquiring  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  public  schools  bes 
came  a  student  in  Enfield  College,  in  White 
count}-.  Illinois,  and  subsequently  attended 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Normal.  Illi- 
nois. Later  he  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  in  Pope  and  Logan  counties  for 
ten  years,  having  the  ability  to  impart  read- 
ilv  and  clearly  to  others  the  knowledge  he 
had  acquired.  He  was  also  an  excellent 
disciplinarian  and  his  work  as  an  educat(jr 
gave  uniform  satisfaction.  Abandoning  the 
profession  of  teaching  he  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  and  entered  the  Marion  Sims 
Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1898 
with  honors  after  successfully  passing  a 
competitive  examination.  He  received  a 
hospital  appointnient  and  spent  twelve 
months  in  the  Rebecca  hospital  in  St.  Louis 
as  house  physician,  where  he  added  to  his 
theoretical  knowledge  by  broad  and  diver- 
sified experience.  Coming  back  to  Mount 
Pulaski  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
associated  himself  with  Dr.  P.  H.  Oyler, 
and  the  firm  of  Oyler  &  Bozarth  n(  .w  occu- 
pies a  position  in  the  front  rank  among  the 
capable  and  leading  physicians  of  this  part 
of  the  county. 

In  September,  1895,  Dr.  Bozarth  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Etta  Temple- 
m^n,  of  this  city,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  R.  H. 
and  E.  (Shoupe)  Templeman.  They  now 
have  one  daughter.  Norma.  Their  pleasant 
home   is   the  center  of   many   entertaining 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


363 


social  functions  and  is  noted  for  its  gracious 
hospitality.  The  Doctor  holds  membership 
in  Mount  Pulaski  Lodge,  Xo.  87,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. :  Mount  Pulaski  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; 
and  Mount  Pulaski  Commander} ,  Xo.  21. 
K.  T.  He  is  examining  physician  for  the 
ilotlern  \\'oodmen  of  America  and  the 
Mystic  Workers  of  the  World.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  and 
realizing  the  value  of  mental  discipline  and 
the  acquirement  of  knowledge  as  a  prepara- 
tion for  life  work,  the  cause  of  the  schools 
is  one  dear  to  his  heart  and  his  labors  have 
been  effective  in  their  behalf.  He  belongs 
to  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and 
ever  keeps  in  touch  with  the  advancement 
that  is  being  made  along  lines  of  medical 
research  and  discovery,  so  that  he  is  well 
qualified  to  discharge  the  ardous  duties  in- 
Aohed  by  his  profession.  His  reputation 
is  now  assured  and  his  patronage  is  con- 
tinuallv  increasing. 


TOHX  T.  READ. 


The  agricultural  interests  of  Logan 
.county  are  in  the  hands  of  men  well  fitted 
for  their  management,  and  among  these 
there  is  no  more  intelligent  or  highly  re- 
spected farmer  than  John  T.  Read.  The 
birth  of  Mr.  Read  occurred  in  Broadwell 
township,  Logan  county,  January  10,  1859, 
and  he  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Margaret 
(Kline)  Read,  the  former  of  whom  was 
Ixjrn  in  1831  and  is  now  an  esteemed  resi- 
dent of  Lincoln,  and  the  latter  was  born 
in  Ohio,  in  1831,  and  died  in  1885. 

While  still  a  lad  George  W.  Read  came 
to  Logan  county.  In  his  native  state  he  had 
attended    the  district  schools,  but  he  was 


early  obliged  to  use  his  own  exertions  to 
gain  a  livelihood.  Honest,  industrious  and 
pleasant  in  manner,  he  soon  made  friends, 
secured  farm  work,  and  in  the  course  of 
time  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  in  DeWitt  county,  and 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Broadwell 
township,  Logan  county,  both  of  which  he 
improved.  Six  children  were  born  to  his 
first  marriage,  these  being:  Mattie,  now 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  B.  Hum- 
phrey, and  left  four  children ;  John  T.  is  our 
subject ;  Xancy  is  the  wife  of  A.  J.  McGee, 
of  Broadwell ;  Elery  AA'.  is  station  agent  at 
Broadwell;  :Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  J.  B. 
Humphrey  and  lives  in  ilidland  City,  De- 
Witt  county:  and  George  L.  conducts 
the  home  farm.  For  a  number  of  years 
Mr.  Read  was  prominently  identified  witji 
the  various  county  offices  and  was  the  ef- 
ficient supervisor  of  Broadwell  township, 
also  assessor,  and  for  a  period  acted  as  post- 
master. The  mother  of  this  faniil_\-  died  on 
the  farm.  Since  1894  :Mr.  Read  has  lived 
a  retired  life  in  Lincoln,  his  second  marriage 
being  with  ^Mrs.  Marie  Fuller.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Read  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Christian  church  of  Lincoln,  in  which 
he  has  always  been  an  active  and  valued 
member.  His  connection  with  the  school 
board  resulted  in  many  reforms  in  his  dis- 
trict. During  1882-3  Mr.  Read  and  his  son 
were  heavily  interested  in  the  grain  ship- 
ping business,  to  which  he  had  given  quite 
a  great  deal  of  previous  attention. 

John  T.  Read,  our  subject,  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  grew  up  in  attendance  on 
school  and  in  assisting  his  father,  until  he 
was  twenty  years  old.  When  the  senior 
Mr.  Read  began  operations  in  grain  buy- 
ing, his  son  remained  to  manage  the  farm. 
During  1882-3   father  and  son  were  part- 


364 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ners  in  the  business  and  ^Mr.  Read  erected 
the  hrst  grain  ele\-ati:ir  in  Broadwell  town- 
ship, continuing  in  the  grain  business  for 
six  years,  also  doing  much  buying  and  ship- 
ping of  stock. 

On  November  19,  1885,  our  subject  was 
married  to  ^Nliss  Huldah  Sams,  who  was 
born  in  Logan  county  in  1867,  and  she  is 
the  daughter  of  John  and  ?»Iargaret  Sams, 
tlie  former  of  whom  is  deceased,  and  the 
latter  makes  her  home  in  Springfield.  The  ' 
live  sur\iving  children  of  ]\Ir.  and  !Mrs. 
Sams  are  as  follows :  Clara,  who  is  the  wife 
of  ^\'.  H.  Fields  and  lives  in  Lincoln;  Xellie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  T.  A\\  Moore  and  lives 
in  Blount  Pulaski ;  Huldah,  the  wife  of  our 
subject;  Lucy,  who  is  the  wife  of  X.  Luth- 
ers,  of  Springfield;  and  Sc^uire  P.,  who  lives 
in  Springfield,  ilr.  Sams  was  a  farmer  and 
his  children  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  were 
given  tlie  advantages  of  the  common  schools 
both  in  the  country  and  in  Lincoln. 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife  numbered  seven,  one  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  The  others  make  an  intelligent 
group  of  school  children  and  bear  the  names 
of:  Imogene.  George  L..  John  F..  Harry 
G..  Thomas  H..  and  Hazel  Lee.  All  of 
them  promise  to  become  intelligent  and  use- 
ful members  of  society,  and  worthily  rep- 
resent the  honored  name  they  bear. 

The  year  of  his  marriage  :\Ir.  Read  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  partly  improved,  paying  for  this  forty- 
five  dollars  an  acre.  This  has  been  the  fam- 
ilv  home,  and  now  consists  of  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  Broadwell  township. 
The  property  has  been  well  managed  and 
immensely  improved,  and  to  the  cultivation 
of  this  large  tract  Mv.  Read  has  given  his 
personal  attention,  the  result  being  that  he 
is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  Logan  countv. 


For  twelve  years  our  subject  has  shown 
his  interest  in  school  matters  by  acting  as  a 
directL.r.  His  religious  membership  is  with 
the  Christian  church,  while  fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  P.,  of  Lincoln, 
Xo.  204:  and  also  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  of 
Broadwell,  Camp  5750,  in  which  he  has 
passed  the  chairs  and  is  one  of  the  direc- 
tors. His  tastes  have  never  led  him  to  desire 
political  office  of  any  kind,  but  he  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  and  highl}-  esteemed 
citizens  of  his  localitv. 


JAMES  IRA  JUDY. 

James  Ira  Judy,  whose  life  history  is 
replete  with  good  deeds  and  honorable  ac- 
tions, is  numbered  among  the  valued  and 
representative  citizens  of  Emden,  where  he 
is  now  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
police  magistrate,  having  put  aside  the 
more  arduous  duties  of  an  active  business 
career.  He  belongs  to  a  prominent  old 
famil}-  of  Logan  count\-,  and  was  born  in 
Tazewell  county.  Illinois,  in  1832.  His 
parents  were  Daniel  H.  and  Caroline  (  Sim- 
ington )  Judy,  the  former  a  native  of  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  while  the  latter  was  born  in 
Pennsvlvania.  The  father's  birth  occur- 
red January  8,  1808,  and  in  the  place  of 
his  nativity  he  spent  his  youth  and  early 
manhood.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  a  master  workman  in  iron,  and  those 
pursuits  claimed  his  attention  at  his  Ohio 
home  until  1829.  when  he  emigrated  west- 
ward, settling  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  for  a 
few  }ears.  He  then  came  to  Logan  county, 
locating  in  Eminence  township,  which,  how- 
ever, was  at  that  time  a  part  of  Tazewell 
county.     Subsequently,  in  1857,  he  took  up 


J.   I.  JUDY. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


367 


his  abode  in  Atlanta,  wiiere  lie  carried  on 
l)lacksmithing-  for  a  slmrl  time,  then  put 
aside  business  cares  Inr  sexcral  \ears,  lutt, 
resuming-  farm  work,  he  ag.'iin  Incaied  1  m 
his  land  tln-ee  miles  we^l  n\  Atlanta,  where 
be  remained  until  his  tlealh.  which  occurred 
November  i(),  J897.  Thus  the  cnmnunnty 
lost  one  of  its  honored  i)ii>neers  and  valued 
citi;-;ens — a  man  wluise  labors  had  been  ni 
benefit  in  the  upbuilding-  of  the  county  and 
who  througbnut  life  was  hunnred  for  his 
fidelity  to  high  i)rincii)les.  The  mother  ni 
our  subject  died  in  the  village  of  [Macki- 
naw, Tazewell  county,  in  1833.  She  was 
the  first  wife  of  Daniel  Judy,  whr,  was  tln-ee 
times  married.  r)ur  subject  was  their  nnly 
child.  The  second  wife  bure  the  maiden 
name  ni  Elizabeth  l-".wing.  and  after  her 
death  Mr.  Judy  wed<led  Lydia  A.  Cox.  whn 
died  in  iSjt).  There  were  nu  children  by 
the  third  marriage,  but  si.x  were  Imrn  nf  the 
.second  union,  naniely  :  Mary  .\nn.  wife  nf 
Hiram  ]\loorebead,  of  Atlanta;  Xancy  El- 
len, w-ife  of  M.  P.  Carldck.  nf  lildimung-- 
ton,  Illinois:  Jennie,  wlm  married  J.  B. 
Curry,  a  .scIuhiI  teacher  and  f;n-mer  living- 
near  Atlanta:  John  H.,  a  merchant  and  life 
insurance  agent,  of  Blocimington :  ]^Iariin 
W.,  deceased:  and  \\'illiam  Eord,  who  died 
in  childhiMxl. 

During  his  early  boyhood  days  Jan-ies 
I.  Judy  ])ursued  Iiis  education  in  the  public 
scliools  of  Eminence  townsbiji.  where  be 
also  w-< irked  in  the  fields  thmugb  the  sum- 
mer months.  In  1853  be  went  t<>  Cali- 
fornia. Init  after  reniaining  uiion  the  I ':i- 
cific  coast  fcr  a  year  he  returned  U>  lllinnis. 
settling  in  .\tlanta,  where  be  carried  mi 
general  merchandising-  for  1  ne  \ear. 
He  was  tliere  married  in  1853.  and  for  a 
short  time  continued  to  condnct  his  store. 
but  soon  removed  to  a  farm  at  Boyntou. 
Tazewell    couiit\-,    which    be    had    inherited 


from  his  father.  His  family  resitled  there, 
while  he  devoted  much  of  his  time  to 
preaching-  the  gospel  as  a  minister  of  the 
I'hristian  church,  lie  ser\ed  his  denomi- 
nation :u  iSoynic  11  and  in  other  places  of 
Tazewell  and  Logan  counties,  and  also  did 
evangelical  work  throughout  Illinois  and 
Missouri  for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  His 
intluence  was  of  no  restricted  order,  and  the 
growth  of  the  church  was  largely  promoted 
through  his  untiring  efforts  in  behalf  of 
Christianity  as  taught  by  the  early  disciples. 
In  1892  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Emden. 
where  he  has  since  lived,  and,  aside  from 
his  duties  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  police 
magistrate,  he  is  still  (juite  actively  engaged 
in  church  work.  He  has  a  nice  office,  lo- 
cated on  Alain  street,  and  in  administering 
li'e  law  is  strictly  fair  and  impartial,  Ijeing 
Ijiased  by  neither  fear  nor  favor.  He  still 
owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Tazewell 
county,  and  the  rental  from  this  materially^ 
increases  his  income.  He  also  owns  most 
of  the  block  where  his  beautiful  residence  is 
located,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  village 
of  Emden.  known  as  ]\Ialone  additiiMi. 
and  is  regarded  as  a  leading  and  infiuential 
citizen  of  the  town. 

In  1855  ]\Ir.  Judy  was  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimon}-  to  Miss  [Mary  E. 
Campbell,  of  Kentucky,  a  daughter  of  G. 
r..  and  :\lary  (Watson)  Campliell,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Kentuck_\-,  whence 
tliey  removed  westward  in  an  e;irl_\-  (la_\-. 
locating  on  a  f;u-ni  near  .\tl;uita',  where  they 
<pent  the  rem;iinder  of  their  days.  I'nto 
Mr.  and  [Mrs.  Judy  ha\-e  lieen  liorn  three 
children:  Mary  E..  the  widow-  of  John  P. 
Malone,  and  a  resident  of  Emden:  Charles 
A.,  who  married  Emma  Cadwallader  and 
resides  in  .\lda,  Nebraska :  and  Daniel  \\'.. 
who  died  .at  the  age  of  five  years.  In  bi< 
l)ohtic;il   .-iffiliations  Mr.  Judy  is  a  Kepnbli- 


368 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


can.      Both  lie  and  liis 
ship  in  the  Christian  cl 


fe  liuld  meniljer- 
:h  at  EnidLMi  and 
are  active  in  its  work,  consistently  jahorin.L; 
f(ir  its  achancement  and  gri)\\tl"..  '1  heir 
many  excellencies  of  character  ha\e  wnn 
them  the  highest  regard,  and  the  circle  nf 
their  friends  is  almost  co-extensi 
circle  of  their  acriuaintance. 


ilh  tlu 


STEPHEX  O.  PRICE. 

One  of  the  honored  early  settlers  of 
Logan  county  is  Stephen  O.  Price,  \\h<>  re- 
sides on  section  34,  East  Lincnln  tdwnship. 
On  coming  to  the  township  in  18(17  'it-  '"- 
cated  on  a  tract  of  government  land  which 
his  father  had  previously  Ixiught  at  erne  dul- 
lar  and  a  quarter  per  acre.  A  native  <if  Illi- 
nois, he  Avas  born  near  Athens.  Menard 
county,  January  24,  1847,  ^^^^^  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Gibbs)  Price,  both  na- 
tives of  Maryland.  The  Price  family  is  of 
Scotch  origin  and  was  founded  in  Baltimore 
at  an  early  day.  On  the  maternal  side  our 
subject  is  of  English  ancestry.  Leaving 
Baltimore  in  1838,  the  father  of  our  subject 
came  tci  Illinois  with  teams,  but  walked  most 
(if  the  way.  He  had  received  a  good  cnm- 
mon  school  education,  but  was  in  limited 
circumstances  on  his  arrival  in  this  state. 
In  early  life  he  followed  the  millwright's 
trade,  but  later  engaged  in  farming  and  in 
that  occupation  met  with  good  success,  be- 
coming quite  well-to-do.  In  manner  he  was 
(|uiet  and  unassuming,  and  was  devoted  to 
liis  home  and  family.  He  was  married  in 
Athens,  Illinois,  to  IMiss  Mary  Gibbs,  and 
to  them  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  early  childhood.  Those  now 
living  are  Elizabeth,  a  resident  of  Farmer 
City ;  John  Thomas,    of    Lincoln ;  Stephen 


O.,  of  this  review;  ]\Iary,  wife  of  Henry 
luigland,  of  Sanganicm  county:  Charles,  of 
Farmer  City:  and  (ieorge,  a  farmer  near 
Farmer  City.  In  i^Sj  the  father  removed 
to  DeWitt  covuity,  where  he  died  May  13, 
]8i)2,  at  the  age  of  se\-enty-eight  years.  The 
mother  died  May  11,  1894,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years. 

During  his  boyhood  and  }-out]i  Stephen 
O.  Price  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
through  the  summer  season  and  attended  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  in  win- 
ter. He  was  married  in  Springfield,  January 
26,  1866,  to  Miss  Ellen  Cantrell,  who  was 
born  in  Sangamon  county,  June  13,  1848, 
lier  parents  being  among  its  first  settlers,  as 
they  located  there  in  1818.  coming  from 
Kentnck)-  l)efi!re  there  was  a  house  in  that 
city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  have  two  children, 
namely:  Fmilv,  wife  of  Adolph  Reed,  of 
Bement,  Illinois:  William  O.,  who  is  mar- 
ried antl  resides  in  Lincoln,  where  he  is  em- 
ployed in  a  laundry.  Both  were  educated  in 
the  district  .schools  of  this  county. 

When  Air.  Price  first  came  to  Logan 
count}-  his  farm  was  raw  prairie,  without  a 
tree  or  anything  on  it.  He  has  transformed 
the  place  into  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of 
the  county  and  is  now  among  the  older  resi- 
dents of  the  township.  Since  1899  he  has 
had  charge  of  the  station  on  tlie  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  known  as  Johnson's 
Switch,  and  is  also  agent  for  Spellman  & 
Spitley  in  buying  grain  at  that  place.  He 
has  always  enjo_\'ed  good  health  until  recent 
years.  Flis  political  support  is  always  given 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  he  has  never  sought  ofiice.  He 
ser\etl,  howe\-er,  as  school  director  ior  sev- 
eral years,  and  has  ever  taken  a  commenda- 
able  interest  in  public  affairs.  Socially  he 
is  a  member  of  Lincoln  Lodge,  No.  204,  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  and  religiously  both  he  and  his 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


369 


wife  hold  membership  in  the  Christian 
church.  He  is  widely  and  favorabl)"  known 
throughout  his  section  of  the  county,  and 
justly  merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
is  held. 


JACOB  JUDY. 

Without  a  doubt  Jacob  Judy  is  the  oldest 
living  pioneer  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
for  here  he  has  made  his  home  for  over 
seventy-seven  years.  He  has,  therefore, 
witnessed  its  entire  development ;  has  seen 
its  wild  lands  transformed  into  beautiful 
homes  and  farms;  has  seen  villages  and 
•cities  spring  up  and  all  of  the  interests  and 
evidences  of  an  advanced  civilization  intro- 
duced. In  the  work  of  progress  he  has 
borne  his  part  and  has  been  particularly 
active  as  a  representative  of  the  agricultural 
interests  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Judy  was  born  on  the  9th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1804.  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Xancy  (Hatfield)  Judy. 
The  father  was  a  \irginian  by  birth,  but 
was  the  only  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children 
lx>rn  in  this  country.  Germany  being  the 
birthplace  of  the  others.  Martin  Judy,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  and  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. Our  subject's  father  also  made  farm- 
ing his  life  work.  In  his  family  were 
twelve  children,  of  whom  si.x  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely :  Xancy,  Betsey,  Martin,  John, 
Jacob  and  W'inepart. 

Jacob  Judy,  of  this  review,  passed  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  his  father's  fami  in 
the  Buckeye  state  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  subscription  schools  of  those 
early  days.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Tazewell  county. 
Avhere  he  made  his  home  until  1S62,  when  he 


removed  to  Logan  county.  He  followed 
farming  quite  successfully  until  extreme  old 
age  comi)elled  his  retirement,  and  he  is  now 
sjiending  his  declining  years  in  the  city  of 
.\tlanta  in  the  companionship  of  his  estim- 
able wife  and  family,  as  well  as  a  host  of 
friends.  Besides  his  farm  property  he  owns 
many  lots  in  that  place. 

Mr.  Judy  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Miss  Mary  A.  Musick,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Musick.  who  was  a 
farmer  of  Logan  county  in  }-ears  gone  by, 
and  to  them  were  born  ele\en  children, 
namely:  Sallie.  deceased:  Xancy  Jane; 
Robert;  Eliza:  Lucinda;  Henry;  John,  de- 
ceased; Annie;  Hettie,  deceased;  Marv,  de- 
ceased; and  Mattie.  This  marriage  was 
celebrated  April  3.  1829,  in  Sugar  Creek. 
and  proved  a  happy  union.  INIrs.  Judv  died 
on  the  9th  of  December.  1885.  For  over 
half  a  century  she  was  a  consistent  and  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Christian  church,  having 
united  with  the  same  the  year  of  her  mar- 
riage. Mr.  Judy  was  again  married,  in 
1887,  to  Mrs.  Mary  A.  (  Bruner)  Hawes. 
a  daughter  of  David  and  Xancy  (Hauser) 
Bruner,  of  Kentucky.  Henry  Judy,  son  of 
our  subject,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war. 

In  "politics  Mr.  Judy  is  now  a  Republi- 
can. He  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  John  Ouincy  Adams,  and  has  voted  at 
twenty  presidential  elections.  On  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association 
he  had  the  honor  of  being  chosen  president, 
and  held  that  office  until  advancing  years 
necessitated  his  retirement.  Few  men  in 
Illinois,  if  not  in  the  L'nited  States,  have 
the  distinction,  as  he  has.  of  being  one  of 
five  living  generations  and  the  honor  of 
being  the  grandfather  of  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  grandchildren  and  great-grand- 
children. He  and  his  family  are  identified 
with  the.  Christian  church,  and  he  is  one  of 


370 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


the  most  conscientious  and  reliable  citizens 
of  Logan  county.  He  has  always  had  the 
respect  and  entire  conlidence  of  aU  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact,  either 
in  Inisiness  or  social  life,  and  no  man  of 
the  community  is  held  in  higher  regard.  At 
the  age  of  ninety-six  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  sight  in  a  surgical  operation  while 
removing  a  cataract  from  his  eye.  He  can 
relate  many  interesting  rcnnniscences  of 
early  day,s  in  this  locality,  and  on  her  mil 
of  honored  pioneers  his  name  sh<_iuld  be 
among  the  foremost. 


JOHN  F.  JECKEL. 


Among  the  jjrosperous  farmers  of  Or- 
vil  township,  Logan  county.  lUinois.  is  John 
F.  Jeckel.  who  resides  on  section  ,;;;,  and  has 
lived  in  this  county  for  the  past  twelve  years. 
He  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 3,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Johanna  (Lobengaener)  Jeckel,  both  na- 
tives of  Germany.  The  mother  was  born 
in  1S36  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
sixteen.  The  father  came  to  this  country 
in  1832  and  settled  in  Brown  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  several 
vears.  He  then  mox'ed  to  Pendleton  coun- 
l\-,  Kentucky,  and  purchased  a  farm,  where 
they  both  now  reside..  The  father  is  now 
seventv-five  years  of  age  and  on  account  of 
his  advanced  age  he  has  retireil  from  acti\-e 
business  life  and  rents  all  his  i)ro])erty.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  had  h\-e  children, 
namely:  Barbara,  wife  of  A'alentine 
Schaufenberger,  of  Pendleton  county.  Ken- 
tucky; John  F. :  Annie,  wife  of  Peter  Cash- 
l)aum,  of  Cincinnati.  Ohio;  ( icorge.  a  farm- 
er, of  Tazewell  coun.ty.  Illinois,  and  Mary, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twentv-two.  All  were 


well  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
localities  in  which  they  lived  during  child- 
hood. 

After  being  educated  our  subject  came 
west  and  settled  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois. 
I^)eing  in  poor  circumstances,  he  A\(>rked 
ujxju  various  farms  as  a  laborer,  but  sa\ed 
all  his  money,  and  1889  removed  to  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  settled  upon  his 
present  farm  in  Orvil  township,  known  as 
the  old  Betzelberger  place,  consisting  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  33.  He  also  owns 
forty  acres  adjoining,  wdiich  lie  over  the 
county  Ime  in  Tazewell  county.  On  his 
property  Mr.  Jeckel  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing, and  has  been  very  successful,  his  wide 
knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  his  calling 
proving  of  great  value  in  the  management 
of  his  interests.  .\  comfortable  and  mod- 
ern residence  shelters  his  pleasant  family. 
The  barn  and  other  outbuildings  are  com- 
modious. All  of  the  fences  are  in  most  ex- 
cellent condition  and  all  modern  appliances 
and  machinery  are  used  in  the  conduct  of  the 
farming  operations.  Such  excellent  meth- 
ods cannot  help  but  result  in  success,  and 
^Ir.  Jeckel  is  rewarded  for  his  years  of  hard 
labor  by  now  being  the  possessor  of  one  of 
the  mo.st  fertile  and  well-cultivated  farms 
in  Logan  county.  On  July.  28,  1901,  his 
barn  was  struck  by  lightning  and  entirely, 
destroyed,  together  with  its  contents  and  a 
Iw-o-thousand  dollar  Percheron  stallion,  the 
loss  being  about  four  th(_)usand  six  hundred 
dollars. 

On  January  i,  1889,  ^Mr.  Jeckel  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Betzelberger.  a 
nati\-e  of  Logan  county,  born  in  1864.  and 
a  daughter  of  Godfrey  and  Mary  Betzel- 
berger. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Betzelberger  were 
early  settlers  in  this  county,  and  located 
upon  the  farm  where  Harm  Klokkenga  now 
resides.     Here  they  i)assed  the  remainder  oi 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


371 


their  lives,  the  father  dying  September  23. 
1887.  and  the  mother  January  4.  1888.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  died  on  April  25.  1895. 
having  borne  her  husband  three  children. 
namely:  .Arthur,  deceased:  Mabel,  born  on 
January  4.  1891.  at  home:  and  Mary,  born 
October  24.   1892.  at  home. 

Mr.  Jeckel  chose  for  his  second  wife  tiie 
sister  of  the  first  Mrs.  Jeckel,  Miss  Mary 
Betzelberger,  who  was  born  in  1870.  a  most 
■charming  and  accomplished  lady.  By  his 
second  marriage,  whicli  was  celebrated  on 
September  16,  1896,  Mr.  Jeckel  has  had 
three  children,  namely :  Archie,  born  De- 
•cember  22.  1897:  Johnnie.  lx)rn  Septemlier 
27.  1899:  and  Harold,  born  April  8.  igoi, 
all  very  interesting  little  ones,  who  occupy 
a  very  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  en- 
tire family. 

In  her  beautiful  home  Mrs.  Jeckel  ex- 
ercises the  most  powerful  influence  there  is. 
that  of  wife  and  mother,  and  while  she  is 
making  her  husband  happy  and  comfortable 
she  is  rearing  to  useful  lives  the  little  ones 
committed  to  her  care.  In  their  after  lives 
they  will  demonstrate  the  efifect  of  her  kind, 
gentle  and  wise  government  and  elevating 
instruction,  and  look  back  to  call  her  blessed. 

Mr.  Jeckel  has  been  honored  by  his  fel- 
low townsmen  in  being  elected  to  fill  several 
of  the  offices  of  the  township,  the  duties  of 
which  he  has  always  discharged  in  a  man- 
ner highly  creditable  to  himself  and  his  con- 
stituents as  well  as  beneficial  to  the  coiu- 
munity  at  large.  Since  he  cast  his  first 
vote  ;Mr.  Jeckel  has  always  supported  the 
principles  and  candidates  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  rising 
young  men  of  the  township,  who  is  destined 
to  greater  things  in  the  future. 

Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church  of  Emden.  while  his 
-wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 


of  the  same  village,  and  both  are  very  active 
in  church  work,  giving  both  time  and  money 
to  the  support  of  religious  institutions  and 
operations.  They  are  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  in  bnth  church  and  social  circles, 
and  their  home  is  a  pleasant  gathering  place 
for  friends,  whu  enjoy  the  genial  hospital- 
ity sliDwn  to  all  who  enter  the  gates  of  the 
Jeckel  estate. 


\\TLLIAM   H.   B.  COOK. 

\\'illiam  H.  l\.  Cook  is  one  of  that  vast 
multitude  imw  sm  rapidly  passing  to  the 
great  beyond,  who.  when  their  country 
called  them  to  free  a  nation  from  bondage, 
did  not  deem  their  lives  too  great  a  sacri- 
fice. 

"So  nigh  is  grandeur  to  our  dust. 

So  near  is  God  to  man, 
When  duty  whispers  low.  "Thou  nuist," 

The  x'liuth  replies.  T  can.'  " 

William  H.  B.  Cook,  of  .\tlanta.  Logan 
county.  i.s_  one  nf  a  family  of  fniu-  children 
born  to  Aamn  and  Eliza  C.  (Small)  Cook. 
.\aron  Cook  was  a  natixe  nf  Maryland.  On 
attaining  manhood  be  entered  the  pulpit  and 
followed  the  ministry  the  greater  part  of  his 
life,  a  credit  to  his  native  state  till  his  death. 

The  sul)ject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Maryland,  February  3.  1842.  In  1855  '^^ 
moved  to  Logan  county.  Illinois,  and  at- 
tended the  first  school  of  Atlanta,  receiving 
a  good  education  there.  When  in  his  early 
teens  he  Iiegan  wurking  on  a  farm  by  the 
month,  which  he  continued  to  do  for  six 
years  until  he  entered,  the  army.  In  1862 
he  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  the  stars  and 
stripes  as  a  member  of  Company  A,  One 


372 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  fought  in  the  battles  of 
Nashville,  Red  River,  Louisiana,  and  Hel- 
ena, Arkansas,  and  took  part  in  the  capture 
of  Vicksburg.  He  served  throughout  the 
entire  war  and  was  honorablv  discharged  in 
1865. 

In  the  spring  of  ]8(/)  Mr.  Cdok  engaged 
in  fanning  in  Mt.  Hope  Icwnship.  McLean 
county,  llliniiis,  on  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  where  he  resided  till  i8c)Q, 
\vith  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in 
Vermilion  Cdunty,  Illinois.  Then  he  estal> 
lished  himself  in  the  butcher's  business  in 
Atlanta.  Having  only  1  lue  ci)m])etitor.  Mr. 
Cook  purchased  his  shop  and  cunducted  both 
meat  markets,  doing  an  extensi\e  business 
in  his  line  of  trade  up  to  August  jo,  1901, 
when  he  sold  out. 

Mr.  Ciiok  was  r.nited  in  marriage.  Oc- 
tober ]6.  1865.  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Bord- 
weli,  the  acciim]ilishe<l  daughter  of  Thomas 
Bordwell.  who  was  a  .\ew  \nvkev  by  birth. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  fi\-e  chil- 
dren :  Ernest  E. ;  Clara  G. ;  Laura  :  Winnie  ; 
and  Harriet,  the  eldest,  who  died  when  three 
years  of  age.  ^Ir.  Cook  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  an  uncompromising  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  is  an  honored 
member- of  the  (irand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic and  a  man  who  is  in-ominent  in  the  busi- 
ness, political,  social  and  religious  affairs  of 
his  comnuinitv. 


PAUL  S.  FUSOX. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  and  success- 
ful young  business  men  of  Lincoln  is  Paul 
S.  Fuson.  the  present  efficient  secretary  of 
the  Lincoln  Saviftgs  and  Building  Associ- 


ation. A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in 
Champaign,  Champaign  county,  on  the  8th 
of  May,  1876'.  His  parents,  Elias  and 
Sarah  (Stanage)  Fuson,  were  natives  of 
Virginia,  and  from  that  state  removed  to 
Ohio.  In  1864  the)-  came  to  Illinois,  and 
settled  in  Champaign  county,  where  the 
father  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1876.  Tlie 
mo.ther  died  in  L'hampaign  in   1893. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
actpiiretl  in  the  public  schools.  Subse- 
quently he  attended  Lincoln  University  twa 
terms,  and  then  pursued  a  commercial 
course  at  the  Lincoln  Business  College. 
After  lea\-ing  school  he  accepted  a  position 
as  assistant  clerk  in  the  office  of  John  S. 
Haller,  then  secretary  of  the  Lincoln  Sa\-- 
ings  &  Building  Association.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  thoroughly  mastered  the  busi- 
ness of  the  office,  and  in  March,  1899,  \vas 
appointed  secretarw  which  responsible  posi- 
tion he  is  still  tilling  in  a  most  capable  and 
satisfact(.iry  manner.  This  association  was 
formed  in  1883,  the  present  officials  being: 
J.  B.  I'aisle}-,  president:  \\'illiam  Hunger- 
f(jrd,  \-ice-president :  Thomas  H,  Stokes,, 
treasurer:  and  Paul  S.  Fuson  .secretary, 
They  commenced  business  in  June  of  that 
}  ear  and  have  since  lieen  iij  successfiil  opera- 
tion, making  loans  in  Lincoln  and  adjoining- 
towns.  This  is  (ine  of  the  safest  and  most 
conservati\-e  corporations  of  the  kind  in  the 
state,  and  has  matured  nineteen  series.  Air. 
Fuson  assisted  in  organizing  the  Harts 
Medicine  Company  in  November,  igoo,  and 
is  now  serving  as  its  president.  It  is  doing 
a  successful  business  here.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  young  business  man,  and 
will  undoul)tedly  meet  with  excellent  suc- 
cess in  life. 

In  May.  1900.  Mr.  Fuson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Kenyon,  a  daugh- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


373 


ter  of  Tlinmas  W.  Kenvmi, 
cially  ouv  subject  is  a  nu 
Lodge.  Xo.  Jio.  A.  l".  \- 
Chapter,  \i.  A.  .M.:  and  C 
manderw   K.    I"..  X"-  5 '  • 


'  Linciiln 

.     S< 

l.er   ..f   I 

-'  '.i;;' 

.   M.;  J/ 

ilK-nl 

i>tantinc 

C'lni 

d  i...litic: 

illv 

a  standi  supporter  of  the  Ivepubhcan  party. 
He  lias  l)een  elected  to  the  city  council  from 
the  third  ward,  although  it  is  Democratic. 
and  has  taken  quite  an  active  and  commend- 
able interest  in  public  affairs. 


CARl.  r..  BEKEMEYER.  LL.  B. 

Trominent  among  the  voung  and  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Mt.  I'ulaski  is  numbered 
Carl  B.  Bekemeyer,  who  is  now  so  creditably 
serving  as  city  attorney  and  town  clerk.  I  le 
was  born  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  on  the  4th 
of  .\ugust,  1870.  and  is  a  son  of  William  1'. 
and  Amelia  ( Schwarberg )  Bekemeyer,  who 
were  natives  of  Germany  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1849.  The  mother  died 
in  1884,  but  tlie  father  is  still  living,  and 
continues  to  make  his  home  in  Springfield, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 

Our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  the  Capital  City,  and  in  1886  en- 
tered Carthage  College,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1892.  He  next  took  a  course  in 
the  law  department  at  the  l'ni\ersity  of 
[Michigan.  Ann  .\rbor.  and  was  graduated 
there  in  1894.  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
The  following  year  was  spent  in  the  ofhce 
of  Hon.  John  '^I.  Palmer,  at  Springfield, 
and  he  was  then  with  the  firm  of  Cmikling 
&  (jrout.  prominent  attorneys  of  that  city, 
for  the  same  length  of  time.  Forming  a 
partnership  with  Charles  A.  Keyes,  master 
in  chancery,  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  chosen  ])rofession  in  Siiringfield  for 
six  months.      .\t  the  end  of  that  time  Mr. 


l'>ekemever  came  to  Mt.  Pulaski,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Imsines-  of  .\.  G.  j.iues.  and 
old  .-iltorney  of  that  jilace.  who  had  recenlK" 
died.  He  is  ;i  close  and  tlioniugh  student 
and  has  already  met  with  excellent  success 
in  his  profession,  having  built  up  quite  a 
large  practice.  His  fellow  citizens,  recog- 
nizing his  abilitw  have  twice  elected  him  city 
attorney  of  Mt.  I'ulaski,  and  he  is  also  serv- 
ing his  third  term^  as  town  clerk,  to  their 
entire  satisfaction.  Socially  he  is  a  member 
of  Mt.  Pula.ski  Lodge,  Xo.  154,  1.  ().  (  ).  F.. 
and  the  Royal  Circle.  On  February  (>. 
iStjO.  he  was  united  in  marriage  witli  Miss 
Leah  P.etts,  of  Keokuk.  Iowa,  a  daughter  of 
I'dijah  and  Lula  (  Spangler )  P.etts.  Mr. 
liekemeyer  has  ;i  i)leasant  home  in  the  resi- 
<lent  district   in  the  north  i)art  of  the  citv. 


CLAREXCE  K.  BLACK. 

Clarence  K.  Black,  the  well-known  and 
liopnlar  agent  of  the  Illiijois  Central  Rail- 
road. Company  on  the  Peoria  di\'ision  at 
Lincoln.  Illinois,  claims  Ohio  as  his  native 
state,  his  birth  ha\ing  occurred  in  Morrow- 
count}-  on  the  8th  of  January,  185 j.  His 
])arents,  John  K.  and  Mary  X'.  (X'oble) 
P>lack,  were  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye 
state.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Daniel 
Plack,  came  to  the  new-  world  from  Ireland 
in  his  eighteenth  _\-car,  and  married  a  Miss 
( lardner,  a  native  of  PennsyK  ania.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  James  Xoble.  was  a 
nati\e  of  Washington  county.  Ohio,  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  wedded  :\iiss 
.\l:iry  Cook. 

During  boyhood  Clarence  K.  lilack  ac- 
roini)anied  his  i)arents  on  their  renio\al  t^i 
M;irrison  county,  Ohio,  and  there  attended 
tlie   common    schools    until    i8fi9,    when   he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


came  to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  tlie  jjublic  schools  there 
for  a  time.  In  1874  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Pekin,  Lincoln  &  Decatur  Railroad 
at  Lincoln,  and  the  following'  year  went  to 
Kirksville.  Ali.snuri,  in  the  cnipl.  .y  ,,l  the 
Wal)ash  Uailniad.  In  iXji,  lie  returned  t" 
Lincnln,  and  has  since  heen  connected  with 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  eliiciently  serv- 
ing as  its  agent  at  this  place.  During  the 
(juarter  of  a  century  that  has  passeil  since 
he  entered  the  service  many  important 
changes  have  Ijeen  made  in  the  road,  and  it 
is  to-day  one  of  the  leading  railroads  .,f  the 
west. 

Mr.  Black  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss 
Ollie  Cox.  of  Lincoln,  who  is  a  native  of 
Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Ellen  Cox. 
Thev  ha\e  a  jileasant  home  on  Xoith  Kicka- 
])oo  street.  In  his  jjolitical  alfiliations  ^\v. 
Black  is  a  stanch  Repuhlican.  and  in  his 
social  relations  is  a  member  of  Ml.  Pulaski 
Lodge,  .v.  P.  &  .\.  M.:  the  Chapter.  U.  .\. 
^I.:and  Mt.  Pulaski  Cmmandery.  Xo.  30. 
K.  T.  In  business  he  is  i)rompt.  obliging 
and  courteous,  and  is  not  .mly  held  in  high 
esteem  by  the  peo])le  of  Lincoln  but  is  a 
favorite  with  the  tra\eling  pulilic. 


LABAX  HOBLIT. 


Prominent  am< mg  the  successful  and 
]jrosperous  farmers  of  .Vtlanta  township  is 
Laban  Hoblit,  who  is  a  native  of  Logan 
countv,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  its 
honored  pioneer  families,  being  a  sou  of 
Lewis  M.  and  Evelyn  ( liaughey )  Hoblit. 
His  paternal  grandparents  were  Samuel  and 
.\bigail  (1).  NMiey)  Hoblit,  both  now  de- 
ceased. They  were  aiuong  the  first  settlers 
of    Atlanta     township,   conung    here     from 


Ohio  in  the  winter  of  1830-31,  which  was 
the  memorable  winter  of  the  deep  snow.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  here,  ]\Iarch 
II,  1 83 1,  and  was  the  second  son  of  his  par- 
ents. He  obtained  his  education  in  the  coun- 
trv  schools  of  the  township,  and  after  reach- 
ing man's  estate  de\oted  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which 
occupation  he  met  with  marked  success,  be- 
coming one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  his 
community.  He  was  an  up-to-date  farmer, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  three 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  fine  land.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  ]\Iiss 
Evehn  Haughey,  of  ^IcLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, who  was  born  in  Ohio,  an'd  died  in 
1875.  The  five  children  born  of  that  union 
were  Svlvanus.  Josephine,  Isabel,  Abigail 
and  Laban.  1m  .r  his  second  wife  the  father 
wedded  Mrs.  Mary  (Xewman)  Patchin.  He 
was  an  extensive  stockholder  in  the  original 
Atlanta  P.ank,  now  the  .Vtlanta  National 
Hank,  and  was  a  Republican  in  his  political 
\iews. 

Laban  Hol:)lit,  of  this  rgview,  was  born 
August  2(),  1854,  and  is  the  second  of  the 
Uvc  chihlren  Ijorn  of  his  f'ather's  first  mar- 
riage. He  pursued  his  studies  in  the  dis- 
trict scht  11  il  within  a  stone's  throw  of  his  pres- 
ent home,  ha\ing  been  reared  ou  the  farm 
where  he   now  resides.      It  coiu])rises   three 

which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  is  well  improved  with  good  and  sub- 
stantial liuildings,  including  a  fine  brick  resi- 
dence and  barn  to  correspond.  Since  start- 
ing out  in  life  for  hin.iself  he  has  followed 
farming  with  good  success,  and  is  to-day  one 
of  the  most  cvtcnsi\e  and  successful  agricul- 
turists lit  .\tlauta  township,  having  co-ntrol 
of  fi\e  luuidred  and  eighty  acres  of  good 
land.  Also  ninety  acres  of  fine  timber  land. 
In  1887  Mr.  Holilit  married  ]\Iiss  Emma 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  I' LINO"' 


LEWIS   M.   HOBLIT. 


LABAN   HOBLIT. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

V3HWERS1TY  OF  ILLlUOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


Adams,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  James 
R.  Adams,  w  ho  belonged  to  one  of  Tennes- 
sees  lirst  families.  Mrs.  Hoblit  died  March 
30,  1900,  leaving  one  child.  Dean  Adams. 
Mr.  Hoblit  has  never  taken  a  ver>-  active 
part  in  public  affairs,  preferring  to  devote 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  inter- 
ests. He  is  a  wide-awake,  progressive  busi- 
ness man  of  known  reliability,  and  generally 
•carries  forward  to  successful  completion 
Avhatever  he  undertakes.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  but  has 
never  cared  for  political  honors. 


LIXDSEY  ZOLLARS. 

Among  the  worthy  citizens  of  Logan 
■county  who  responded  to  their  country's 
•call  for  aid  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Re- 
bellion was  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch.  With  exception  of 
one  year  spent  in  Tazewell  county  and  three 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  since  1854.  and  is 
now  successfully  engaged  in  farming  on 
section  25.  East  Lincoln  township. 

Mr.  Zollars  was  born  in  Harrison  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  on  the  3d  of  April.  1843.  and  is  a 
son  of  Stephen  and  Temperance  ( Spind- 
ler)  Zollars.  natives  of  Ohio  and  Pennsyl- 
vania respectively.  Both  came  from  a  long- 
lived  race,  and  were  of  German  descent. 
Our  subject's  paternal  great-grandfather, 
Da\id  Zollars.  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
come  to  America.  He  fought  under  Gen- 
eral Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  on  account  of  his  nationality  was  sent 
among  the  Hessians  to  treat  with  them.  On 
first  coming  to  Illinois.  Stephen  Zollars.  the 
father  of  our  subject,  spent  a  short  time  in 
;McLean  county,  and  in    1854  took  up  his 


residence  in  Logan  county,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  death.  He  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  partially  im- 
proved land  in  .\tlanta  township,  and  to  its 
further  development  and  cultivation  devoted 
his  attenti(jn  until  1868.  when  he  removed 
lo  East  Lincoln  township  and  improved  a 
farm  there,  making  it  his  Iiome  until  called 
to  his  final  rest,  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-six years.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in 
1812.  died  in  December.  1893.  at  the  age 
of  eightv-one.  They  were  well-educated 
people  and  became  quite  well-to-do.  In 
politics  the  father  was  a  strong  Republican, 
and  held  local  offices  in  his  township. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  five 
children,  but  the  only  daughter  died  in  in- 
fanc>-.  The  sons  all  grew  to  manhood,  and 
are  as  follows:  Damascus  served  three 
years  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany F.  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  After  residing  in  Lo- 
gan county  for  many  years  he  removed  to 
South  Dakota  in  1881.  and  there  died  in 
1897.  John  C.  owns  and  operates  a  well- 
improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Oran  township,  this  county.  Wes- 
lev  was  also  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  during 
the  Civil  war,  serving  three  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  F,  Thirty-eighth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  made  his  home  in 
Logan  county  until  1877,  when  he  went  to 
the  Pacific  coast,  and  is  now  in  the  National 
Soldiers'  Home  at  Seattle.  Washington. 
Lindsey  completes  the  family. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  of 
eleven  years  when  the  family  came  to  Logan 
county,  and  his  education  was  principally 
acquired  in  its  district  sch(X)ls.  He  re- 
mained at  home,  aiding  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  farm,  until  August.  1862.  when 
he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Illinois  X'nlunteer  Infantrv.  un- 


378 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


del-  Colonel  R.  B.  Latham,  of  Lincoln,  and 
remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  During-  the  battle  of  Marks  Mills, 
Arkansas,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  con- 
fined in  Tyler  prison,  Texas,  for  a  year, 
being-  released  on  the  cessation  of  liostilities. 
Mr.  Zollars  then  returned  home  and  took 
charge  of  the  farm,  as  his  father  was  get- 
ting old,  and  he  remaiiied  with  his  parents 
as  long  as  they  li\'ed.  After  the  death  of 
the  father  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs  in  the  home  place,  and  now  has 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
farm  land  uiider  a  high  state  nf  cultivation. 
One  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  of  this  is 
m  Oran  township,  and  the  remainder  in 
East  Lincoln  township,  where  he  makes  his 
home.  He  has  met  with  good  success  in 
his  farming  operations. 

In  1872  Mr.  Zollars  married  Miss  Lucy 
Dunham,  who  was  born  in  Oliio  in  1851, 
but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  By  this  unit-m  were  born  two 
sons,  namely :  Charles  F..  who  was  killed 
in  a  runaway  accitlent  while  attending  Lin- 
cdln  University,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  and  Frederick  S.,  who  was  born  in 
]Sj<).  and  is  now  in  X.irtli  Dakota.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  at  her  home  in  East 
Lincoln  township  in  1881.  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1887,  Mr.  Zollars  was  again  n-iarried. 
I'lis  second  union  being  with  ]\Irs.  Ella  J. 
Wodetzski,  nee  McCue,  widow  of  John 
Wlodetzski.  She  was  educated  in  Sanga- 
mon county,  this  state,  and  taught  school 
in  Logan  county  for  over  seven  years.  Five 
children  blessed  the  second  rnarriage  of  our 
subject,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  Those 
living  are  Alabel  C,  Donald  P..  George  D. 
and  Edw-ard  L. 

Religiously  Mr.  Zollars  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Christian  church  of  Lincoln, 
and  is  now  serving  as  one  of  its  trustees. 


He  is  also  a  member  of  Leo  \\'.  Myers  Post, 
Xo.  182,  G.  A.  R.,  of  that  place,  while  his 
son,  F"red  S..  is  lieutenant  in  the  Sons  of 
A'eterans  Camp.  The  Republican  party  has 
always  found  in  :\lr.  Zollars  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  its  principles,  and  he  has  capably 
filled  the  offices  of  school  trustee  and  direc- 
tor. Progressive  and  pul)lic-spirited,  he 
takes  a  deep  and  comn-iendable  interest  in 
public  afifairs,  and  gives  his  support  to  all 
measures  which  he  lielieves  will  advance  the 
moral,  educational  or  material  welfare  of  his 
township  and  county,  and  is  justly  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  valued  citizens  of  the 
C(:;mniunit\-  in  which  he  lives. 


MRS.   RACHEL  A.   POTTS. 

Airs.  Rachel  .\.  Potts,  widow  of  David 
Potts  and  an  honored  resident  of  Atlanta, 
was  Ijorn  in  Ohio,  in  1835,  and  is  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  whose  parents 
were  Thomas  and  Eliza  (Johnston)  Nelson. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  March 
23,  1809,  and  in  1816  acct)mpanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  ren-io\-al  to  Monroe  county,, 
Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm,  receiving  a  good  country  school  edu- 
cation. Throughout  his  active  business  life 
he  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  becai-iie  cpiite  well-to-do.  He 
was  a  devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  served  as  ruling  elder, 
and  alwavs  took  an  active  and  influential 
part  in  all  church  work.  He  died  on  the 
30th  of  :\Iarch.  188 1,  honored  and  respected 
l)y  all  who  knew  him.  :\Irs.  Potts  was  a- 
mere  child  at  the  time  of  her  mother's  death. 

:\Irs.  Potts  first  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  William  Simerall,  who  was  born  in 
\'irginia.  Fel)ruary  21.  1824.  and  was  reared 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


379- 


to  agricultural  jxirsuits.  while  his  literary 
tducation  was  obtained  in  the  common 
sc1kx>1s.  His  parents  were  Samuel  and 
Katherine  ( \'an  Horn)  Simerall.  The 
children  born  ti>  William  and  Rachel  A. 
(Xelson)  Simerall  were  Jolm  S.,  Johnson 
O.,  Thomas  C.  Cymantha  May,  Xanna  A., 
Sadie  A.  and  William  \'..  all  of  whom  are 
now  deceased  with  the  exception  of  Sadie 
A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Shipley,  an 
extensive  farmer  of  Nebraska.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics  and  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  to  which  his  wife  and 
children  also  Ijelonged.  He  commanded 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived,  and  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Monroe  county.  Ohio,  was 
widelv  mourned. 

Mrs.  Simerall  was  again  married.  June 
1 8.  1S73.  her  second  husband  being  David 
Potts,  a  prosperous  and  successful  farmer  of 
Atlanta  township.  He  was  born  in  \'ir- 
ginia.  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Aberilla 
(Gadd)  Potts.  He  died  July  2^.  1891. 
leaving  to  his  w  idow  a  good  farm  of  sixty 
acres  on  section  21,  Atlanta  township.  Be- 
sides that  place  she  owns  city  property  in 
Atlanta,  where  she  has  a  cozy  home,  and 
w  here,  surrounded  by  her  many  friends,  she 
expects  to  spend  her  declining"  years. 


RICHARD  W.  RIGG.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Richard  \\'.  Rigg.  a  successful  and 
prominent  physician  and  surgeon  of  Mt. 
Pulaski.  Illinois,  is  a  native  of  this  state,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Mt.  Sterling. 
Brown  county.  August  5.  1856.  His  an- 
cestors were  among  the  pioneers  of  Ken- 
tucky,   his    paternal    grandfather.    Richard 


Rigg.  being  a  native  of  that  state  and  a 
farmer  of  Marion  county.  He  married 
Miss  Margaret  Louderbach  and  with  his 
family  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Brown 
coimty,  Illinois,  in  1837.  James  X.  Rigg, 
the  Doctor's  father,  was  born  in  Marion 
county.  Kentucky,  in  1825,  and  was  twelve 
years  of  age  on  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
this  state.  For  thirty-seven  years  he  carried 
on  business  as  a  merchant  in  one  building 
in  Camden,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  but  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  at  Mt.  Pulaski.  In 
early  life  he  married  Miss  Emily  J.  AN'atts. 
who  was  born  in  Madison  county.  Ken- 
tucky, in  1837,  and  also  came  to  Illinois  in 
1837  with  her  parents.  \\'illis  and  Amanda 
(Simmons)  \\atts.  After  a  short  time 
spent  in  Brown  county  this  family  removed 
to  Schuyler  county,  where  they  made  a  per- 
manent location,  and  where  Mr.  Watts  was 
engaged  in  merchandising  for  man)'  years. 
His  daughter.  Mrs.  Rigg.  is  still  living. 

Dr.  Rigg  acquired  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  this  state,  and 
later  attended  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Normal.  Illinois.  For  two  years  he  was  a 
student  in  the  law  department  of  the  Iowa 
State  University,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1 88 1,  and  on  his  admission  to  the 
bar  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  that  pro- 
fession at  Indianapolis.  Indiana,  for  two 
}ears.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  his  uncle.  Dr.  B.  P.  \\'atts.  at 
Camden.  Illinois,  and  later  attended  lec- 
tures at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons. Keokuk.  Iowa,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  spring  of  1887.  with  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  In  April  of  that  year  he  came  to 
^It.  Pulaski  and  opened  an  ofhce  for  the 
practice  of  medicine.  He  has  that  love  for 
and  devotion  to  his  profession  which  has 
brought  to  him  success,  and  his  skill  and 
ability  are  attested  l)y  the  lil)eral  patronage 


j8o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


which  he  receives.  He  is  one  of  the  ablest 
representatives  of  the  medical  fraternity  in 
the  county,  and  belongs  to  the  State  ^Medical 
Society.  Socially  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  and  is  a 
man  honored  and  respected  l)y  all  who  know 
him. 

In  1884  Dr.  Rigg  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ida  Bank,  of  Farmington, 
Iowa,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Heinberger)  Bank,  and  by  this  union  twn 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Harry 
Edward  and  James  Reuel. 


WALTER  C.   PAIXE.  .M.  D. 

Not  only  is  Dr.  Paine  identified  with 
the  most  advanced  medical  researches  and 
practice  in  New  Holland,  but  he  is  as  well  a 
lil)eral-minded  and  progressive  citizen, 
whose  opinion  up(.)n  all  matters  of  jniblic 
interest  finds  ready  credence  and  following 
among  all  classes.  His  medical  and  surgi- 
cal skill  have  resulted  in  his  ser\-ices  being 
in  demand  not  only  in  Logan  but  in  Mason, 
Tazewell  and  Menard  counties,  and  his  pro- 
fessional responsibility  was  enlarged  by  his 
position  as  surgeon  for  the  St.  Louis,  Peoria 
&  Northern  Railroad,  which  he  satisfac- 
torilv  filled  for  several  years.  In  1896,  dur- 
ing President  McKinley's  administration. 
he  was  appointed  United  States  examining 
surgeon  for  the  pensioners  of  Logan  county. 
\\l^\\e  a  thorough  student  of  medical  lore, 
and  equally  gifted  as  a  surgeon  and  general 
practitioner.  Dr.  Paine  is  materially  aided  in 
his  life  work  by  a  dominating  humanity 
which  permeates  all  of  his  undertakings  and 
by  a  profound  pride  and  faith  in  the  best 
tenents  of  his  great  and  noble  profession. 
He  has  also  a  genial  temperament  and  ready 


wit  which  is  often  substituted  for  plasters 
and  physic  with  remarkable  results,  and 
which  is  deftly  applied  to  the  lifting  of 
mental  oppression  and  its  calamat(Uis  fol- 
lowing. 

A  native  of  Fancy  Prairie.  ]\Ienard 
county,  Illinois,  Dr.  Paine  was  born  .\ugust 
14,  1866.  and  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  receiving  his  preliminary  education  in 
the  country  schools.  The  Paine  family 
comes  originally  from  England,  and  in  Lon- 
don was  bom  James  W.  Paine,  the  Doctor's 
father,  who  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
parents  \\hen  but  two  years  of  age.  Here 
he  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
assisted  in  his  efforts  at  making  a  livelihood 
bv  a  common  school  education,  eventually 
engaging  in  farming  on  his  own  responsi- 
l)ilitv.  His  success  in  the  eastern  state  was 
continued  after  his  removal  to  Illinois,  in 
i860.  He  is  now  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Menard  county.  He  married  Mary 
\\"ashl3urn.  who  reared  a  family  of  children, 
of  whom  three  are  living.  Dr.  Paine  being 
the  oldest.     She  died  in  April.  1897. 

While  yet  a  youth  Dr.  Paine  developed 
amljitious  tendencies  which  sought  a  field  of 
actix'ity  beyond  the  borders  of  his  father's 
farm  and.  found  vent  in  the  profession  of 
medicine.  Previously  he  had  passed  the 
teacher's  examination  and  engaged  in  edu- 
cational work  in  his  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, and  as  time  went  on  he  employed  such 
leisure  as  came  his  way  in  preparing  for 
more  advanced  medical  researches.  His 
chief  friend  and  adviser  in  this  crisis  was 
Dr.  T.  C.  Hill,  of  Sweet  Water.  Illinois,  un- 
der whose  tutelage  he  remained  until  1891, 
when  he  entered  Rush  :\Iedical  College,  of 
Chicago.  Illinois,  and  was  graduated  there- 
from with  honor  in  1895.  During  his  col- 
lege life  he  devoted  particular  attention  to 
the   diseases   of   women    and    children,    and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


after  graduation  took  a  special  course  in  this 
line  of  work.  In  July  of  1895  he  located  in 
New  Holland  and  was  for  a  time  associated 
in  practice  with  Dr.  Stults,  or  until  June, 
1898,  when  he  hranched  out  into  independ- 
ent practice.  The  Doctor  is  identified  with 
all  that  lias  a  tendency  to  uphuild  his  adopted 
town,  altiiough  he  has  never  desired  or  ac- 
cepted other  political  office  than  is  connected 
with  his  profession.  Fraternally  he  is  affili- 
ated with  the  Masons,  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, the  Woodmen,  the  Court  of  Honor  and 
the  Fraternal  Crystal  Lights. 

Surrounded  hy  hosts  of  friends  and  well 
wishers,  the  Doctor  lives  in  his  hospitable 
and  cozy  home  in  Xew  Holland,  the  genius 
of  his  fireside,  his  w  ile  and  helpmate,  having 
been  before  her  marriage  l-'Inrence  M. 
Munger.  daughter  of  Samuel  Munger,  of 
Mason  county.  The  marriage  occurred  Oc- 
tober 28.  1897,  and  ;Mrs.  Paine  is  one  of  the 
popular  and  amiable  women  of  the  town. 


JOHX  B.  .McCOR.MICK. 

One  of  the  prominent  and  well-to-do 
farmers  of  Or\il  township,  living  on  sec- 
tion ^;^.  is  Joiin  B.  ilcCormick,  who  has 
resided  in  Logan  county  since  1884.  He  is 
a  native  of  Ouincy,  Massachusetts,  born  on 
March  9.  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Martha  (  Blaen  )  McCormick.  Ix.tli  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Scotland. 

The  date  of  the  father's  birth  was  1824. 
and  after  he  was  married,  in  1847.  'le  de- 
cided to  come  to  America,  his  wife  follow- 
ing in  1853.  He  first  settled  in  Xew  Jersey, 
where  he  lived  a  short  time  and  then  moved 
to  Ouincy,  Massachusetts,  wlierc  he  worked 
at  his  trade  of  stone-cutter  the  balance  of 
his  life,  and  died  in  Xoxember,   1889.      The 


mother  died  in  June.  1898.  Five  children 
were  born  to  tlieni.  namely:  John  1!..  our 
subject;  William  .\..  a  stone-cutter,  wlm  re- 
sides in  Ouincy.  Massacluisetts :  Elizabeth, 
who  resides  in  the  same  place;  James  R., 
also  a  stone-cutter  in  Ouincy.  Massachu- 
setts; Gene  M..  a  bookkeeper,  of  Ouincy. 
.Ml  of  the  children  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  high  schools  and  best  educational 
institutions  in  the  east. 

Our  .sul)ject  also  learned  the  trade  of 
stone-cutter  and  worked  at  it  in  his  native 
town  for  fifteen  years,  during  which  time, 
in  1875,  li^  married  Miss  Ida  C.  Corliss,  of 
Ouincy,  Massachusetts,  who  was  born  in 
1854.  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and  L\(lia 
(Johnson)  Ga-liss.  .Mr.  Corliss  was  also 
a  stone-cutter,  and  worked  at  his  trade  the 
greater  jjortion  of  his  life.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  ?\IcCormick  are  the  par- 
ents of  fi\-e  children,  namely  :  lulward  re- 
sides at  home:  Samuel  E.,  who  married 
.Xeilie  I.  \\'ar(l,  resides  in  Peoria,  Illinois, 
where  he  is  a  tra\eling  salesman  :  Cyrus  J. 
is  a  bot;kkeeper  in  the  Bank  of  Emden,  at 
Emden,  Illinois,  and  is  a  very  ])rominent 
young  man:  Harrison  B.  and  Xelson  J. 
reside  at  home. 

After  marriage  our  subject  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Ouincy,  ]^Iassachusetts.  until 
1884,  when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  and 
his  family  came  out  west  and  first  settled 
in  Eminence  township,  this  county,  where 
be  bought  a  farm  and  resided  there  se\en 
years.  He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Orvil 
township  and  purchased  his  present  home. 
He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  fine  farming  land  on  section  ;i^.  where  he 
carries  on  general  farming,  ^\■hen  not  en- 
gaged in  f;u"niing  he  works  at  his  trade  of 
stone-cutter. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was 


382 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


township  supervisor  of  Orvil  township  for 
two  years,  in  1898  and  1899.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cormick  is  a  wealthy,  influential  farmer, 
well  liked  hy  his  neighbors  and  kind  in  his 
home.  He  resides  in  a  fine  house  supplied 
with  modern  conveniences.  His  farm 
shows  the  effects  of  his  careful  manage- 
ment, and  after  a  youth  and  early  manhood 
of  hard  work  he  is  now  enjoying  the  fruit 
■of  his  labors. 


CHARLES  R.  BOWLES. 

Charles  R.  Bowles,  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  rich  farming  land 
on  sections  33  and  34,  Orvil  township,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Logan  county  all  his  life, 
having  been  born  here  on  December  12, 
1856,  and  is  a  son  of  David  Bowles,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Orvil  townshi])  and  assisted 
his  father  upon  the  farm  until  his  marriage, 
in  1876,  to  Miss  Annie  Simpson,  a  daughter 
of  William  W.  Simpson,  of  Emden,  whose 
sketch  also  appears  in  this  volume.  Mrs. 
Bowles  died  August  18,  1890,  leaving  four 
children,  namely:  \\'illiam,  Lenora,  Leroy 
Thomas  and  Leslie  L. 

On  October  l,  1891,  Mr.  Bowles  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Jennie  Rogers,  widow  of 
lonathan  Rogers  of  this  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Alary  C.  Floyd. 
Mr.  Flovd  was  a  farmer  of  Indiana,  where 
he  lived.  He  is  now  deceased,  and  his 
widow  resides  in  Prairie  Creek  township, 
this  county.  One  child  was  born  of  the 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Bowles,  namely: 
Charles  Elbert,  a  most  interesting  child. 

After  his  first  marriage  our  subject 
moved  to  a  farm    in    Boynton    township. 


Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and  resided  there 
one  vear  and  then  moved  to  a  farm  in  Orvil 
township,  this  county,  and  made  it  his  home 
for  nine  vears.  He  then  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent home,  known  as  the  old  Bowles  home- 
stead, on  section  2,  Orvil  township,  where 
he  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
excellent  land,  on  which  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  He  also 
operates  a  steam  thresher,  and  his  efforts 
have  been  crowned  with  success. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  so- 
cially is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias order  of  Emden.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Bethel  Christian  church 
of  Orvil  townshi]!,  and  are  highly  respected 
by  all  who  know  them  for  their  many  ex- 
cellent traits  of  character. 


WILLIAM  ATTEBERRY. 

Among  the  prominent  and  progressive 
agriculturists  of  Eminence  township,  who. 
through  their  own  unaided  eft'orts,  have 
arisen  to  a  position  of  affluence,  is  numbered 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
review.  He  was  born  in  that  township  on 
the  3d  of  November,  1844,  and  is  the  only 
living  child  of  Hiram  and  Lavica  (Kas- 
inger)  Atteberry.'  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky  and  a  pioneer  of  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  having  located  in  Eminence  town- 
ship in  the  early  ■30s.  His  vocation  was 
that  of  farming,  which  he  followed  with  ex- 
cellent success  throughout  life.  He  died  in 
September,  1872.  having  long  survived  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  who  passed  away  in 
1846. 

^\"illiam  .Vtteberry  grew  to  manho(xl  on 
the  home  farm  and  early  acquired  an  excel- 
lent knowledge  of  all  the  duties  which  fall 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


383 


to  tlie  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  at  the  same 
time  receiving  a  good  literary  education  in 
the  country  schools  of  the  locality.  Pur- 
chasing a  ditch  machine  in  1870,  he  com- 
menced taking  contracts  to  construct  ditches, 
and  did  an  extensive  husiness  along  that 
Une  for  three  years,  his  motive  power  being 
oxen.  During  this  time  he  laid  by  a  suffi- 
cient sum  to  purchase  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Orvil  township  and  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming.  Being  a  man  of  excellent 
judgment,  as  well  as  a  capable  financier,  he 
was  very  successful  in  his  farming  opera- 
tions and  has  accumulated  considerable 
property,  including  his  home  farm  in  Emi- 
nence tiiwushi]),  which  is  a  valuable  place 
of  two  hundred  and  tliirty-se\en  acres  on 
section  .21.  He  also  has  two  hundred  and 
t'ortv  acres  of  good  farm  land  in  the  state 
of  Nebraska  and  a  quarter  section  in  Okla- 
homa. For  the  past  thirty  years  Mr.  Atte- 
berry  has  made  a  specialty  of  buying  and 
shipping  cattle  and  hogs.  At  one  time 
while  in  Nebraska  he  loaded  a  train  load  of 
cattle  at  Ulysses,  about  one  hundred  and 
forty  miles  west  of  Omaha.  They  left 
Ulysses  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  and 
the  cattle  were  in  Chicago  for  the  market 
next  morning,  making  the  fastest  time  on 
record.  His  residence  is  a  good  two-story 
frame  structure,  located  on-  a  high  eleva- 
tion, and  the  other  Imildings  are  in  perfect 
harmony  therewith. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1869,  Air.  Atte- 
berry  was  united  in  marriage  with  Aliss 
Fanny  S.  Skirven,  who  was  born  in  Indi- 
ana, April  5,  1850,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Leonidas  Perry  and  Eliza  (Welch)  Skirven, 
also  natives  of  the  Hoosier  state.  In  the 
Skirven  family  were  ten  children.  The 
children  \xm\  to  our  subject  and  his  wife 
were  as  follows:  William  F.,  born  May  2. 
1870:  Cora  B.,  born  January     10,     1872; 


Anna  M.,  born  March  6,  1874;  Alberta  R., 
born  October  21,  1876:  Archie  R.,  who  was 
born  April  4,  1880,  and  died  January  3, 
1893;  Jennie  I.,  who  was  born  November 
16,  ]882,  and  died  January  9,  1893,  only 
six  days  after  the  death  of  Archie:  Cliarlie 
L.,  born  February  5,  1885:  and  Rusa  R.. 
1)1  irn  December  10,  1887.  The  parents  and 
living  children  are  all  members  of  the  Chris- 
t'an  church,  and  the  family  is  one  of  promi- 
r,ence  in  the  community  where  they  reside. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Atteberry  is 
a  Democrat.  During  the  Civil  war  he  en- 
listed at  Atlanta,  in  1865,  in  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  the  commissioned  officers 
of  his  cnmpan_\-  being  Captain  Church; 
Hammit  Larrison,  first  lieutenant  ;and  James 
Palmer,  second  lieutenant.  He  was  honor- 
ably discharged  December  15,  1865,  and  his 
papers,  which  were  signed  in  person  by 
President  Lincoln,  are  still  in  his  possession. 
His  career  affords  an  example  tn  the  ymuig 
in  that  he  commenced  life  for  himself  with- 
out capital,  Init,  hax'ing  a  determination  to 
succeed  he  industriously  applied  himself 
until  he  has  acquired  a  good  propert\-  and  is 
to-day  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers  of  his 
community,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  influ- 
ential citizens. 


W.  R.  KINCAID,  AI.  D. 

One  of  the  most  popular  and  successful 
medical  practitioners  of  Elkhart  is  W.  R. 
Kincaid,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
enterprising  little  town  since  March.  i8()5. 
An  Illinoisan  by  all  the  laws  of  nature,  he 
was  born  September  5,  1872,  near  b'armer 
City,  DeWitt  county,  a  son  of  A.  T.  and 
Frances  ( Ritter)  Kincaid,  natives  of  Men- 


384 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


arcl  county,  and  the  latter  born  near  Peters- 
burg-. The  parents  were  married  in  Green- 
view,  Aknard  county,  after  wbich  tbey  re- 
moved to  Farmer  City,  wliicli  lias  since  been 
their  residence.  The  elder  Kincaid  is  an 
agriculturist  on  a  large  scale,  and  owns  and 
manipulates  about  five  hundred  acres  of  land. 
He  is  prominent  in  affairs  of  his  county,  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  highway  com- 
missioner, a  ]\Iason  in  fraternal  circles,  and 
a  member  of  the  Methi.dist  Episcopal 
church.  Of  the  six  children  in  the  fam- 
ily: Brittle  is  the  wife  of  C.  H.  Wheeler,  of 
Wilmette,  Illinois:  \\'.  R. :  ^Innte  who  mar- 
ried Eftie  Rutlidge  and  lives  on  the  nld 
homestead;  Pearl  who  is  attending-  the 
Northwestern  University ;  Gertrutle  wh<  < 
graduated  fmm  the  Farmer  City  high  school 
in  the  spring  of  lyoi  :  and  Andrew  T.  wh" 
is  attending  the  Farmer  City  high  school. 

In  his  Ix.vhood  :Mr.  Kincaid  was  favored 
with  excellent  educational  advantages  and 
availea  himself  of  them  to  the  utmost. 
After  finishing  the  district  schools  of  De- 
Witt  county  and  graduating  from  the  high 
school  at  Farmer  City  in  1888.  he  entered 
the  Northwestern  University  INIedical  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  graduated  with 
honors  in  1894.  For  preliminary  practice 
he  located  in  Chicago  for  a  year,  but  took  up 
his  permanent  residence  in  Elkhart  in  1895. 
Dr.  Kincaid  has  had  no  cause  to  regret  the 
happv  inspiration  which  caused  him  to  lo- 
cate here,  for  his  skill  in  diagnosis  and  treat- 
ment have  l)een  fully  recognized,  and  a  con- 
stantlv  growing  practice  attest  his  geniality 
of  nature  and  thorough  understanding  of 
his  great  profession. 

On  December  jo,  1893,  at  Farmer  City, 
Illinois,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Kin- 
caid and  Jessie  Burford,  who  -was  born  in 
Deland,  Illinois,  July  19,  1873,  a  daughter 
of  C.   S.   and  Lulu    (A\'eedman)    Burford, 


natives  respectively  of  Indiana  and  Illinois. 
Mr.  Burford.  who  formerly  conducted  the 
Bee  Hive  store  at  Farmer  City,  is  now  a 
resident  of  Denver,  Colorado,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business.  INIrs. 
Kincaid  has  one  sister,  Nellie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Edward  E.  Bean,  the  Aletho-. 
dist  Episcopal  minister  at  University  Park, 
Colorado.  To  ]\lr.  and  Airs.  Kincaid  have 
Ijecn  born  three  children:  Lucile,  born 
August  28.  1895:  Francis,  born  June  12, 
J  899;  and  Nellie.  Iiorn  July  3,   1901. 

In  addition  to  his  large  general  practice 
Dr.  Kincaid  is  examining  physician  for  a 
number  of  insurance  companies  and  for  the 
fraternal  organizations  of  the  Alodern 
\\'oo(lmen  of  .America  and  the  Court  of 
Hoi-ior.  He  is  also  a  memlier  of  the  Ken- 
wood Lodge.  No.  405.  K.  P..  the  Elkhart 
Lodge,  No.  513,  Court  of  Flonor,  and  the 
Camp  No.  511.  ^\.  W.  A.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  national  politics,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent clerk  of  the  city  of  Elkhart.  With  his 
family  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Methodist 
Ei)iscoiial  church. 


WILHELAI  F.  HENN. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  conjecture  what  man- 
ner of  man  is  Mr.  Henn  when  we  learn  that 
for  twehe  consecutive  years  he  has  been  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  supervisor  of  Laenna 
township  by  the  vote  of  the  people,  and  is  the 
present  chairman  of  the  board,  w^hicli  posi- 
tion he  has  held  for  two  years.  Unworthy 
men  sometirnes  succeed  in  gaii-iing  office,  but 
they  can  not  niaintain  their  hold  upon  a  posi- 
tion which  depends  upon  the  franchise  of 
their  fellow  tiwvnsmen.  and  no  higher  testi- 
UKjnial  of  ability,  fidelity  and  personal  worth 


W.  F.  HENN, 

CHAIRMAN  OF  BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRArillCAL   RECORD. 


387 


can  be  given  tlian  a  statement  of  the  fact  that 
one  has  long  continued  in  the  pubhc  service. 
^Ir.  Henn  is  also  well  known  as  an  enterpris- 
ing merchant,  successfully  conducting  a 
hardware  store  in  Latham,  where  by  honora- 
ble business  methods  he  has  secured  a  liberal 
patronage. 

Upon  a  farm  in  Logan  county  Mr.  Henn 
was  born  December  3,  1854,  his  parents  be- 
ing Christian  and  Catherine  (Shiunacher) 
Henn,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1852.  Tliey  landed  at  Xew  Orleans,  and 
thence  proceeded  up  the  ^Mississippi  river  to 
a  point  on  the  Illinois  shore,  whence  they 
dro\-e  across  the  countr}-  by  the  way  of 
Springfield  with  horses  and  wagon  to  Logan 
county,  settling  first  in  I^-ake  Fork  township. 
where  the  father  purchased  ninety-one  acres 
of  land.  There  he  continued  to  engage  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1858.  The  mother  was  thus 
left  with  the  care  of'  her  five  children  and 
four  children  of  Mr.  Henn  by  a  former  mar- 
riage :  Henry  Christian,  who  became  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war  and  died  while  in  the 
service;  Katherine,  the  wife  of  William 
Suedmyer:  Johanna,  who  is  the  wife  of  J- 
yi.  Loetterly,  of  Carrollton,  Nebraska;  Net- 
tie, wife  of  Gottlieb  Seyfer,  now  deceased; 
Wilhelm  F..  our  subject;  Christina,  wife  of 
W'ilhelm  Hitzerman,  of  Long  Prairie,  Min- 
nesota :  and  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Geyer. 
of  Logan  county. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  of  tlie 
period  W'ilhelm  F.  Henn  spent  his  hny- 
hood.  He  worked  in  the  fields  through  the 
summer  season  and  in  the  winter  months  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  later  supplement- 
ing his  early  educational  privileges  by  study 
in  the  schools  of  Mount  Pulaski.  When  his 
education  was  completed  he  learned  the  tin- 
ner's trade  with  C.  R.  Capps,  of  Mount  Pu- 


laski, and  later  he  was  employed  in  the  same 
line  of  business  by  George  F.  Reinhardt,  of 
that  city.  In  March,  1877,  'le  came  to  La- 
tham and  entered  into  partnership  with 
George  F.  Reinhardt.  estal)lishing  a  hard- 
ware store,  which  they  conducted  for  a  vear, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Henn  pur- 
clia.sed  his  partner's  interest  and  has  since 
been  sole  proprietor.  Fle  carries  a  large  and 
well-selected  stock  of  shelf  and  hea^•y  hard- 
ware, implements  and  farm  machinery,  and 
his  well-known  reliability  in  trade  transac- 
tions, together  with  the  durabilitv  of  his 
goods,  has  secured  to  him  a  constant!  v  grow- 
ing trade. 

On  March  20.  1878,  ]\Ir.  Henn  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  to  Miss  ilary  A.  Wagner, 
of  Mount  Pulaski,  a  daughter  of  Wilhelin 
and  Christina  (Gessner)  Wagner.  Their 
children,  three  in  number,  are  Alvin  W".. 
Oscar  O.  and  L'arda  Hulda.  Botli  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Henn  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  many 
friends.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  prominent  members  of  the  partv  in 
Latham.  In  18S4  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  village,  and  in  1880  he  was  elected 
a  memljer  of  the  board  of  education  and 
served  as  its  president  to  the  present  time. 
To  the  office  of  super\-isor  he  was  elected  in 
1890.  and  has  since  continued  therein.  His 
official  career  is  without  a  shadow  of  wrong 
and  has  won  him  the  high  commendation 
of  even  those  opposed  to  him  politically.  He 
is  public  spirited  and  progressive,  manifest- 
ing a  loyal  interest  in  every  movement  calcu- 
lated to  prove  of  general  good.  His  life  has 
been  a  busy  and  useful  one.  in  which  he  has 
realized  the  value  of  earnest,  honest  labor 
in  winning  success,  for  it  has  Ijeen  along 
those  lines  that  he  has  gained  pros])eritv. 
Mr.  Henn  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church  of  Mount  Pula.'^ki. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


JOHX  B.  DOWNEY. 

Among  the  prominent  and  useful  citi- 
zens of  East  Lincoln  township,  Logan 
coimty.  Illinois,  is  John  B.  Downey,  who  is 
the  efficient  road  commissioner  of  the  town- 
ship of  which  he  has  been  a  resident  since 
1868.  The  birth  of  Mr.  Downey  occurred 
April  18,  1848,  in  ^^'arren  county.  Ohio, 
and  he  is  a  son  of  Eleazar  Downey,  whose 
home  is  still  in  that  county,  where  he  is  an 
l:onored  resident,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years,  having  been  born  in  18 19.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  who  was  formerly 
Elizabeth  W'orley,  died  April  12.  1S57.  at 
the  age  of  thirty  years.  A  family  of  six 
children  were  born  to  the  parents :  Charles 
A\'..  who  lived  in  Ohio  and  died  at  the  age 
■of  twenty-two  years;  John  B..  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch ;  George,  who  is  a  farmer 
in  Warren  county,  Ohio:  William  P..  who 
is  a  farmer  in  Kansas:  Celia  J.,  who  is  the 
widow  of  Frank  Shawhan  and  lives  in  Ohio: 
and  Syhan  E.,  who  has  been  a  resident  of 
East  Lincoln  township,  this  county,  since 
1889.  All  of  these  children  were  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  ANarren  county, 
Ohio,  the  youngest  ones  being  given  collegi- 
ate advantages,  and  three  of  the  sons  be- 
came teachers.  The  father  is  a  man  oi 
great  intelligence  and  always  encouraged 
all  educational  advancement.  By  trade  he  is 
a  millwright,  but  also  did  some  farming. 

Our  subject  comes  of  German  stock  ou 
the  paternal  side  and  of  Scotch-Irish  on  the 
maternal,  a  combination  which  has  been 
both  physically  and  mentally  of  benefit  to 
him.  His  early  education  was  accjuired  in 
the  state  of  Ohio.  During  the  winters  he 
was  a  pupil  there  until  twenty  years  old. 
w  hile  the  summers  were  occupied  with  farm- 
ing operations.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years 
yir.  Downev  left  his  home  and  came  to  Illi- 


r.ois  and  settled  on  a  farm  belonging  to  his 
father  in  East  Lincoln  township,  Logan 
count}-.  Here  ^Ir.  Downey  married,  and 
then  located  on  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  section  j8.  where  he  has 
made  his  home.  This  he  has  improved  with 
mcjdern  buildings,  and  has  made  it  not  only 
one  of  the  most  valuable  but  also  one  of  the 
most  attractive  homes  in  this  vicinity. 

Mr.  Downey  was  married  in  1872,  in 
Logan  county,  to  ]\Iiss  Mary  A.  Rigg.  who 
was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  June  4, 
1856.  and  whi>  was  educated  in  McDonough 
county.  To  this  marriage  has  been  born 
one  daughter. — Fairy  A.,  born  in  1874,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Elnathan  Town,  of  Easton, 
and  has  two  children, — Karl  u.  and  Muriel. 
yirs.  Town  is  a  lady  of  many  graces  of  mind 
and  person.  She  was  thoroughly  educated 
in  Lincoln  University  and  later  took  a 
course  in  music  at  the  Wesleyan  Uni\-ersity, 
Bloomington.  possessing  great  musical 
gifts. 

In  politics  Mr.  Downey  has  always  sup- 
ported the  Republican  party.  For  twenty- 
eight  years  he  has  been  identified  with  edu- 
cational afifairs  in  the  county,  and  in  the 
spring  of  190 1  he  was  made  commissioner 
of  roads.  This  election  gives  general  satis- 
faction, as  Mr.  Downey's  thorough  business 
methods  are  well  known,  and  he  enjoys  the 
full  confidence  of  the  community.  The  fam- 
ily connection  is  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  in  which  Mr.  Downey  is  the 
recording  steward  of  the  Lincoln  circuit. 
For  nine  years  he  was  the  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school,  and  has  long  been  one 
of  the  generous  and  cheerful  supporters  of 
c\ery  benevolent  and  charitable  enterprise 
connected  with  the  church.  He  is  a  thor- 
oughly self-made  man,  and  has  won  his  way 
to  the  prominent  position  he  holds  in  the 
estimation    of    the    conimunitv   which   has 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


389 


learned  to  value  him  for  his  integrity,  lion- 
esty  and  his  characteristics  which  make  liini 
a  good  friend,  kind  neighhor  and  estimaljle 
<.itizen. 


GEORCK  H.  HUBBARD. 

Prominent  among  the  energetic,  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  men  of  Mt. 
Pulaski  is  George  H.  Hubbard,  the  present 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Mt.  Pulaski 
Grain  Company.  He  was  bmn  January  23, 
1865,  upon  a  farm  in  Prairie  Creek  town- 
ship, tliis  c unity,  and  is  a  son  cif  .\'iclii_)las 
and  .Mary  (Smith)  Hu1>l)ard,  l)cith  natives 
of  Prussia,  German}-,  the  ftirmer  born  in 
1825,  the  latter  in  1830.  The  parents  came 
to  the  United  States  in  childliood  and  were 
married  in  Portsmouth,  Ohio.  In  1853  they 
removed  to  Illincis,  and  settled  in  Prairie 
Creek  township,  Logan  count)-,  where  the 
father  farmed,  and  in  Cdunectimi  with  the 
operation  of  his  land  successfully  engaged  in 
stock  raising.  There  he  died  on  the  i6th 
of  October.  1885.  His  widow  is  still  living 
and  now  makes  her  home  at  Xn.  1  lo  Water 
street,  Lincoln.  In  their  family  were  nine 
children,  namely :  Nicholas,  a  resident  of 
Omaha,  Xeliraska  :  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Pat- 
rick Ryan  ;  Theresa  C,  deceased  :  Frederick 
].,  a  retired  farmer  of  Lincoln:  .\nna  A., 
who  is  living  with  her  mother  in  Lincoln  : 
Emery,  who  died  in  childhood:  George  H., 
our  subject:  Jacob  J.,  a  resident  of  Chicago: 
and  Louis  .\.,  of  Lincoln. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  George 
!1.  Hubbard  attended  scho,,]  through  the 
winter  months  and  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  labors  of  the  fields  through- 
out the  summer.  He  remained  on  the  old 
homestead  and  had  charge  of  the  farm  after 
his    father's    death     until     I-'ebruarw    iXc.j, 


when  he  removed  to  Lincoln  and  embarked 
in  the  grain  business,  as  a  member  of  the 
lirm  of  Hubbard  Brothers  &  Company,  but 
since  March,  1896,  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  Mt.  Pulaski  Grain  Company  and 
has  made  his  home  in  Mt.  Pulaski.  This 
company  was  organized  March  14,  1889, 
and  the  present  officers  are  John  Lincoln, 
president ;  Andrew  Eisiminger,  vice-presi- 
dent :  and  George  H.  Hubbard,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  They  do  quite  an  extensive 
business  and  ship  their  grain  principally  to 
Chicago  and   Xew-  Orleans. 

In  1893  -^I''-  Hubbard  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  A.  O'Connor,  of  Lo- 
gan county,  a  daughter  of  John  O'Connor, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  five  children : 
.\nna,  deceased:  Nicholas  L. ;  John  P.; 
Paul :  and  George  H.,  Jr.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Hubbard  is  a  member  of  Alt.  I-^ulaski 
Lodge,  Xo.  434,  I.  O.  O.  V.  In  1900  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  btiard 
tor  a  term  of  three  years,  and  is  now  nnjst 
creditably  filling  that  office.  His  strict  in- 
tegrity and  honorable  dealing  in  business 
commend  him  to  the  confidence  of  all :  his 
pleasant  manner  wins  him  friends,  and  he 
is  one  of  the  popular  and  honored  citizens  of 
Alt.  Pulaski. 


WILLIAAI     ALFXAXDER     PEGRAM. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  well-known 
retired  farmer  of  Lincoln,  was  born  on  the 
16th  of  January,  1824,  in  Dinwiddie  county, 
Virginia,  and  is  a  son  of  William  I!,  and 
Sarah  I-:.  (Walker)  Pegram.  who  were  also 
natives  of  the  <  )ld  Dominion.  The  father 
died  in  1S81 .  at  the  age  of  eighty-tw-o  years, 
and  the  mother  ()eparted  this  life  at  Lincoltj 
ill    i88ri,   at    the   age   of  eighty-four.      Her 


390 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


father  fought  for  American  independence  in 
the  Revohitionary  war.  Our  subject's  pa- 
ternal grandfather  belonged  to  an  old  \'ir- 
ginian  family. 

William  A.  Pegram  is  one  of  a  family 
of  seven  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  be 
grown,  and  six  of  the  number  still  survive. 
He  was  principally  educated  in  private 
schools  of  Kentucky  and  Illinois,  coming  to 
this  state  in  1835.  On  starting  out  in  life 
for  himself,  he  engaged  in  farming  near 
Carrollton,  Greene  county,  Illinois,  for  a 
time,  and  later  spent  eight  years  at  Monte- 
zuma. Pike  county.  In  1857  he  came  to 
Lincoln.  Logan  county,  and  found  this 
region  almost  an  unbroken  prairie.  He. 
Avith  father  and  Ijrother.  B.  B.  Pegram,  pur- 
chased a  tract  <>f  ti\e  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Chester  township,  and  at 
once  turned  their  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  this  place,  trans- 
forming it  into  three  fine  farms.  He  still 
owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land, 
whir'-'  '"f"  r?nts.  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  which  was  in  the  original  purchase,  while 
he  now  lives  a  retired  life  in  Lincoln,  enjoy- 
ing a  well-earned  rest.  He  has  a  nice  home 
at  Xo.  506  Tremont  street,  which  he  bought 
in  1870. 

On  the  3d  of  July.  1849.  ^^^'-  Pegram 
wedded  INIiss  IMartha  Ward  Pegram.  of 
Greene  county,  who  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  John  C.  Pe- 
gram. a  physician  of  Carrollton.  Illinois. 
Unto  them  were  born  twelve  children,  six 
sons  and  six  daughters,  namely :  George, 
deceased:  Blanch,  wife  of  Andrew  Lay- 
man :  A'irginus.  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen:  \\'illiam  A.,  Jr..  who  died  at  the 
age  of  ten  years :  T.  Lincoln,  a  merchant  of 
Decatur.  Illinois:  Samuel  Marshall,  also  of 
Decatur.  Illinois:  Edward,  who  died  in  in- 
fancv:   Carrie,  deceased:    Helen,    wife    of 


Hon.  L.  B.  Stringer,  state  senator  from  t!-is 
district :  INIary,  wife  of  E.  \\'.  Curry,  of 
Bloomington :  Edith,  wife  of  William  Duff. 
a  farmer  of  Logan  county ;  and  Virginia,  at 
home.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
in  1877,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Pe- 
gram married  Miss  Sarah  Martin,  who  was 
then  living  in  Lincoln,  and  by  this  union  he 
has  one  son,  ^^"illiam  A.,  at  home. 

Although  past  the  allotted  three  score 
years  and  ten.  being  now  seventy-seven 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Pegram  is  still  hale  and 
hearty,  and  has  the  vigor  of  a  much  younger 
man.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  public  affairs,  especially  along  educa- 
tional lines,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board  and  trustee  of  the  school 
fund.  He  has  also  held  other  minor  offices, 
and  has  ever  faithfully  performed  his  duties 
of  citizenship.  He  is  an  active  and  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  for  thirty  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  board.  Honored  and  re- 
spected by  all.  he  is  certainly  deserving  of 
prominent  mention  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  county. 


JOHX  W.  OLDAKER. 

John  W.  Oldaker.  one  of  .vtlanta's  fore- 
most farmers,  residing  on  his  farm  one  and 
one-half  miles  east  of  the  village  of  At- 
lanta, is  one  of  five  children  born  to  Jesse 
V.  and  Rebecca  (Bentley)  Oldaker.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  the 
grandfather  carried  on  an  extensive  farm. 
In  the  spring  of  1845  he  was  married,  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  purchased  a  farm  of  eight)-  acres 
one  mile  east  of  our  subject's  present  farm. 
Later  he  sold  his  first  purchase  and  bought 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he 
resided  until  his  ileath.  winch  occurred  in 
1889. 

J,.hn  W.  Oldakcr  was  l...rn  August  17. 
184S,  in  1  Highland  county.  Oliio.  being-  one 
■of  five  children,  all  now  deceased  with  the 
exception  of  <iur  subject  and  Eliza  Jane, 
who  married  1).  X.  Longworth  and  now 
resides  in  McLean  county,  this  state.  C^ur 
subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  and  attended  the  common 
schools.  .\t  the  age  of  twenty-one.  follow- 
ing in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  he  began 
the  life  of  a  farmer.  Having  accumulated 
money  in  his  boyhood  days,  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land,  on  which  his  present 
home  stands.  By  wise  management  he  has 
increased  his  farm  until  he  is  now  the  pos- 
sessor of  two  lunnlrcd  acres  of  rich  and  fer- 
tile land,  and  he  has  a  most  comfortable 
home  and  substantial  outbuildings. 

On  Feljruary  9,  1879.  Mr.  Oldaker  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Robinson, 
a  daughter  of  William  B.  Robinson,  wlio  is 
now  deceased.  After  the  death  of  ^Ir.  Rob- 
inson her  mother  married  William  X.  Brock, 
a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  Mrs.  Oldaker  was  born  Fcb- 
rnarv  5.  1855,  and  grew  to  womanlniod  in 
.Atlanta,  where  she  received  her  education. 
As  a  result  of  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Old- 
aker she  has  become  the  mother  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Maud  B.,  born  June  19. 
1880;  Ethel  M.,  born  October  21.  1882; 
Jessie  I.,  born  October  6,  1884:  \\'illiam  G., 
born  April  9,  1887:  I'^lnia  F..  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1890;  James  L..  born  .March  i(k  1893  ; 
and  George  W.,  born  December  jo.  i8(;4. 
All  of  these  children  reside  at  home.  Mrs. 
Oldaker  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  and  takes  an  actixe  interest  in  church 
work. 

In  politics  our  subject   is  a   Republican. 


but  has  never  cared  for  political  honors. 
He  is  a  farmer  lirst  and  above  all  else.  His 
success  is  due  lo  his  own  well-directed  ef- 
forts, and  now  that  he  has  reached  old  age 
he  can  li\e  retired  from  the  more  rictive 
duties  of  life. 


BEXJ.\MIX  E.  GADDIS. 

Benjamin  E.  Gaddis,  who  since  attain- 
ing his  majority  has  been  a  resident  of  Emi- 
nence township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Clinton  county  on  the  nth  of  April,  1844, 
and  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children 
whose  parents  were  David  B.  and  I'riscilla 
(Elliot)  Gaddis.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, William  Gaddis,  also  bad  a  family  of 
seven  children.  David  B.  Gaddis  was  born 
in  Pennsyhania.  in  1809,  and  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  that  state,  receiving  a  good 
education  in  the  country  schools.'  Later  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1889. 
His  wife  died  in  1851.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Benj.amin  Elliot,  who  was  a  repre- 
sentatix'e  of  one  of  Pennsylvania's  first  fam- 
ilies, and  spent  his  entire  life  as  a  farmer  in 
that  state.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Gaddis 
married  Airs.  Mary  .\.  (  Gahel)  Bryan,  in 
1 8^1). 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Benja- 
min E.  Gaddis  attended  school  and  assisted 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm,  remaining 
under  the  ])arental  roof  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  L<igan  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  and  commenced  work  by  the 
month  in  Eminence  township.  He  was 
thus  employed  until  1866.  when  he  ])ur- 
chased  a  tract  of  land  in  that  townshi]).  ci>n- 
sisting  of  eighty- four  acres.  To  this  he  has 
gradualK-    added    until    he    now    owns    two 


392 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


hundred  and  sixty  acres,  upon  wliich  he  has 
made  many  useful  and  vahiable  impro\e- 
ments,  and  now  has  one  of  the  most  desir- 
able farms  of  its  size  in  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Gaddis  was  married,  December  12, 
1865,  to  Miss  ^Margaret  Niblick,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  Niblick,  who  came  to  this  state 
from  Tennessee  in  1852  and  located  in  Lo- 
gan county.  She  died  on  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1869,  leaving  two  children,  namely: 
Josepliine  and  William,  who  are  still  living. 
On  the  26th  of  December,  1872,  Mr.  Gaddis 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Mary  E.  Gilchrist,  a  daughter  of 
David  Gilchrist,  wlm  is  Udw  living  a  retired 
life  in  Lir.juhi.  This  union  lias  been  blessed 
with  four  children:  Nellie  M. ;  David,  who 
died  in  1878,  aged  two  years;  I^lobert  C. ; 
and  Clifford  B. 

Mr.  Gaddis  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and 
in  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  well  known  through- 
out the  county  as  a  straightforward,  reliable 
man,  whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as 
his  bond,  and  he  well  merits  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  held. 


ADAM  SCHONAUER. 

Adam  Schonauer,  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  farmers  of  East  Lincoln 
township,  is  a  man  whose  worth  and  ability 
have  gamed  him  success,  honor  and  public 
confidence.  He  enjoys  the  well-earned  dis- 
tinction of  being  what  the  jHiblic  calls  a 
"self-made  man,"'  and  an  anal\-zation  of  his 
character  reveals  the  fact  that  industry,  en- 
terprise and  well-directed  efforts  have  been 
the  essential  features  in  his  prosperity. 

Mr.    Schonauer    was    born    October    4, 


1851,  in  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  of 
which  county  his  parents,  John  and  Sally 
A.  (  Epling)  Schonauer,  were  also  natives. 
There  the  father  followed  farming  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1861.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years,  and  makes  her  home  in  Read- 
ing, Pennsylvania. 

Our  subject,  who  is  the  only  child  of  the 
family,  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity,  and  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  1872,  when  he  came  west. 
After  spending  a  short  time  in  Danville, 
Illinois,  he  went  to  Minneapolis,  Alinnesota. 
where  he  clerked  in  a  hardware  store  for 
eighteen  months  and  had  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity to  learn  the  business.  He  next  went 
to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  har- 
vesting as  a  l)inder  between  that  place  and 
St.  Paul. 

In  the  fall  of  i87()  Mr.  Schonauer  came 
111  Logan  count\-.  Illinois,  where  he  was 
first  employed  as  a  farm  hand  for  eighteen 
months,  and  then  rented  land,  which  he  op- 
erated (|uite  successfully  for  three  years. 
Having  saved  some  money,  and  with  a  little 
help  from  his  mother,  he  iiurchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section 
26,  East  Lincoln  townshi]),  which  he  has 
since  fully  impro\-ed,  tiling  the  land  and 
erecting  a  good  set  of  farm  buildings  there- 
on. He  has  been  \'ery  successful  as  a  man- 
ager, and  has  steadily  prospered  in  his 
farming  and  stock  raising.  Formerly  he 
fed  quite  a  large  amount  of  stock  for  mar- 
ket. 

"On  the  13th  of  March,  1881,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Schonauer  and 
Miss  Lena  Stoll,  who  was  born  in  Aetna 
township,  this  county,  March  9,  1861.  Her 
parents,  George  and  Margaretta  Stoll,  set- 
tled here  when  this  was  all  wild  prairie,  and 
are  now  residents  of  Chester  township.     Of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


393 


tlie  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sclionauer  Uvo  died  in  early  childhood,  and 
Amanda  died  Jai.uary  i.  1900.  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  Those  living  are 
George,  Clara.  Amelia,  .\lbert.  John,  Obe- 
diah  and  Sally  A.,  who  are  being  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  East  Lincoln 
township. 

Mr.  Sclionauer  has  taken  quite  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  but  has 
never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office 
seeking.  He  votes  ior  the  men  whom  he 
believes  best  qualified  for  office.  His  fel- 
low citizens,  recognizing  his  worth  and  abil- 
ity, elected  him  supervisor,  and  for  several 
years  he  was  an  influential  member  of  the 
county  board,  being  chairman  of  the  road 
and  bridge  committee  and  also  the  pauper 
committee,  and  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittees on  finance,  poor  farm  and  printing. 
He  takes  great  interest  in  educational  affairs, 
and  has  efficiently  served  as  school  director 
during  his  entire  residence  in  East  Lincoln 
township.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  Zion  Lutheran  church.  Of  a 
jovial  disposition,  he  makes  many  friends 
and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
him. 


HARM  KLOKKEX'GA. 

Harm  Klokkenga,  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  good  farming  land 
on  section  32,  Orvil  township,  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  has  lived  in  this  county 
since  1873.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
having  been  born  in  that  country  on  March 
3,  1 85 1,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Lizzie 
Klokkenga,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of 
Germany,  where  the  father  was  a  laborer  all 
his  life  and  where  both  he  and  his  wife  died. 
There  were  onlv  two  of  the  children  of  this 


familv  who  came  to  America,  our  subject 
and  a  brother  Joest,  the  latter  making  the 
trip  in  1881  and  settling  upon  our  subject's 
l^resent  farm,  where  he  lived  a  few  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Cumberland  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  now  lives  and  is  engaged 
in  farming. 

Our  subject  was  marrietl  in  (ierniany  ti:> 
Miss  Mary  Harms,  and  ten  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  namely:  Henry,  who 
married  Martha  Fink  and  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Orvil  township:  Harm,  who  married 
Katie  Aper  and  lives  in  Orvil  township; 
Albert,  who  resides  at  home;  Xanke,  at 
home:  Lizzie,  at  home;  Tina,  wife  nf  Ru- 
dolph Kasebier,  of  Or\il  township:  .Vnnie. 
Allie.  Mattie  and  Harry,  all  at  home. 

In  1873  our  subject  and  family  came  to 
America  and  landed  in  Xew  York,  whence 
thev  came  direct  to  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  for  two  years  on  a  farm 
near  Emden.  He  then  settled  on  what  is 
known  as  the  old  Carnahan  farm,  in  Orvil 
township,  where  he  lived  for  seven  years, 
after  which  he  leased  a  farm  three  miles 
south  of  Emden  and  lived  there  nine  years 
and  also  held  another  lease  in  this  township 
for  five  years.  He  then  purchased  his  present 
farm  on  section  32,  known  as  part  of  the 
old  Betzelberger  farm,  where  he  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excellent 
farming  land.  Mr.  Klokkenga  also  is  the 
owner  of  five  acres  of  timber  land  in  Emi- 
nence townshi]).  this  county. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church  of  Einden,  this  county. 
The  farm  owned  by  our  subject  is  a  fine  one. 
He  never  has  a  failure  of  crops,  and  he  and 
his  sons  conduct  all  the  operations.  The 
home  of  the  family  is  a  very  comfortable 
one  and  they  dispense  a  genial  hospitality  to 
all  who  become  their  guests. 


394 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


DAVID  X.  CHESTNUT. 

David  X.   Chestnut,  junior  member  of 
the  prosperous  firm  of  Stnmpf  &  Chestnut, 
hardware  merchants,   was  born   iii   Prairie 
Creek    township,    Logan    county.    Ilhnois. 
:\Iarch  2;^,    1869.     His   father.   Thomas  J. 
Chestnut,  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  state,  of 
whicli  liis  fatlier.   Alexander  R..  was  also 
a  natixe.     Thomas  J.  Chestnut  received  a 
common   school   education,   and   under   his 
father's  able  instruction  and  industrious  ex- 
ample developed  into  a  substantial  and  prac- 
tical   farmer.      He    eventually    settled    in 
Prairie     Creek    township.    Logan      count)-, 
where  he  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
helpful  citizens  of  his  locality  and  an  agri- 
culturist   of    means    and    progressiveness. 
Having  a  keen  appreciation  of  the  advan- 
tages   of    a    good    education  and  business 
training,  he  placed  every  available  advan- 
tage in  the  way  of  his  son  David,  desiring 
him  to  become  a  permanent  fixture  of  the 
commercial  world  and  a  careful,  conserva- 
tive man  of  business.     His  education,  which 
was  begun  in  the  common  schools  of  Logan 
county,  was  later  supplemented  In-  a  course 
in  the  Lincoln  Business  College  of  Lincoln. 
Immediately  afterward  he  returned  to  Xew 
Holland  and  was  employed  by  L,  Burchett, 
the  confidence  of  whom  he  was  not  slow  in 
gaining,  and  who  was  himself  a  sound  busi- 
ness n-ian  with  the  good  sense  to  appreciafi 
the  callable  service  of  his  enthusiastic  assist- 
ant,    Mr.  Chestnut  rapidly  rose  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  business,  lived  within  his  income 
and  laid  by  sufficient  money  to  enable  him  in 
1893  to  form  the  partnership  which  has  since 
proved  such  a  wise  forethought  and  practi- 
cal  proposition.      The   stock   on   hand   con- 
sists of  hardware,  agricultural  implements, 
wagons  and  luiggies,  and  contains  all  mod- 
ern   and    late    devices     f^r    lal)or    saving. 


.\si(le  from  being  a  successful  firm  and  con- 
ducting a  large  and  increasing  business,  the 
methods  pursued  are  such  as  to  command 
the  fullest  public  confidence,  and  the  genial 
atmosphere  dominating  the  place  are  added 
inducements  fnr  a  speedy  return  of  pur- 
chasers. ]Mr.  Chestnut  is  personally  popu- 
lar with  all  classes  in  his  district,  and  is 
promiiient  in  politics,  being  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party. 


-MARSHALL  A.   CRAXE. 

Marshall  .V.  Crane,  a  resident  of  section 
8,  township  17,  range  i.  Lake  Fork  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  was  born  in  Preston 
county.  West  Virginia,  September  18,  1848, 
and  is  a  son  of  Elisha  and  Mary  Ann  (Fike) 
Crane,  both  parents  Ijeing  at  present  resi- 
dents of  Lincoln,  Illinois,  The  father  was 
born  in  the  same  county  in  1826  and  there 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  married.  In  1856 
he  and  his  wife  moved  to  Elkhart,  Illinois, 
but  later  located  in  Corwin  township,  Lo- 
gan county,  in  1859,  Here  the  family  re- 
sided until  about  1883,  when  removal  was 
made  to  Lake  Fork  township,  where  the  idea 
came  to  Mr.  Crane  of  draining  the  lake  and 
making  fine  farming  land  of  this  large  tract. 
The  more  he  considered  it  the  more  plausible 
the  venture  seemed,  although  he  met  many 
discouragements  from  his  neighbors. 
Nevertheless  he  persisted,  put  in  scrapers, 
dug  out  trees,  introduced  tiling,  and  by 
1 89 1  he  had  proved  that  his  idea  was  not 
only  practicable  but  that  it  w^as  accom- 
plished. The  land  comprised  originally 
some  one  thousand  acres,  and  at  one  time 
Mr.  Crane  owned  son-ie  two  thousand  acres, 
but  he  has  retained  only  three  hundred. 
Some  complications  arose  b\-  which  he  lost  a 


MARSHALL  A.    CRANE. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


397 


portion  of  his  land,  but  he  retained  the  lake, 
and  that  proved  the  restoration  of  his  for- 
tune. At  one  time  he  owned,  and  kept  for 
breeding  purposes  nearly  two  hundred  cows 
and  heifers  and  has  fed  l^etween  three  hun- 
dred and  four  hundred  head  ut  steers  for 
the  market.  He  and  his  wife  now  li\e  re- 
tired. While  in  Corwin  township  he  was 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  and  held  the 
office  of  supervisor  for  a  number  of  years, 
serving  as  chairman  of  the  board  a  part  of 
the  time.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methddist   E])iscopal  church. 

Marshall  A.  Crane,  of  this  biography, 
was  educated  first  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  district,  but  later  enjoyed  three  years 
at  the  Wesleyan  University,  Blooniington, 
Illinois,  -vfter  his  college  days  ended  he 
returned  to  the  old  home,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres 
of  the  original  property,  and  has  put  in  all 
of  the  improvements  which  make  this  one 
of  the  most  vahiable  farms  of  the  township. 
He  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  and  has  one  of  the  finely  improved 
and  most  beautiful  homes  in  the  locality. 

In  1876  Mr.  Crane  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Clara  S.  Poorman.  of  Will- 
iamsville,  Sangamon  county,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  John  M.  and  Martha  Susan 
Poorman.  and  to  this  union  four  children 
have  been  born,  namely:  Flossie  G.,  Jes- 
sie P.,  John  P.  and  Smith. 

[Mr.  Crane  is  an  acti\-e  member  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  he  is  not  in  any  sense 
an  office  seeker,  though  doing  his  civic  duty 
at  all  times  and  taking  a  deep  interest  in  all 
matters  promising  to  be  of  benefit  to  his 
district.  Pie  is  a  leading  member  of .  the 
]^Iethodist  church  in  Mount  Pulaski,  and  is 
one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Logan 
■countv. 


BARXEV  R.  BEHREXDS. 

One  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of 
Logan  county  is  Barney  R.  Uehrends.  whose 
residence  here  dates  from  18^)7.  lie  is  now 
living  in  Orvil  tcnvnship,  where  he  has  large 
landed  interests  and  he  is  also  connected 
with  the  business  aflfairs  of  Hart.sburg  as 
president  of  the  bank  there.  He  is  a  native 
of  Hanover,  Germany,  born  December  28, 
1853,  unto  Klaas  S.  and  Dina  (Johnson) 
Behrends,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Hanover,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
i8f>4.  settling  in  Morgan  county.  Illinois, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  farming  until 
1867.  He  came  to  Logan  county,  establish- 
ing his  home  in  Prairie  Creek  township,  near 
San  Jose,  where  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  for  three  years.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  removed  to  a  farm  one-half 
miles  west  of  Emden,  and  after  three  years 
went  to  ]\Iason  county,  Illinois,  making  his 
home  nine  miles  northeast  of  Havana  until 
he  abandoned  farming  in  1890.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Pekin  and  after  two  years  took 
up  his  abode  in  the  village  o.f  Hartsburg, 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  are  still  living, 
being  among  the  most  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  the  town.  One  child  died  in  infan- 
cv  and  the  other  members  of  their  family 
were:  Barney  R.,  of  this  sketch;  (ieorge 
a  farmer  living  in  Mason  county,  Illinois ; 
Benjamin,  who  is  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  that  county:  Annie,  the  wife  of 
Henry  Leesman.  a  resident  farmer  of  Harts- 
burg; Katie,  wife  of  Hiram  Leesman.  of 
Mason  county;  Henry,  a  resident  farmer  of 
the  same  county;  and  Tony,  a  well  known 
agriculturists  of  Mason  cmmty. 

Mr.  Behrends  of  this  sketch  spent  the 
first  ten  years  of  his  life  in  the  fatherland 
and  then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 


398 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


emigration  to  the  United  States.  He  pur- 
sued liis  education  in  the  pubHc  schools  of 
both  countries  and  remained  at  home  with 
his  father  until  his  marriage,  which  »\.:is 
celebrated  in  1875.  ]Miss  Maggie  Feddinga 
becoming  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Ger- 
many and  her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klaas 
Feddinga,  never  left  their  native  Hanover. 
;Mrs.  Behrends  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
July  3,  1898.  leaving  five  children,  namely: 
Klaas,  John,  Jurn,  Annie  and  Barney.  Mr. 
Behrends  was  again  married,  in.  1900,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Jennie  Groen. 
of  Pekin,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Richard 
Groen,  who  is  now  engaged  in  l)lacksmith- 
ing  in  Pekin.  There  is  one  child  by  this 
marriage,  Althea  Tillie. 

Mr.  Behrends  began  his  domestic  life  on 
the  Scully  land  on  section  14,  Orvil  town- 
ship, where  he  leased  eighty  acres,  contin- 
uing its  cultivation  for  seven  years.  He 
then  remoxed  to  section  2^ — a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  Scully  land. 
and  there  he  made  his  home  for  six  years 
after  which  he  removed  to  his  present  farm. 
Here  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  known  as  the  old  Bruner  farm,  and 
with  characteristic  energy  he  began  its  de- 
velopment and  improvement.  As  the  years 
have  passed  he  has  added  to  the  property 
and  he  now  has  here  three  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  in  Orvil  town- 
ship. He  carries  on  general  farming  and 
has  a  valuable  place,  the  carefully  cultivated 
fields  yielding  him  golden  harvests  which 
year  after  year  enable  him  to  add  to  his 
capital.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Bank 
of  Hartsburg,  which  is  recognized  as  a  re- 
liable financial  institution  and  is  already  re- 
ceiving a  good  patronage.  In  1880  ^Ir. 
Behrends  introduced  the  first  steam  power 
threshing  machine  in  the  township  and  still 
owns  a  machine  which  is  now  operated  by 


his  sons.  In  1900  the  farmers  of  Lone  Tree 
School  District  established  a  telephone  com- 
pany under  the  name  of  the  Lone  Tree  Tele- 
phone Company  with  connection  at  Harts- 
burg with  the  Mutual  Company. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Behrends  was 
formerly  a  Democrat  but  is  now  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day.  He  has 
&er\ed  as  road  commissioner  in  his  town- 
ship for  six  years,  and  for  thirteen  years 
was  school  director,  rendering  effective  sev- 
\  :ce  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  education.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  church  of  Pekin,  and  are  people 
of  the  highest  worth,  their  many  excellent 
tr:iiis  of  heart  and  mind  gaining  for  them 
unciualifield  respect.  \\'hatever  success  Mr. 
Behrends  has  achieved  is  attributed  to  his 
Lwn  efforts  and  the  example  should  serve 
as  a  source  of  encouragement  and  inspira- 
tion to  the  young,  showing  what  can  be  ac- 
complished through  strong  purpose  and  hon- 
oraljle  methods. 


PROF.  HERBERT  ORAL  MERRY. 

Professor  Herbert  Oral  :\Ierry.  instruct- 
or in  violin  and  orchestral  music  at  Lincoln 
University,  was  born  in  Farmer  City.  De- 
\\'itt  county,  Illinois,  January  7,  1872.  and 
is  a  son  of  Ralph  W.  and  Polly  R.  ( Farr) 
Merry,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Can- 
ada, the  former  born  in  1838.  and  the  latter 
in  1844.  By  trade  the  father  is  a  blacksmith 
and  followed  that  occupation  a  number  of 
vears.  In  1887  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Lincoln,  and  here  he  and  his  wife  still 
reside. 

Professor  Merry  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Deland  until  he  was  fifteen  years 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


399 


of  age.  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Lincoln,  after  which  he  spent  ti\e  years  in 
the  schools  here,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  in  class  ni  189J.  He  had  previously 
hegun  the  study  of  the  vionin,  taking  lessons 
of  a  local  teacher  at  the  age  of  eleven.  In 
1887  he  entered  the  musical  department  of 
the  Lincoln  Universiay,  where  he  took  near- 
ly two  years'  work  under  Professor  Eckert.  a 
graduate  of  Berlin  University,  who  was  at 
that  time  teacher  of  piano  and  violin  in  the 
college.  Later  he  studied  under  Professor 
Cheeseman  and  Hersey.  the  latter  of  whom 
was  a  graduate  of  the  Royal  Conservatory  at 
Leipsic,  Germany,  and  was  at  that  time 
teacher  of  violin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University.  Bloomington.  where  Professor 
Merry  was  graduated  in  1892,  after  which 
he  continued  his  study  there  till  1893. 

In  1890  he  commenced  teaching  music, 
having  classes  at  Elkhart,  Williamsville  and 
Lincoln.  In  1895  he  was  chosen  violin 
teacher  in  Lincoln  University  by  its  board 
of  trustees,  and  has  filled  that  position  to 
their  entire  satisfaction  ever  since.  Besides 
being  an  accomplished  violinist,  he  is  also 
an  efficient  hand  man  and  director.  Un- 
der his  care  his  department  of  the  college 
of  music  has  been  materially  built  up.  and 
at  present  has  a  very  important  place  in  the 
university,  both  the  band  and  orchestra  be- 
ing connected  with  it.  Professor  Merry  has 
composed  a  number  of  pieces  for  band  and 
orchestra,  but  has  never  published  them. 

On  the  26th  of  December.  1894.  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maude  Tandy, 
of  Lincoln,  who  was  horn  in  Carrollton, 
Greene  county.  Illinois,  in  1874.  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Walter  S.  and  Julia  (Freer) 
Tandy,  also  natives  of  this  state.  By  this 
union  there  have  been  born  three  children, 
namely:  Thelma  P..  Paul.  an<l  llalcyone. 
The  Professor  is  a  prominent    and    acti\e 


member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  is  one 

of  its  untiring  workers.  He  is  director  of 
its  choir:  has  ser\  ed  as  su])crintendent  ot 
the  Sunilay  school  torn-  years;  and  is  jiresi- 
dent  of  the  I-last  Lincoln  townsliip  of  the 
Lt)gan  County  Sunday  School  Association. 
He  is  also  vice-president  from  Logan  county 
of  the  Illinois  Music  Teachers  Association, 
and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  I'he  Professor  and  Mrs. 
?\lerrv  stand  high  in  the  musical  and  social 
circles  of  Lincoln,  where  they  have  made 
manv  warm  friends. 


D.WIl)  J.  GILCHRIST. 

David  J.  Gilchrist,  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  up-to-date  farmers  of  Emi- 
nence township,  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Logan  county,  and  throughout  his  business 
career  has  been  actively  identified  with  her 
agricultural  interests.  He  was  born  in  Or- 
vil  township,  in  March,  1850.  and  is  one  of 
a  family  of  seven  children,  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  His  father,  David  Gil- 
christ, is  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  Kirk- 
cudljrightshire.  December  21,  1815,  and  is  a 
s..n  of  William  and  Jane  (Clarke)  Gilchrist. 
He  was  given  a  good  education  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  reach- 
ing man"s  estate.  In  the  spring  of  1S42  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  after  spend- 
ing three  years  in  Bristol  county.  Rhoile 
Island,  he  came  to  Logan  county.  Illinois, 
and  was  successfully  engaged  in  farnnng  in 
Orvil  township  until  1881.  Being  indus- 
trious and  enterprising  as  well  as  a  man  of 
good  business  and  executive  ability,  he  jjros- 
pered  in  his  undertakings  and  is  to-day  the 
owner  of  eleven  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.      He 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  in  limited  circumstances  on  coming  to 
this  country,  and  through  liis  own  unaided 
efforts  lie  has  met  with  remarkalile  success. 
Before  leaving  Scotland  he  was  married,  in 
June,  1839,  to  Miss  Helen  ^^IcMath,  who 
died  in  November,  1858,  leaving  seven  chil- 
dren, and  he  subsequently  weddeil  Mrs. 
:^larv  Marr,  widow  of  Edward  Marr.  who 
came  t(_)  America  from  Scotland  in  i860  and 
died  in  Lincoln.  Illinois,  three  years  later. 
Two  children  blessed  this  union.  The 
father  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith, 
and  has  long  been  an  active  member  of  that 
church,  serving  as  ruling  elder  fiir  several 
years.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Lincoln. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Orvil  town- 
ship, and  he  was  reared  under  his  father's 
watchful  eye.  Being  thoroughly  familiar 
with  every  department  of  farm  work,  and 
being  ambitious  to  succeed,  he  started  out 
in  life  for  himself  in  1870  by  operating  a 
rented  farm  in  Orvil  township,  and  in  that 
\\av  accumulated  a  snug  sum  of  money.  In 
the  spring  of  1877  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  his  present  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
seven  acres  of  land  on  sections  19  and  30, 
Eminence  town.ship.  and  here  be  has  re- 
sided for  the  past  twenty-four  years.  It  is 
an  up-to-date  farm.  impr(i\-ed  with  a  good, 
modern  residence  and  substantial  barns  and 
outbuildings,  and  everything  about  the  place 
shows  conclusively  that  the  owner  is  a  man 
of  good  business  ability  and  that  he  thor- 
oughly understands  tlie  vocation  which  he 
follows. 

On  the  14th  of  IMarch,  1877.  ^Ir.  Gil- 
christ was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Katherine  E.  Seibert.  a  daughter  of  one  of 
Eminence  townsliip"s  most  distinguished 
farmers,  Jacob  Seibert.  who  was  born  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  in  1832.  and  was 


a  resident  of  Logan  county,  Illinois,  from 
1862  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  February,  1898.  Mrs.  Gilchrist 
was  born  in  Ohio.  June  JT,.  1857.  and  was 
five  vears  old  wlien  bnjught  by  her  parents 
ahere  she  grew  to  woman- 
a  first-class  education  in  its 
and  Mrs.  Gilchrist  have 
whose  names  and  dates  of 
iws:     Myrtle  M..  April  29, 


to  this  county, 
hood,  receiving- 
schools.  Mr. 
seven  children, 
birth  are  as  foil 
1878:  Ellis  LeRoy.  September  16,  1879; 
Ethel  B.,  August  13.  1881  ;  George  E., 
March  22.  1884:  P.  Lavelle.  September  24, 
1887:  :\lary  H..  Xovember  17.  1889:  and 
Bernice  C,  June  10,  1893.  Myrtle  M.  died 
October  9,  1901.  She  was  the  wife  of  Gil- 
bert Powell,  of  Tazewell  county. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church 
and  they  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances  throughout  the  county.  He 
uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party  and  its  principles,  and 
never  withholds  his  aid  from  any  enterprise 
which  he  believes  will  prove  of  public  bene- 
fit, being  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  and 
progressive  citizens 


of  Imminence  townsh 


WTLLIA^I  T.  RITTER. 

For  a  quarter  of  a  century  this  gentle- 
man- b.as  been  an  honored  resident  of  Lin- 
coln, and  as  a  florist  he  is  now  identified 
with  lier  business  interests.  Like  many  of 
her  best  citi7ens.  his  early  home  was  in  the 
south,  for  he  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Fax'ette 
county.  Kentucky.  Xovemlicr  jH,  1834,  a 
son  of  James  and  Rebecca  ( \\'oodgate) 
Ritter,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  state, 
the  former  born  in  Jessamine  county,  the 
latter  in  Fayette  county.  They  spent  their 
entire  lives   in    Kentuckv.   the   father  being 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


engaged  in  farming  and  IIatl)oating  down 
the  Mississippi  river  to  Xew  Orleans. 
Our  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  C.mrad 
l\itter.  was  a  ( icrnian  1>_\-  hirtli.  and  enii- 
gratetl  to  the  I'nited  States  when  yuung. 
His  wife  Ijore  tlie  maiden  name  of  Hannah 
Bailey.  The  maternal  grandfather  nf  cmr 
subject  was  Jonathan  W'oodgate,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia  and  at  an  early  day  re- 
moved to  Kentucky.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war. 

The  public  sch.iols  of  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky, afforded  our  subject  his  early  edu- 
cational advantages.  After  leaving  school 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  was  eni- 
pioved  in  the  constructidU  of  plantation 
Iiouses  first  as  a  journexnian  and  later  as 
a  contractor,  in  iS(i4  he  came  tn  Illinois. 
and  li\-ed  for  a  time  in  Lincoln  and  later  in 
Mason  City.  Subse(|uently  he  spent  twn 
years  at  Springfield.  IMis.souri,  where  he 
erected  a  hotel  and  business  block  and  also 
built  a  hotel  in  Pierce  City,  that  state. 
He  erected  three  large  buildings  in  Xeosha, 
the  county  seat  of  Xewton  cnunty,  Mis- 
souri, and  was  the  architect  for  the  court 
house  at  Bentonx'ille.  Arkansas,  in  1871. 
The  f(jllowing  two  years  were  spent  in 
Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  and  one  summer 
was  passed  at  Bedford,  Iowa. 

In  1876  Mr.  Ritter  returned  to  Lincoln 
and  liecame  connected  with  the  Illinois  .\sy- 
lum  for  Feeble  Minded  Children,  having 
charge  oi  all  the  machinery  and  the  repair- 
ing of  all  the  buildings.  In  1897  he  erected 
a  barn  upon  the  farm,  which  was  blown 
down  in  a  storm,  killing  si.\  of  the  boys  who 
had  sought  shelter  there.  Mr.  Ritter  was 
in  the  em])l(w  of  the  institution  while  it  was 
under  the  management  of  Dr.  Wilbur  for 
ten  years:  Dr.  W.  I!.  ImnIi,  sexeral  years; 
Dr,  Miller.  ..f  Lincoln,  tw..  years:  and  Dr. 
J.  W.  Smith,  till  .\i)ril,  18(^7,  the  last  named 


lia\-ing  been  appointed  superintendent  by 
( io\ernor  'J'anner.  Since  severing  his  c<.in- 
nection  with  the  asylum  in  J 897,  oiu"  sub- 
ject has  devoted  liis  attention  to  horticulture, 
and  is  now  doing  a  successful  business  as  a 
llorist.  He  has  erecteil  large  green  houses, 
having  ten  thousand  feet  of  glass,  and  deals 
in  both  cut  ilowers  and  plants,  his  wife  hav- 
ing charge  of  their  sale. 

In  1859  Mr.  Ritter  married  :\Iiss  Eliza- 
beth Richardson,  a  native  of  Spencer  coi^nty, 
Kentuck}-,  and  a  daughter  of  I'eter  and  Rose 
( Mc.Mlister)  Richardson,  who  were  also 
born  in  Kentucky.  Eight  children  bless  this 
union,  namely:  Fanny,  at  home;  Monroe 
J.,  a  resident  of  Lincoln;  Nora,  wife  of  Ju- 
lius Goldsmith,  of  Chicago;  Edward  E.,  a 
contractor  and  builder  of  Lincoln;  Rosa, 
who  as  a  comjiositor  is  engaged  in  maga- 
zine work  in  Chicago;  Maud,  wife  of  Rob- 
ert Dana,  of  Linc<iln;  William,  a  black- 
.smith  of  Lincoln;  and  Pearl,  at  home.  The 
family  residence  is  at  846  South  State  street. 

Socially  Mr.  Ritter  is  a  Master  Mason, 
having  been  a  member  of  that  organization 
since  1857,  and  politically  he  is  a  stanch 
supjiorter  of  the  Democracy.  For  four  _\'ears 
he  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Lin- 
coln. His  jniblic  ser\ice  has  been  nmst  ex- 
enipl;ir\-,  and  his  private  life  has  been 
marked  bv  the  utmost  fidelity  to  dut\-. 


JOHX  O.  MASOX. 

John  ().  Mason,  now  living  a  retired  lite 
.Mt.  Pulaski,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
n-  and  bears  an  honorable  record  for  brave 
•vice  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and  luiion, 
d  in  the  paths  of  peace  he  has  also  won 
enviable  reputation  through  the  sterling 
lalities  which  go  to  the  making  of  a  good 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


citizen.  He  was  born  in  Mt.  Pulaski,  July 
21,  1837,  when  that  village  was  only  a  year 
old,  as  it  was  laid  out  and  platted  in  1836. 
His  parents,  William  and  Elizabeth  (Stone- 
house)  !Mason,  were  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  Leeds,  England,  and  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1830,  locating  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania.  They  spent  a  short  time 
in  that  city  and  then  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois. In  1836  they  settled  in  Logan  county, 
where  they  continued  to  make  their  home 
throughout  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  In 
liis  nati\"e  land  the  father  had  5er\etl  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  on 
the  expiration  of  his  term  was  presented  by 
his  employer  with  a  kit  of  tools,  containing 
two  hundred  different  kinds — ever\-thing 
needed  in  his  line  of  work.  This  kit  he 
brought  with  him  to  .\merica,  and  locating 
in  Mt.  Pulaski  he  opened  a  shop,  which  he 
conducted  for  a  time.  Suljsetjuently  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  three  miles  northwest  of  the  village, 
and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  He  died  July  30,  1843, 
and  his  wife,  who  long  survived  him,  passed 
away  on  the  23rd  of  March,  1870.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  an  old-line  Whig. 

This  worthy  couple  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  fixe  of  whom  were  born  in  Eng- 
land, and  two  in  Philadelphia,  our  subject 
being  the  only  one  born  in  this  county.  Their 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows : 
George,  August  19,  1819;  Christopher,  Oc- 
tober 2.  1820;  Thomas,  February  7,  1823: 
Jane  E.,  July  13,  1825;  Margaret  S.,  Au- 
gust 13,  1827;  Isabella.  August  4.  1830; 
Elizabeth.  June  i,  1835:  and  J<ihn  O.,  June 
21,  1837. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  his  edu- 
cation in  a  log  school  house  which  stood  on 
the  bank  of  Salt  creek,  his  first  teacher  being 


Rev.  David  Bunn,  a  Universalist  preacher. 
Later  he  attended  school  in  Mt.  Pulaski  for 
three  terms.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then 
commenced  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  be- 
ing thus  empli)_\ed  when  the  Civil  war  broke 
out. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  186 1,  Mr.  Ma- 
son enlisted  in  Company  B,  Thirty-second 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
John  Logan,  a  cousin  of  General  John  A. 
Logan.  With  his  command  he  was  sent 
to  Bird's  Point,  ^lissouri,  in  January,  1862, 
and  later  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Fort 
Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing 
or  Shiloh,  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Cor- 
inth. He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Hatchie's  Run,  in  October,  1862,  after  which 
the  conimand  was  sent  to  Fort  Gibson, 
having  marched  from  Grand  Gulf.  ]\Iis- 
sissippi.  to  help  guard  the  gulf.  In  Juns, 
1863,  they  were  ordered  to  Vicksburg,  and 
were  in  the  rifie  pit  seventeen  da}S.  .\fter  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg  they  marched  to 
Black  River,  where  they  engaged  General 
Joe  Johnston  and  drove  him  back  across 
Pearl  Ri\er.  They  then  returned  to  Vicks- 
burg. Later  the  regiment  veteranized  at 
Xatchez,  Mississippi,  and  in  1864  Mr.  Ma- 
son was  honorably  discharged  and  returned 
home  with  a  war  record  of  which  he  may  be 
justlv  pri )ud.  F(ir  fifteen  years  he  conducted 
a  restaurant  in  Mt.  Pulaski,  and  since  then 
has  lived  a  retired  life,  enjoying  a  well 
earned  rest. 

Mr.  Mason  was  married  October  30, 
1878,  to  Miss  Delila  Murray,  of  :Mt.  Pu- 
laski, who  died  November  24,  1893.  and  in 
1896  he  was  married  again,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Jessie  Evans,  of  the 
same  place.  Politically  he  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  favored  Abraham 
Lincoln's  election  to  the  United  States  sen- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ate  in  1858.  and  twice  voted  for  him  for 
president.  He  alsn  voted  fur  Richard  \'atcs. 
the  war  governnr.  and  fur  his  son  in  1000. 
Fraternally  he  is  an  honored  nicniher  of 
Sam  Walker  Post.  Xo.  J05.  (i.  .\.  R..  of 
'Sh.  Pnlaski.  in  which  he  has  served  as  quar- 
termaster for  thirteen  year.s  aiul  is  senior 
vice-commander  at  the  present  time. 


HOX.  EDWARD  D.  BLIXX. 

Edward  D.  Dlinn.  one  of  Lincoln's  most 
successful  lawyers,  who  liolds  a  leading- 
place  among  the  memhers  of  the  Logan 
county  har,  was  horn  on  the  12th  of  Sep- 
temher.  1844,  in  St.  Johnshury.  \'ermont, 
of  which  state  his  jiarents.  Charles  and  Le- 
fee  H.  (Harrington)  Blinn,  were  also  na- 
tives. Plis  paternal  grandfather,  James 
Blinn,  was  born  in  Vermont,  but  early 
moved  to  Canada  with  his  parents  and  there 
spent  his  life,  his  time  and  attention  being 
devoted  to  farming.  His  ancestors  came  to 
this  country  from  England  during  colonial 
days  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Xew  England.  Our  subject's  maternal 
grandfather  was  William  Harrington. 

Mr.  Blinn  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  an  academy  of  his  nati\e 
town,  and  later  took  up  the  study  of  law  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  being  admitted  to  the  liar 
in  that  city  in  iS^O.  The  same  year  he 
came  to  Lincoln.  Illinois.  ;uid  opened  an 
otihce  for  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion. He  has  been  eminently  successful  and 
is  to-day  one  of  the  best  known  country 
lawyers  in  the  state.  He  served  three  years 
as  president  of  the  court  of  claims  of  the 
state,  in  which  office  he  ac(|uitted  himself 
with  marked  ability.  Mr.  Jilinn  has  also 
been  acti\elv  identified  with  various  iniblic 


enterprises,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 

the  water  works  and  electric  light  companies, 
and  he  has  been  president  of  these  corpora- 
tions. For  a  time  he  was  connecteil  with  the 
Lincoln  Street.  Railroad  Company,  and  was 
president  of  the  same  until  he  sold  out  his 
interest.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  he 
is  an  enterprising  and  successful  business 
man,  as  well  as  a  lawyer.  In  the  latter  ca- 
pacity he  is  notetl  for  the  care  with  which 
he  prepares  his  cases  and  for  the  energy  and 
loyalty  he  displays  in  protecting  the  interests 
of  his  clients. 

In  18(19  Mr.  P)linn  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Xettie  L.  Youtscy,  of  Cold 
Springs.  Kentucky,  anil  the\-  have  become 
the  parents  of  three  children,  one  son  and 
two  daughters:  Eva  B.,  Annette,  and  Ed- 
ward  D.,  Jr. 

Mr.  Blinn  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  ?iIasonic  body,  being  a  Knight  Templar, 
and  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Republican 
part}-,  ha\'ing  for  many  years  taken  an  active 
[lart  in  political  affairs.  In  1880  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention,  which 
met  in  Chicago  and  nominated  General 
James  A.  Garfield  for  the  presidency.  He 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Republican 
state  committee,  and  has  done  much  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  party  and  insure  its 
success.  In  1900  he  was  appointed  su|)er- 
\isor  of  census  of  the  eleventh  district  of 
Illinois.  In  public  affairs  he  exerts  con- 
sider.able  iuHuence  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most  popular  citizens  of  Lincoln. 


S.\MCELC.  DAWSOX. 

The  agricultural  interests  of  Logan 
county  are  well  represented  in  Samuel  C. 
Dawson,  who  is  now  operating  a  hue  farm 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  26, 
Chester  townsliip.  He  is  a  native  of  tliis 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Mount 
Pulaski  township,  on  the  29tli  of  September, 
1858.  His  fatlier,  Creed  H.  Dawson,  was 
born  in  Kentucky  in  1819,  and  wlien  a 
young  man  went  to'  Indiana,  where  he  was 
married,  July  3.  1839,  to  Miss  Rachel 
Brewer.  They  made  their  home  in  John- 
son county,  that  state,  until  coming  to  Lo- 
gan c< unity,  Illinois,  about  1856,  when  they 
took  up  their  residence  upon  a  farm  in  Mount 
Pulaski  township,  agriculture  being  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  father.  In  their  family  were 
the  following  children :  Mary  wedded  John 
Laughlin,  who  died  in  1865,  and  she  sub- 
secjuently  became  the  wife  of  Rufus  Con- 
well  ;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  William  Ham- 
ilton, of  Chelsea,  Kansas;  Emma  married 
William  Sweet  and  resides  in  Morgan  Hill, 
California;  Sarah  first  married  Lewis  Lyon, 
who  died  in  Saginaw,  Michigan,  and  she  is 
now  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Trowbridge,  of  that 
place ;  George  T.  is  a  resident  of  Oklahoma ; 
Eliza  K.  is  the  wife  of  Solomon  Henrickson, 
of  Lincoln,  Illinois ;  John  W.  died  in  infan- 
cy in  1858;  Samuel  C.  is  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Emery  L.  died  in  Kansas  in  Febru- 
ary, 1900;  and  Minta  E.  is  the  wife  of 
George  Donaldson,  of  INlarion,  Kansas. 

The  subject  of  this  .sketch  was  reared 
upon  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  was  married,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years,  to  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Combs.  The  only  child  Ix^rn  of  this  union 
died  in  infancy.  .Vfter  his  marriage  ;\Ir. 
Dawson  removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  spent 
four  years,  and  on  his  return  to  Logan  coun- 
Xy,  in  1887,  located  on  the  farm  where  he 
Tiow  resides,  his  time  and  attention  being 
devoted  to  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Dawson 


has  always  voted  the  straight  Republican 
ticket,  and  his  felli.iw  citizens  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability  elected  him  supervisor  of 
Chester  township  in  1898.  In  that  office 
he  ser\-ed  for  two  years  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents. He  is  a  liberal  and  cheerful  con- 
tributor to  all  worth}'  enterprises  for  the 
good  of  his  community,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who 
know  them. 


C.  VAN  GERPEN. 

No  history  of  Hartsburg  would  lie  com- 
plete without  extended  mention  of  C.  Van 
Gerpen.  the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent 
citizen  of  the  town.  F(jr  twenty-three 
)-ears  he  has  made  his  home  here  and  has 
been  the  jiromoter  of  its  leading  business 
interests,  which  have  contributed  not  alone 
to  his  prosperity  but  have  also  ■  been  of 
marked  value  to  the  communit)-  by  prcH 
moting  commercial  activity,  which  is  the 
basis  of  all  advancement  and  impnnement 
in  the  world  to-day. 

]Mr.  Van  Gerpen  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  possesses  the  sterling  traits  of  character 
of  the  sons  of  the  Fatherland,  the  solidity 
of  purpose,  the  close  application  and  un- 
faltering determination.  He  was  born 
April  25,  1849,  ^  son  of  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Dan- 
iel Van  Gerpen,  who  always  resided  in  Ger- 
many, although  their  sons  all  came  to 
America,  two  of  them  in  1866,  one  in  1870. 
while  the  suljject  of  this  review  made  the 
\-ugage  to  the  new  world  in  1868, 

In  his  native  land  he  had  acquired  a  fair 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  had 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  after 
taking  up  his  abode  in  Freeport,  Illinois, 
whither  he  went  immediatelv  after  his  ar- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


rival  in  the  United  States,  he  commenced 
work  at  his  trade,  also  engaging  in  fann- 
ing for  a  short  time.  In  1870  he  removed 
to  Pekin,  Illinois,  where  he  continued  slioe- 
making  for  eight  years,  and  during  that 
time  he  was  married.  In  1878  he  came 
from  Pekin  to  Hartsburg.  He  was  then  a 
poor  man,  and  here  he  opened  a  shoe  shop. 
which  he  conducted  lor  one  \ear.  His 
good  workmanship  secured  to  him  a  liberal 
patronage,  and  during  that  time  he  saved 
enough  to  purchase  a  small  stock  of  shoes 
and  establish  his  present  store  in  1886.  He 
was  then  located  in  a  small  building,  but  by 
economy  and  industry  he  was  enabled  to 
gradually  increase  his  financial  resources, 
and  in  1898  he  erected  what  is  now  the 
finest  business  block  in  Hartsburg.  He 
then  began  adding  to  his  stock  and  now  has 
a  large  line  of  general  merchandise  of  all 
kinds.  In  1901,  in  connection  with  his  son 
Daniel  and  Mr.  Behrends,  they  established 
a  banking  business  under  the  name  of  the 
Bank  of  Hartsburg.  with  a  capital  stock  of 
ten  thousand  dollars,  with  B.  Behrends  as 
president :  C.  Van  Gerpen,  vice-president, 
and  Daniel  \'an  Gerpen  as  cashier.  The\ 
do  a  general  banking  business,  and  the  in- 
stitution has  already  become  a  welcome  and 
^•aluable  addition  to  the  business  interests 
of  the  town.  A  man  of  resourceful  busi- 
ness ability,  our  subject  has  also  extended 
his  efiforts  along  other  lines,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  C.  Van  Gerpen  & 
Company,  dealers  and  speculators  in  grain 
of  all  kinds  and  owners  of  a  large  elevator. 
They  also  deal  in  farm  implements  and 
wagons,  and  their  sales  in  that  branch  of 
their  business  are  very  e.xtensive. 

While  in  Pekin,  April  11,  1872.  :Mr. 
\'an  Gerpen  married  Miss  Hilke  Roden- 
beck,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  unto  them 
have  been  born  eight  children,  six  of  whom 


are  living,  namely:  Addie,  who  married 
Henry  Brunei'  and  lives  in  C)rvil  township: 
Mattie;  Daniel;  Bertha;  Henry;  and 
Hilda.  Mr.  \'an  Gerpen  has  always  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  politics  since  acquiring  the 
right  of  franchise,  and  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
school  treasurer,  was  chairman  of  the  school 
boartl  for  some  time  and  has  acceptabl}- 
ser\ed  in  other  kical  offices.  He  has  justly 
\\on  the  proud  American  title  of  a  self-made 
man.  Coming  to  this  country  empty- 
handed,  but  piissessing  courage  and  deter- 
mination, he  has  through  persistent  effort 
and  unfailing  honesty,  steadily  advanced, 
and  is  now  occupying  a  most  enviable  posi- 
tion, among  the  substantial  citizens  of  his 
adopted  county.  He  is  certainly  deserving 
of  great  credit  fdr  what  he  has  accom- 
plished. 


LEVI  COFFMAX. 


Levi  Coffman.  who  is  leading  a  retired, 
life  in  Eminence  township,  Logan  county., 
is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children  born 
111  John  and  Christina  (Brining)  Coffman. 
John  Coffman.  the  father,  was  born  near 
Stuttgart,  Province  of  W'urtengerg,  Ger- 
man}, in  1796,  and  when  sixteen  years  of 
age  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  learn- 
ed the  trade  of  a  cooper.  His  passage  to 
this  country  was  paid  b\-  Moses  Huber,  and 
Mr.  Coft'man  repaid  him  with  the  money  he 
earned  at  his  trade.  He  continued  at  this 
<'Ccui)ation  in  Lancaster  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  when  he  went  to  Spencer 
county,  Kentuckw  Here  he  lived  until  18,^7. 
working  at  his  trade.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  he  and  his  family  remo\cd  to  Cl;u'l< 
county.  Illinois,  where  he  purchased  a  farm. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  boys  performing  most  of  the  duties, 
while  the  father  worked  at  his  trade.  In 
Xovemher,  1846.  he  sold  this  farm  and 
bought  another  in  Eminence  township.  Ln- 
gan  ciiunty.  the  latter  consisting  of  (jue  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  acres,  and  on  ]\Iarch  17. 
1 847.  he  and  his  fafnily  took  up  their  resi- 
dence thereon.  He  continued  here  very  suc- 
cessfully until  1854,  when,  like  many  others, 
he  desired  to  go  west  and  consequently  he 
•disposed  of  his  projierty  ami  purcliased  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  northern  ]\lis- 
souri.  In  1856  he  again  returned  to  Logan 
count}',  where  he  purchased  one  hundred 
acres  in  Atlanta  township.  Here  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  occiu'- 
ing  in  Xovember,  1867. 

Le\i  Coffman,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Spencer  county,  Kentucky,  March  _>,  1832, 
and  came  when  a  small  Ixn-  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois.  His  preliminary  education  was 
olitained  from  the  countr_\-  sclnuils,  and  be- 
ing of  an  industrious  nature  he  spent  his 
evenings  studying  history  and  other  good 
books  which  would  help  to  de\'elop  his  mind. 
He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  un- 
til he  was  thirty-three  years  of  age.  and  in 
the  spring  of  1865  he  engaged  in  the  same 
occupation  for  himself  in  Eminence  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  remainetl. 

Our  subject's  farm  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  highly  improved 
land,  and  is  five  and  one-half  miles  froin 
Atlanta,  where  he  is  spending  his  declining 
years. 

On  August  9,  1862,  he  proved  his  pa.- 
triotism  by  enlisting  in  Company  F.  One 
Hundred  and  Sixtieth  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Infantry.  For  three  years  he  experienced  the 
hardships  of  a  soldier  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged August  6,  1865. 

On  December  16,  1858.  Mr.  Coffman  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Margaret  Dos- 


baugh,  whose  parents  were  originally  from 
Prussia.  This  union  resulted  in  the  Ijirth 
of  five  children,  namely:  Sarah  A.,  born 
October  28,  1859,  is  the  wife  of  B.  F.  Fisher, 
who  is  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  McLean  coun- 
ty; John  F.  was  born  May  2,  1861  :  .\.  C. 
was  born  July  15,  1866;  Robert  was  born 
jMarch  26,  1876;  and  Laura  B.  was  born 
March  2,  1883.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren was  of  a  highly  respected  Prussian  fam- 
ily, and  was  well  thought  of  by  all  who 
knew  her.  She  was  born  in  Xovember, 
1827,  and  died  in  May.  1900,  and  her  re- 
mains were  interred  in  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  Coft'man  and  three  of  his  children 
are  sincere  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
as  was  also  his  wife.  Politically  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  ticket.  After 
a  pure,  honorable  and  useful  life,  actu- 
ated by  unselfish  moti\es.  prompted  by 
patriotism  and  guided  liy  truth  and  justice, 
Mr.  Coffman  well  deserves  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  uniformly  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens.  The  name  "Coffman"  is  well  known 
throughout  the  county  and  our  subject  is 
noted  for  his  kind  and  pleasing  manner. 


REV.  a\"illia:\i  .m.  :\iurray. 

Rev.  \\'illiam  M.  Murray  is  the  present 
pastor  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church  at  De  Witt,  Illinois,  but  makes  his 
home  in  Beason,  Logan  county,  where  he  is 
successfully  engaged  in  business  as  a  dealer 
in  buggies,  farm  implements,  etc.  He  was 
born  on  the  ist  of  June.  1844.  in  Bond 
county.  Illinois,  and  is  a  S(_in  of  William  and 
Amanda  J.  (Harris)  ISIurray.  the  former  a 
nati\-e  of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
The  mother  died  in  Illinois.  Our  subject's 
grandfather,    ^Morgan    ]\Iurray.    made    his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


409 


liomc  in  t!ie  Old  Duminion.  wlicre  lie  died  on 
his  reluni  tmin  the  RevMlutii>nary  war  fmni 
wounds  received  in  the  ser\ice. 

Mr.  Murray  (if  this  re\iew  ac(|uired  hut 
a  limited  educatimi  in  the  schmils  <i\  I'.und 
and  Fayette  counties  as  he  was  obliged  io 
help  in  tiie  support  of  the  family  during  his 
early  life.  On  reaching"  manhood  he  engaged 
in  the  stock  business  and  took  contracts  for 
getting  out  railroad  ties,  being  thus  employed 
vmtil  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church  by  the  Rev.  M. 
A.  Marlon,  of  Fairfield,  Illinuis,  September 
27,  1875.  Immediately  thereafter  he  was  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Fairfield, 
where  he  remained  in  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation for  twelve  years.  Subsecpiently  he 
filled  one  or  two  minor  positions,  and  in  1889 
was  called  to  tlie  church  at  ()wens\ille.  In- 
diana, where  he  was  pastur  imtil  May.  1897. 
As  a  preacher  he  has  been  \ery  successful. 
being  a  man  of  pleasing  presence  and  com- 
manding ways,  as  well  as  a  good  orator,  and 
his  loss  to  the  congregation  at  Owens\ille 
has  been  greatly  regretted.  He  came  to 
Beason  to  accept  the  pastorate  nf  a  much 
larger  congregatiim.  where  he  beliexed  he 
could  do  more  good.  Here  he  continued  as 
])astor  until  April,  1901,  when  he  resigned. 
He  has  been  identified  with  the  l)e  Witt 
church  since  the  2d  of  May,  1901.  The 
congregation  numbers  two  hundred  and  fifty 
families,  and  here  Mr.  Murray  has  done  ex- 
cellent w(irk. 

On  November  30.  1^03,  Mr.  Murray 
married  Miss  .\nna  Cireen,  a  tlaughter  of 
Edmond  Green,  of  Tennessee,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
six  survive,  namely:  Maggie  L. ;  Roy  W'., 
who  married  Miss  L.  Keys,  daughter  of 
J.  J.  Keys,  deceased:  Florence:  Loretta : 
Anna;  and  Carrie.     The  children  have  been 


reared  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  be- 
lief and  are  a  family  of  which  ;uiy  parents 
might  well  be  proud. 

lM-ateru;dly  Mr.  Murray  is  a  Royal 
.\rch  Mason,  ;uid  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  was  one  of  the  defenders  of  the 
old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented,  being 
a  member  of  Company  D,  Ninety-eighth 
Illinois  Mounted  Infantry,  under  command 
of  Captain  Fkwd,  and  served  with  distinc- 
tion until  hostilities  ceased,  being  honora- 
bly discharged  September  18,  1865.  He  en- 
listed in  March,  1864.  Politically  he  afiili- 
ates  with  the  Rqniblican  party.  He  has 
l)een  a  delegate  to  the  general  assembly  of 
his  church  four  different  times,  and  since  en- 
tering the  ministry  has  given  most  of  his 
time  to  his  pastoral  duties.  In  the  jnilpit  he 
is  especially  gifted  on  account  of  his  ora- 
torial  ability  and  his  pleasing  delivery.  His 
discourses  are  scholarly  and  effective  in 
their  appeals  to  follow  the  Master,  and  he 
is  held  in  high  esteem  not  only  by  the  peo- 
ple of  his  own  congregation,  but  by  the 
residents  of  De  Witt  and  Beason  generally. 


W  ILLIAM  N.  BROCK. 

One  of  the  oldest  and  most  honored  pio- 
neers of  Atlanta  township  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  iiUroduces  this  review.  He  is 
a  Hoosier  by  birth,  having  lieen  liorn  in  In- 
diana, .September  13,  1829.  but  dur- 
ing his  infancy  was  brought  to  llli- 
ouis  by  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Han- 
nah (Richards)  Brock.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  .North  Carolina,  and  when  a  mere 
boy  removed    with    his    parents    to    Ohio. 


410 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Later  he  went  to  Indiana,  and  in  1829  came 
to  Illinois,  making  fiis  home  first  in  Sanga- 
mon county,  settling  at  Funk's  Grove,  which 
is  now  in  [McLean  county.  Here  he  li\-ed 
one  year  and  at  the  end  of  this  time  he  re- 
mo\-ed  to  Logan  county  and  settled  at  Big 
Grove,  now  called  Kickapoo  Timber,  where 
he  was  numbered  among  the  pioneers.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  blacksmith,  having 
learned  that  trade  in  early  life.  He  died 
near  Wapello,  De  Witt  county,  in  March, 
1863.  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  Waynes- 
ville.  in  ^lar'di.  1858. 

Williairt  X.  Brock  was  Init  a  child  in 
arms  when  his  people  remo\-ed  to  Logan 
count)-  and  here  he  was  reared  amid  pioneer 
scenes.  Few  can  realize  the  hardships  that 
the  first  settlers  of  this  section  had  to  go 
through.  In  the  Atlanta  Argus,  dated  Sep- 
tember 20.  1901.  we  find  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  a  birthday  part\-  that  was  held  at 
the  hiime  of  uur  sul)iect.  and  fi),:im  it  we 
copy  the  Inlhnving:  ""The  nearest  mills  at 
that  time  were  at  Springfield  and  Peoria, 
and  to  one  or  the  other  of  these  the  elder 
Brock  had  to  go  for  all  his  grinding.  He 
was  a  poor  man  and  his  children  grew  up 
in  the  simplest  and  plainest  styles  of  pioneer 
life.  W.  X.  went  without  shoes  or  head 
wear  until  (|uite  a  large  boy,  but  in  spite  of 
these  puivations  he  was  out  at  all  seasons 
and  in  all  kinds  of  weather  with  as  much 
freedom  as  though  he  possessed  both.  Bare 
foot  and  bare  lieaded  and  without  under- 
wear (ir  mittens  he  would  spend  whole  days 
skating  with  the  older  lioys  at  the  pond  two 
miles  from  his  home.  He  got  his  first  hat 
and  shoes  when  twehc  years  cild  and  was 
very  proud  of  them,  but  lust  his  hat  while 
driving  an  ox  team  to  the  Mackinaw  ]Mills. 
in  company  with  his  father.  The  Kickapoo 
Indian  trail  run  close  to  the  Brbck  home  and 
W.  X.  can  remember  their  camp,  which  was 


located  near  the  Moot's  place,  three  miles 
east  ui  what  is  known  as  Fair\-iew  church. 
Wohes  were  numerous  and  sometimes  sav- 
age, though  they  .seldom  attacked  an}-one 
unless  maddened  by  hunger.  One  day  a 
neighbor  of  the  Brocks  was  attacked  by  a 
pack  of  fi\-e  wolves  near  the  Kickapoo.  The 
man  fought  diem  off  with  his  hat  while 
backing  into  the  creek,  as  the  only  means 
of  escape.  In  those  days  the  most  com- 
fortable and  r/apid  way  of  travel  was-  by 
stage.  One  of  these  lines  ran  from  Spring- 
field to  Cliicago,  passing  near  the  Brock 
farm.  There  was  a  station  at  the  James 
Hoblit  farm,  not  far  from  the  present  site 
of  .\tlanta,  and  one  at  William  Brock's 
place  in  Funk's  Grove." 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  limited 
as  his  services  were  needed  at  home  during 
his  boyhood  to  assist  in  the  operation  of  the 
farm,  and  on  leaving  the  parental  roof  he 
choose  farming  as  his  life  work.  By  hard 
work,  jjerseverance  and  good  management, 
lie  succeeded  in  accjuiring  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, owning  at  one  time  four  hundred  and 
sixty-thnee  acres  of  arable  and  productive 
land.  l)ut  has  since  given  to  each  of  his  four 
sons  a  farm,  retaining,  however,  a  place  of 
eighty  acres  in  Atlanta  township,  as  a  home 
for  himself  and  wife,  who  in  their  declining 
years  are  enjoying  the  comforts  that  earnest 
labor  has  brought  them.  Air.  Brock  still 
has  all  his  property  in  his  own  name,  the 
sons  mei'ely  paymg  the  taxes  and  having  the 
income  from  the  land. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1850.  :\lr.  Brock 
married  Miss  Frances  Scott,  whose  birth- 
place was  in  the  state  of  Xew  York,  and 
who  died  in  1862.  Five  children  were  licirn 
of  this  union,  namely  :  Sarah  C. :  Andrew  ; 
John  D. :  Stephen  D.  and  Mary. 

]\Ir.  Brock  was  again  married  in  Septem- 
lier.  186?,  his  second  union  being  with  Airs. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Katlienne  (Arnold)  Robinson,  who  wds 
l)orn  January  !  i.  1S29.  but  in  October  of  the 
same  year  her  ])arents  emigrated  from  Obit) 
to  this  state,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  De- 
Witt  county.  Here  he  took  up  a  claim 
where  old  Hallsville  now  stands,  erected  a 
log  cabin  and  resided  there  alx)Ut  three  years. 
He  then  settled  near  Bkximington.  By 
trade  he  was  a  shoemaker  and  in  addition 
to  his  farming  operations  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  Later  he  moved  to  Funk's  Grove 
and  here  Mrs.  Bri>ck  attended  her  first 
school.  From  there  Mr.  Artnold  moved  t>' 
Alton  and  still  later  to  the  southerii  part  of 
Wisconsin.  From  there  he* went  to  Califor- 
nia and  his  children  returned  to  Atlanta.  He 
remained  in  California  about  fifteen  years 
and  on  his  return  east  he  made  his  home  with 
his  children  the  balance  of  his  life,  dying  at 
the  home  of  his  son  William  in  the  village 
of  [McLean.  By  IMrs.  Brock's  first  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Robinson  she  became  the 
mother  of  three  children,  namely:  Henry 
A.;  Mary  A.,  now  Mrs.  John  Oldaker:  and 
George  L.  Mr.  Robinson  was  a  cooper  by 
trade  and  they  spent  most  of  their  married 
life  in  Atlanta.     He  died  in  1862. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brock  ar)e  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely :  Hannah,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years :  Maud,  an  accom- 
plished young  lady  and  a  pianist  of  excep- 
tional ability,  who  pa'ssed  away  in  Decem- 
ber, 1893.  at  the  age  of  twenty-four:  two, 
who  died  in  infancy:  and  William  F.,  the 
only  remaining  child,  who  is  also  a  fine  mu- 
sician. 

Mr.  Brock  has  been  identified  with  pub- 
lic aflfairs  as  road  commissioner  in  his  town- 
ship and  school  director,  holding  the  latter 
office  a  numbei'  of  years.  Politically  he  is 
a  strong  Democrat.  He  is  not  only  a  kind 
and  indulgent  father,  but  is  noted  for  his 
generositv.  and  at  all  times  is  readv  to  as- 


sist any  enterprise  having  for  its  object  the 
good  of  the  community  in  which  he  lias  so 
long  made  his  liome.  His  upright  course  in 
life  commands  the  respect  of  all,  and  iiis  la- 
bors as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  covmty 
justly  entitles  him  to  a  prominent  jilacc  in  its 
liistorv. 


S.  J.  WOLAXD. 

For  fifteen  years  a  well  known  and  prom- 
inent practitioner  at  the  bar  of  Lincoln  and 
now  a  representative  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
of  Logan  county,  Mr.  Woland  well  deserves 
mention  in  this  volume.  Perhaps  every  state 
in  the  Union  has  furnished  its  quota  of  citi- 
zens to  Illinois,  and  from  Pennsylvania 
comes  the  subject  of  this  review,  who  was 
born  in  Lycoming  county,  that  state,  Feb- 
ruary 19.  1843.  His  parents.  Solomon  and 
Catherine  (Radel)  Woland,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  same  county  and  there  the  father 
resided  until  he  removed  westward  witli  his 
family,  first  taking  up  his  akxle  in  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  for  a  short  time.  In  1855 
he  located  in  Bloomingdale,  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  the  autumn 
of  that  year,  when  he  went  to  Orndorflf  Mills, 
\\here  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1856-- 
the  year  of  his  removal  to  section  23,  Orvil 
township.  Upon  the  farm  which  he  there 
de\eloped  and  improved  he  made  his  home 
throughout  his  remaining  days.  He  pur- 
cliased  the  land  at  twelve  and  fourteen  dol- 
lars per  acre,  but  it  is  now  very  valuable. 
His  wife  died  ]\Iarch  22.  1880,  and  his  deatli 
(Kcurred  February  14.  1886.  They  liatl  six 
children:  Louisa,  the  widow  nf  |t)sep!i 
Hilcher  and  a  resident  of  Lincoln:  Adelia, 
who  married  Arpiilla  Breech,  but  both  are 
now  deceased:  Catherine,  who  died  in  Penn- 
sylvania; Emanuel,  who  died  in  Hartsbursr 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


September  25,  1891  ;  Susan,  who  resides 
with  her  sister  in  Lincoln;  and  Solomon  J- 

In  the  public  schools  of  Illinois  S.  J. 
^\'oland  acquired  his  preliminary  education, 
which  was  supplemented  by  study  in  the 
Eureka  College,  of  Eureka,  Illinois.  Think- 
ing to  enter  professional  life,  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  with  Colonel  Lynch,  of  Lincoln, 
as  his  preceptor.  At  length  admitted  to  thv"- 
bar,  he  began  practice  in  Lincoln,  where  he 
remained  for  fifteen  years  and  his  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  jurisprudence,  his  careful 
preparation  of  cases  and  his  skill  in  argument 
won  him  a  leading  ix)sition  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  legal  fraternity.  He  found  the 
profession  congenial  and  his  work  profitable, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  he  was  obliged 
to  abandon  the  law  and  took  up  his  abode  on 
his  present  farm,  believing  that  the  out-door 
life  would  prove  beneficial.  He  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  of  land  and 
carries  on  general  farming,  his  land  being 
imder  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  im- 
prcn  ed  with  all  modern  accessories  and  con- 
veniences. Fields  of  waving  grain,  fine  stocV: 
and  tiie  air  of  neatness  and  thrift  which  pre- 
vades  the  place  all  indicate  his  careful  super- 
vision and  his  progressive  spirit. 

Mr.  Woland  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Carrie  Hall,  of  \\'oodford  county.  Illi- 
nois, a  daughter  of  Timothy  Hall,  who  is 
conducting  a  feed  yard  in  Lincoln.  They 
have  two  children.  Frank  R.  and  ]\Iaude  M. 
i\Ir.  Woland  is  now  serving  as  school  di- 
rector and  has  been  thus  officially  connected 
with  the  management  of  the  schools  for 
some  time.  A\'hile  practicing  law  he  served 
for  two  terms  as  prosecuting  attorney.  So- 
cially he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  in  Lincoln,  while  in  religious 
belief  his  wife  is  a  Baptist,  belonging  to  the 
church  of  that  denomination  at  tlie  county 
seat.     He  has  ever  been  a  loyal  and  public- 


spirited  citizen,  and  during  the  Civil  war 
gave  evidence  of  his  patriotic  spirit  by  en- 
listing in  the  spring  of  1864  as  a  member  of 
Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry,  under  Captain  Church  and 
Colonel  Lackey,  the  latter  of  Bloomington. 
The  company  participated  in  an  engagement 
against  Price,  at  Raleigh,  Missouri,  and 
there  our  subject  was  taken  ill,  remaining  in 
the  hospital  for  six  weeks.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  company,  which  was  not  again 
engaged  in  active  battle  but  did  some  skir- 
mishing with  the  bushwhackers.  He  was 
discharged  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  and  then  returned  home.  He 
now  belongs  to  Leo  ^^lyers  Post.  Xo.  182. 
G.  .\.  R.,  of  Lincoln.  He  yet  gives  some 
slight  attention  ti>  law  business,  but  devotes 
the  major  part  of  his  time  to  farming.  Long 
a  resident  of  the  county,  he  is  widely  known 
and  the  fact  that  those  who  have  known  him 
from  boyhood  are  numbered  among  his 
stanchest  friends  is  immistakably  evidence 
that  his  life  has  ever  been  upright  and 
worthv  of  high  regard. 


EDWARD  L.  ^lOUXTJOY. 

This  well-kncwn  and  energetic  farmer 
of  Eminence  township  is  one  of  Logan  coun- 
ty's native  sons,  his  entire  life  having  been 
passed  upon  his  present  farm.  He  has  made 
his  special  field  of  industry  a  success,  and  is 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  those  who 
know  him  best. 

William  Mountjoy.  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Kentucky  June  29,  1S22. 
and  was  a  son  vi  Xed  Mcuntjoy,  who  was 
commonly  known  by  his  many  friends  as 
Lncle  Xeddie.  The  latter  came  to  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  in  1834.  and  as  a  blacksmith 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


successfully  engaged  in  business  here  for 
many  years,  being  able  to  give  all  his  chil- 
dren a  good  start  in  life.  Politically  he  was 
originally  a  Whig,  but  after  Iiearinq-  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  address  an  audience  he  l>ecanie 
a  strong  Republican,  and  atlfiliated  with  that 
party  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  lad  of 
fourteen  years  when  the  family  came  to  this 
county.  After  reaching  manhood  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1878-9  he  and  an 
elder  half-brother  conducted  a  store  in  Ar- 
mington.  Tazewell  county,  two  years,  and 
from  there  removed  to  Eminence  township. 
Logan  county,  where  he  followed  farming 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
there  April  9.  1894.  He  was  rather  a  stern 
man,  noted  for  his  sound  judgment  and  good 
business  ability,  and  he  handsomely  pro- 
vided for  his  entire  family  prior  to  his  death. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Miss  Sina  V.  Thompson,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 26,  i860,  and  1)\-  that  union  there 
were  born  eight  children.  He  was  again 
married,  to  ]\Iiss  Elvina  Thompson,  who  was 
born  in  Logan  county  in  1834,  and  was  one 
of  a  family  of  three  children.  Her  father 
was  David  Thompson,  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. ^Irs.  Mountjoy  died  i:>n  the  old  home- 
stead where  our  subject  now  resides  March 
10,  1898.  She  was  the  mother  of  one  child. 
Edward  L.,  of  this  review. 

Mr.  ^lountjoy.  our  subject,  was  born 
July  -'7.  1863.  on  the  old  homestead,  on  sec- 
ti'^ii  35-  Eminence  township,  where  he  now 
lives,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school  of  the  neighborhood  and  the 
higher  schools  at  Atlanta.  During  his 
minority  he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of 
his  labors  upon  the  home  farm,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  commenced  operating  the 
farm  on  his  own  account.  He  has  since 
made   numerous   improvements,    which   aild 


greatly  to  the  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance of  the  place.  It  consists  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one  acres  of  the  best  farm- 
ing land  in  i'.minence  town.ship,  and  under 
the  skillful  nian;igement  of  our  subject  yields 
bountiful  harvests  in  return  for  the  care 
and  labor  bestowed  upon  it. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1884,  Mr.  Mount- 
jov  married  Miss  Laura  I.  Atteberry.  a 
daughter  of  John  .\.  Atteberry.  of  Camixiign 
county.  Illinois,  and  they  now  have  four 
children :  Xellie  M..  born  Eel)ruary  27. 
iS8(.:  John  W.,  horn  February  12.  1888; 
Clintini  L..  born  .\pril  14.  1890;  and  Hazel 
B..  born  June  16.  1900.  The  family  are  con- 
nected with  the  Christian  church,  and  Mr. 
^lountjoy  is  also  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  His  i)olitical 
support  is  always  given  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Repul)lican  party,  but  he  has 
never  sought  political  honors,  jireferring  to 
give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  farming 
interests. 


HARTMAX  STUMPF. 

One  of  the  representative  business  firms 
of  Xew  Holland  is  that  of  Stumpf  &  Che.-^- 
nut.  who  conduct  a  large  general  hardware 
business,  and  who.  by  their  correct  and  up- 
to-date  financial  methods  and  unremitting 
tact  and  desire  to  please.  ha\e  won  the  con- 
fidence of  the  general  public  and  a  foremost 
])lace  in  the  commiuiit}'.  The  i)artnership 
between  Hartman  Stumpf  antl  Da\id  .\'. 
ChestmU  was  consummated  in  1893.  ^""^'  '^-^^ 
been  amicably  continued  ever  since.  The 
firm  carry  a  c(  niplete  line  of  hardware,  farm 
implements,  buggies  and  wagons,  and  gen- 
eral necessities  along  this  line,  their  goods 
being  strictly  first  class  and  selected  with  due 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


regard  to  the  best  interests  of  patrons  and 
of  general  business  integrity. 

The  family  of  which  Mr.  Stumpf  is  a 
member  are  of  German  birth  and  ancestry, 
his  father,  Gottleib  Stumpf,  having  been 
born  in  Germany,  Avhere  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  He  came  to  America  in  1842  and 
located  in  Ohio,  where  he  farmed  success- 
fully untd  his  removal  to  Sheridan  township, 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  in  1865.  In  Illinois 
he  repeated  his  former  success  at  stock-rais- 
ing, and  at  his  death,  in  the  fall  of  1865,  had 
not  onlv  attained  to  an  honored  place  in  the 
community  but  had  as  well  accumulated  a 
fair  showing  of  worldly  possessions.  His 
wife,  Alary  D.  (Hoffman)  Stumpf,  was  the 
mother  of  six  children,  of  whr.m  two  only 
sur\-i\-e. 

After  the  father's  death  the  family  re- 
moved to  Lafayette,  Indiana,  where  the  son, 
Hartman,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  Alay  25, 
1854,  assisted  to  the  Ijest  of  his  ability  in  the 
support  of  the  family.  Having  received  a 
g(jod  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ohio, 
as  well  as  a  fine  agricultural  training  upon 
liis  father's  farm  in  the  same  state,  he  was 
well  equipped  for  whatever  the  future  might 
hold.  LTpon  attaining  to  manhood  he  left 
Lafayette  and  returned  to  New  Holland. 
\\'here  he  worked  on  farms  for  some  months, 
subsequently  settling  in  the  town,  where  his 
services  were  in  demand  by  James  R\-an, 
who  conducted  a  hardware  business.  Dur- 
ing tlie  sexeral  years  sj^ent  with  this  firm 
he  gained  a  wide  experience  and  knowledge 
of  every  phase  of  the  hardware  business,, 
and  started  in  business  with  Mr.  Chesnut 
with  justifiably  bright  hopes  for  the  future. 
I'he  marriage  of  Mr.  Stumpf  and  Miss 
Alice  }il(iwen  (X-curred  February  7.  1899. 
and  of  this  union  there  is  one  child,  Cath- 
erine ?il..  who  was  born  February  10,  1901. 
The    famih-   are  members   of   the   Catholic 


church,  and  ^Mr.  Stumpf  affiliates  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  is  fraternally  a 
Woodman  of  the  World. 


HENNIXG  H.   NOTTELMAXN. 

Prominent  among  the  representative  and 
substantial  business  men  of  Latham  is 
Henning  H.  Nottelmann,  a  dealer  in  all 
kinds  of  lumber,  sash,  doors,  blinds,  lath, 
shingles,  ])aints  and  oils.  He  was  born  in 
Xiantic.  Illinois,  on  the  12th  of  October, 
1S76,  and  is  of  German  descent.  His  fa- 
ther, Hermann  Xxittelmann,  was  born  in 
Meklorf,  Germany,  October  28,  1840,  and 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land, 
where  he  also  served  an  apprenticeship  in 
the  general  mercantile  business.  On  com- 
ing to  the  United  States  in  1864,  he  first 
located  in  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed 
as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Charles  Gossage  & 
C<impan_\'  for  se\-eral  x'cars.  In  1872  he  re- 
moved to  Xiantic,  where  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself,  forming  a  partnership 
with  Henning  Jacobsen,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Nottelmann  &  Jacobsen.  They 
have  built  up  a  good  trade  and  are  still  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  at  Xiantic.  it  being 
one  of  the  oldest  firms  of  the  place.  .Vt  (ine 
time  Mr.  X'ottelmann  was  also  interested  in 
tlie  banking  business,  and  is  to-day  exten- 
si\ely  interested  in  the  lumber  business  in 
partnership  with  his  sons.  He  first  estab- 
lished a  yard  at  Warrensburg,  Illinois,  of 
which  his  son,  J.  H.  Nottelmann,  is  a  part- 
ner and  manager,  and  in  1899  he  started  the 
yard  at  Latham,  of  which  our  sul:)ject  now 
has  charge  as  ])artner  and  manager.  Be- 
sides his  business  property  the  father  owns 
several  fine  farms,  and  is  to-da)-  one  of  the 
most  substantial  men  of  Xiantic.     His  sue- 


HENNING   H.   NOTTELMANN. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


417 


cess  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well- 
directed  efforts,  and  the  prosperity  that  has 
come  to  him  is  but  the  just  reward  of  his 
industry,  perseverance  and  good  business 
ability.  He  was  married  in  Xiantic  to 
;Miss  Anna  Jacobsen,  a  daughter  of  Hen- 
ning  Jacobsen.  Sr.  She  is  also  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  was  a  young  lady  when  she 
came  with  her  parents  to  the  new  world. 
The  family  resided  for  a  short  time  in  Chi- 
cago, but  after  the  terrible  tire  in  that  city. 
in  October,  187 1.  in  which  they  lost  their 
property,  they  removed  to  Xiantic.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Xottelmann  have  seven  children. 
three  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  wlir>m 
Henning  H.  is  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  Xi- 
antic. and  received  the  regulation  common 
school  education.  Ijeing  graduated  from  the 
public  schools  of  that  place.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  accepted  a  position  as  book- 
keeper in  a  planing  mill  in  Chicago,  where 
he  remained  about  two  years  and  a  half. 
He  was  next  connected  with  a  grain  house 
at  Tuscola,  Illinois,  and  while  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  had  the  greater  part  of  the 
business  to  attend  to.  After  a  year  in  this 
connection  he  removed  to  Latham  in  1899, 
and  in  partnership  with  his  father  purchased 
the  lumber  yard  located  there.  Since  tak- 
ing control  of  the  business  he  has  erected 
better  and  more  extensive  shedding,  and  in 
other  ways  has  enlarged  his  facilities  until 
he  has  made  it  a  flourishing  concern.  He  is 
a  wide-awake,  energetic  young  l)usiness 
man.  and  bids  fair  to  occupy  a  prominent 
position  in  commercial  circles. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  190 1,  Mr. 
Xottelman  was  united  in  marriage  with 
:Miss  Delia  M.  Gulp,  of  Warren.sburg.  Illi- 
nois. She  is  a  native  of  Macon  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Henry  S.  and  .\lice  (  Stine- 
baugh )  Gulp,  who  were  born  in  Ohio,  and 


are  now  li\ing  upon  a  farm  in  Mac<jn  coun- 
ty, this  state.  In  puhtics  Mr.  X..ltelni:inn 
is  a  standi  Republican,  and  alwa\s  :il'fili- 
ates  witli  that  p.-u'tv.  S<icially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  .Masonic  Lodge.  Xo.  853.  of 
Liatham,  ancVthe  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  at  Xiantic.  He  has  already  made 
many  warm  friends  in  Latham,  and  is  held 
in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know  him. 


XAXKE  T.  RADEMAKER. 

One  of  the  very  prosperous  and  highly 
respected  farmers  of  Orvil  township.  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  is  Xanke  T.  Rademaker, 
who  resides  on  section  6.  where  he  rents  a 
fine  farm  from  the  old  Scully  estate,  but  is 
the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  on  sections 
;^;^  and  34,  this  township.  He  has  resided 
in  Logan  county  since  1872.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  where  he  was  born  on 
May  9,  1834.  His  parents  were  Tobias  and 
Kate  (Dickson)  Rademaker,  both  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  .\merica  in  1869.  They 
first  settled  near  Freeport.  Stephenson  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  the  father  worked  as  a 
laborer  on  farms  tor  three  years  and  then 
moved  to  Logan  county  and  leased  a  farm  in 
Orvil  township,  where  he  resided  eight 
years.  He  later  moved  to  the  village  of 
Emden,  where  he  now  lives  retired,  aged 
eighty-five  years  of  age,  while  the  mother  is 
eighty-three  years  old.  But  two  children 
were  born  to  them,  namely:  Xanke  T. ; 
and  Ulfert,  who  resides  in  Emden  and  is  a 
prominent  merchant  of  that  village,  being 
engaged  in  a  general  mercantile  business. 

Our  subject  was  married,  in  Germany, 
to  Miss  Carrie  Lincoln,  and  six  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  namely:     Tobias, 


4i8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


who  married  Annie  ^^'eavers  and  lives  in 
Orvil  township,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming :  Remer.  who  married  Maggie  Toll 
and  is  also  a  farmer  of  Orvil  township :  Kate, 
who  married  Claus  Alberts  and  lives  on  a 
farm  in  Prairie  Creek  township.  Logan 
countv :  Marv.  who  married  K.  Harms  and 
lives  in  Tazewell  county.  Illinois:  Ulfert 
and  Carrie,  both  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rademaker  rent- 
ed a  farm  in  Orvil  township,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1880,  when  he  leased  his  present 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  acres 
near  Emden  village  and  here  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming.  He  also  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections  ^:^ 
and  34,  Orvil  township,  which  he  rents.  He 
has  had  several  excellent  offers  to  enter 
other  lines  of  business,  but  he  prefers  farm- 
ing. 

In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
has  been  honored  by  election  to  several  of 
the  township  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he 
has  discharged  in  a  highly  acceptable  man- 
ner. Both  he  and  his  excellent  wife  are 
earnest  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  of  Emden.  in  which,  as  in  their  own 
cjmnumitv.  thev  are  highly  regarded. 


professor   alexander   s. 
tho:mpsox. 

One  of  the  most  proficient  teachers  of 
music  in  this  section  of  the  state  is  Professor 
Alexander  Stewart  Thompson,  director  of 
the  Conservatory  of  ^lusic  connected  with 
Lincoln  College  of  James  ^lillikin  L'ni- 
versity,  Lincoln,  Illinois.  He  was  born  April 
8.  TS59,  on  the  historic  batttle  ground  of 
Falkirk,  Scotland,  where  AA'illiam  A\'allace. 
the  noble  Scottish  chief,  fought  his  last  los- 


ing fight,  and  Bonnie  Prince  Charley  de- 
feated Hawley"s  dragoons  and  the  English 
forces.  He  received  his  literary  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  academies  of  his 
nati\e  land,  and  gained  his  first  knowledge 
of  mi;sic  in  a  church  choir.  He  came  to  the 
Cnited  States  in  1875  ^"t^  ^or  ^o"!"  years 
stui'icd  voice  and  piano  under  that  well- 
knov.n  veteran  among  Xew  England  music 
teachers,  Fritz  Zuchtmann,  of  Springfield, 
"^iassarhusetts. 

Professor  Thompson  then  accepted  the 
lx>sition  of  precentor  in  the  Sta/.e  Street 
Presbyterian  church  of  Albany.  Xew  York, 
and  later  was  director  of  music  in  the  Sara- 
toga Springs  public  schools  for  three  years. 
Further  study  of  a  special  character  was 
pursued  under  Alberto  Laurence,  a  well- 
known  opera  baritone  of  Xew  York ;  under 
\Villiam  Courtney,  that  mdst  successful, 
genial  oratio  singing  teacher,  who  had  been 
a  pupil  of  \'annucini.  Florence,  Italy;  and 
under  Kelso,  and  ^Villiam  H.  Sherwood, 
the  great  pianist. 

.\fter  spending  three  years  at  Utica. 
Xew  York,  Professor  Thompson  accepted 
the  position  of  director  of  music  in  the  Kan- 
sas State  Xormal.  and  later  spent  one  year 
in  the  Ladies  College  of  Xorfolk.  In  1892 
he  and  his  wife  went  to  England,  and  de- 
^•oted  a  year  to  special  study  in  London  un- 
der such  men  as  Sims  Reeves,  of  the  Guild- 
hall School  of  Music, — that  most  notable  of 
great  tenor  artists,  who  studied  under 
Bordogni  in  Paris  and  ^lazzucato  in  ^lilan, 
Italy,  and  was  a  contemporary  of  the  great 
tenors.  ^Mario  and  Brignoli.  Professor 
Thompson  also  studied  fugue  and  counter- 
point under  Dr.  Francis  E.  Gladstone,  cf 
the  Royal  College  of  Music,  London. 

On  their  return  to  the  United  States  he 
and  his  wife  were  engaged  for  the  Ci^rtland, 
Xew  York,  festival  in  conjunction  with  such 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


41^ 


artists  as  Clementine  de  Vere-Sapi<>.  Will- 
iam Rieger  and  Maud  Rnvell.  the  famous 
violinist.  Professor  Thompson  has  given 
recitals  or  sung  in  almost  all  of  the  imjxirt- 
ant  cities  in  New  York  state,  including  New 
York  city.  In  January.  1894.  he  again  lo- 
cated in  Utica,  where  he  was  connected  with 
the  Utica  School  of  Music  and  the  Oneida 
Conservatory.  For  two  years  he  was  solo 
baritone  and  director,  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  choir  of  Utica.  and  held  a  high 
priced  contract  to  supply  a  quartette  and 
organist  i'->r  that  church.  He  was  also  hon- 
ored by  the  Xew  York  State  Music  Teach- 
ers Association  by  being  appointed  vice- 
president  for  Oneida  county. 

Professor  Thompson  has  been  a  contril)- 
utor  on  musical  subjects  to  Werner's  \'oice 
Magazine  of  Xew  York,  and  made  a  number 
of  translations  for  the  same.  While  in  Lon- 
don he  was  a  regular  correspondent  of  that 
magazine.  He  has  also  contributed  to  the 
New  York  Musical  Courier  and  the  '"Music" 
magazine  of  Chicago.  He  has  had  a  num- 
ber of  comixjsitions  jjublished  and  has  many 
more  in  manuscript.  Among  his  publishers 
are  Oliver  Ditson.  The  American  Choir. 
John  Church  Company  and  Breitkopf  & 
Haertell,  of  Leipsic  and  Xew  York.  At  the 
commencement  exercises  of  Lincoln  Uni- 
versity in  June.  1901.  Professor  Thompson 
produced  an  oratorio  entitled  "Lazarus " 
with  orchestra,  organ  and  piano  accompani- 
ment and  chorus  under  his  own  direction, 
which  met  with  the  highest  commendation 
from  the  press  and  musical  circles  of  Lin- 
coln. 

In  1S97  Professor  Thompson  came  to 
Lincoln.  Illinois,  as  director  of  music  in  Lin- 
coln University  as  it  was  then  known,  and 
is  still  filling  that  position.  In  teaching  the 
art  of  singing  and.  voice  production  he  uses 
manv   well    autheirticated   exercises   of  the 


historic  old  Italian  school,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  modern  school,  called  sometimes  the 
school  of  Rossini,  and  a  series  of  exercises 
set  to  words,  composed  by  himself,  in  which 
he  embodies  the  principles  learned  from  the 
above  mentioned  famous  teachers  and  in  his 
own  scientific  research.  He  teaches  piano, 
harmony,  voice  culture  and  artistic  singing. 
Since  coming  to  Lincoln  the  Professor  and 
his  wife  have  given  their  entertainment. 
"Sparks."  in  Lincoln.  Mattoon  and  Danville, 
Illinois;  Princeton,  Indiana;  and  George- 
town and  Utica.  Xew  York,  where  the  press 
bestowed  upon  them  the  highest  compli- 
ments. Professor  and  Mrs.  Thompson  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church.  Linc(  In.  of  which  he  is  chorister. 


MRS.  CLARA  D.  THOMPSOX. 

Mrs.  Clara  D.  Thompson,  wife  of  Pro- 
fessor A.  S.  Thompson,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears above,  was  born  September  25.  1866. 
in  Charles  City.  Iowa,  but  spent  most  of  her 
girlhood  in  central  Xew  York,  her  education 
being  acquired  in  the  public  schools  and  at 
Cazenovia  Seminary.  Cazenovia.  X'ew  York, 
where  she  was  graduated.  While  attending 
school  there  she  gave  special  attention  to  the 
study  of  organ,  voice  and  piano.  At  first  it 
was  her  intention  to  make  a  specialty  of 
organ  playing,  but  her  voice  developed  so 
magnificently  that  she  was  offered  an  ex- 
cellent iK)sition  as  solo  soprano  in  the  Uni- 
versity Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Syracuse,  Xew  York,  and  meeting  with 
success  she  continued  as  a  vocalist.  She  pur- 
sued her  vocal  studies  under  leading  teach- 
ers in  both  Syracuse  and  Utica.  and  sang 
frequently  in  the  towns  and  cities  of  central 
Xew   Vork.     After  singing  two    years    in 


420 


THE   RTOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


Syracuse  she  was  offered  a  fine  position  in 
the  Dutch  Reformed  church  of  Utica.  wliere 
she  was  singing  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
Resigning  her  position  in  tliat  city.  I\Irs. 
Thompson  went  with  her  luisband  to  Kan- 
sas and  became  v.iral  in>tructor  in  tlic  Kan- 
sas State  Normal  Sclicnl.  While  there  she 
sang  in  the  Congregationial  church  of  Em- 
poria. Later  she  was  solo  soprano  in  the 
Freemason  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Norfolk,  \irginia,  and  was  music- 
al instructor  in  the  Ladies  iHllege  i.f  that 
city  for  line  year.  .  ('.ding  abmad  she  studied 
one  year  in  London  at  the  Guildhall  Schoni 
of  ]Music  under  the  greaj:  and  renowned 
artist,  Sims  Reeves,  wdio  desire  her  to  re- 
main in  England  to  sing,  oratorio. 

On  returning  to  this  country  Airs. 
Thompson  sang  with  great  success  at  the 
Cortland.  New  York.  Alusical  Festi\-al  in 
Rheinberger's  "Clarice  of  Eberstein"  with 
Madame  Clementine  de  Vere-Sapio.  She 
also  sang  in  New  York  and  other  ])rincipal 
cities  of  that  state.  For  almost  four  years 
she  was  solo  singer  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  L^tica,  and  was  vocal  teacher  at 
Houghton  Seminary.  Clintnn,  New  York, 
for  several  years  resigning  that  position  to 
come  to  Lincoln,  Illinois,  as  instructor  in 
vocal  music  in  the  Lincoln  University.  ]\Irs. 
Thompson  serves  as  organist  and  chorister 
in  Trinity  Episcopal  church  of  Lincoln  and  is 
also  at  the  head  of  the  musical  department 
of  the  Lincoln  Woman's  Club.  She  was  a 
great  fa\-orite  in  tlie  summer  concerts  given 
at  the  Earlington.  Ritclifield  Springs.  New- 
York. 

In  their  chosen  lines  of  work  it  is  con- 
ceded Vw  every  one  who  is  in  a  position  to 
judge  that  both  Professor  and  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son are  without  superiors  and  indeed  few 
equals   in  this   section  of  the  country.      At 


every  place  wdiere  their  work  has  been  seen 
they  have  received  high  commendation  from 
persons  competent  to  judge  such  matters. 


JOHN  I.  MOUNTJOY. 

John  I.  Alountjoy.  a  worth}-  representa- 
ti\e  of  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  hon- 
oretl  families  of  Eminence  tow-nship.  was 
born  Fel)ruary  lo,  1S53.  near  his  present 
farm  on  section  35,  that  townshij),  his  par- 
ents lieing  William  and  Sina  \'.  (  Thompson 
Alountjoy,  who  had  ten  children.  After  the 
death  of  the  mother,  which  occurred  Sep- 
temlier  26,  i860,  the  father  married  Miss 
I-dvina  Thompson,  b}-  whom  he  had  one  son. 
William  Alountjov  was  born  in  Kentucky 
June  jg.  1S22.  and  at  an  early  age  came  to 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  his  home  being  on 
sectimi  35,  imminence  township,  for  many 
\'ears.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  was  de- 
\-oted  to  farming,  though  at  one  time  he  w-as 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Arming- 
ton  for  two  years.  He  met  with  excellent 
success  in  his  undertakings  and  acquired  a 
large  estate. 

To  the  commcn  schools  of  this  county 
John  I.  Alountj<iy  is  indebted  for  his  edu- 
cational jirivileges.  In  early  life  he  aided 
his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
until  1873,  when  he  commenced  farming  on 
his  own  account  and  has  since  followed  that 
pursuit  w-ith  marked  success.  His  first  farm 
was  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  sold  in  1901  to  H.  C.  Alontgomery, 
and  then  purchased  his  present  farm  on  sec- 
tion 35,  Eminence  township,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  wdiich  he  is  now 
successfully  carrying  on.  He  seems  to  have 
inherited  much  of  his  father's  business  abil- 
ity and  has  steadily  prospered. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Mountjoy  was  married.  June  9. 
1873.  the  lady  of  his  chaice  being  Miss 
Martha  E.  Judy,  daughter  of  Jacob  Judy, 
who  is  one  of  Tazewell  county's  oldest  pio- 
neers, and  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  To  our  subject  and  his 
wife  Iiave  Ijeen  born  the  following  children: 
Myrtle  A..  Alice  V.,  William  D..  Sarah  A. 
and  Joseph  G.  They  are  all  single  and  with 
exception  of  \\'illiani  make  their  home  with 
their  parents.  The  family  are  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church  and  stand  high 
in  social  circles.  Fraternally  ^Ir.  Mountjoy 
is  a  memlier  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  ct 
America.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  is  ever  ready  to  assist  in  any- 
thing pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  commu- 
nit\-. 


JOHX  J.  LACHEXMYER. 

One  of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  oi 
Chester  township.  Logan  county,  is  John  J. 
Lachenmyer.  who  was  Iwrn  in  W'urtemberg. 
Germany,  on  the  30th  of  October.  1833. 
His  parents  nexer  came  to  America,  but 
both  died  in  Germany  many  years  ago. 
Three  of  their  children,  however,  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  became  residents  of  this 
country,  but  of  these  our  subject  is  now  the 
only  survivor.  His  sisters  were  Christine, 
who  married  Christopher  Sugar  and  re- 
sidetl  in  Coldwater,  Michigan:  and  Caro- 
line, who  married  George  Wisinger  and 
made  her  home  in  Adrain,  Michigan. 

It  was  in  1854  that  Mr.  Lachenmyer. 
accompanied  by  his  two  sisters,  emigrated 
to  the  new  worUl.  He  soon  found  employ- 
ment on  the  I^ke  Shore  &  Michigan  South- 
ern Railroad,  and  after  working  for  that 
company  alxuit  four  years  he  came  to  Illi- 


nois, arriving  in  Springtield  in  1839.  For 
the  following  four  years  he  worked  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand,  and  not  only  ac- 
quired an  e.Kcellent  knowledge  of  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  but  was  also  able  to  sa\e  some 
money,  which  he  invested  in  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Logan  county,  about  the  only 
improvement  upon  the  place  being  a  house. 
From  time  to  time  he  has  added  to  this  prop- 
erty until  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  fine  farming  land  on  sections 
18  and  19,  Chester  township,  and  here  he 
is  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  in  the  raising  of  fine  stock.  His  home 
is  a  very  comfortable  one  and  all  the  build- 
ings ui>on  the  place  are  in  good  condition, 
while  the  land  is  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. 

In  1 86 1  Mr.  Lachenmyer  married  Miss 
Lena  Renschler,  who  was  also  born  in 
W'urtemljerg,  Germany,  and  came  with  her 
parents  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  about  the 
same  time  as  Mr.  Lachenmyer.  Ten  chil- 
dren ha\'e  been  born  to  them,  namel\' :  John 
J..  Jr..  now  a  resident  of  Santa  Monica,  Cal- 
ifornia: George,  of  this  county;  Rose,  wife 
of  Fred  Bock,  of  David  City,  Nebraska :  Car- 
rie, who  died  in  ilarch.  1900,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-one  years;  Margaret,  wife  of  John 
Damarin,  of  Lincoln :  and  Lena.  William. 
Anna.  Adam  and  Charles,  all  five  of  wliom 
are  at  home. 

Since  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen  ^Ir. 
Lachenmyer  has  been  a  strong  Democrat, 
and  has  always  supported  the  candidates  of 
that  party.  Religiously  he  and  his  fiunily 
are  memljers  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  chur.:ii 
of  Lincoln,  in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon 
f <  r  alxiut  thirty  years.  On  coming  to  this 
country  he  was  in  limited  circumstances, 
and  through  his  own  well-directed  efforts 
and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife  he 
has  secured  the  prosperity  which  they  now 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


enjoy.  Their  home  is  noted  for  its  hos- 
pitaHty  and  good  cheer,  their  many  friends 
always  being  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome  with- 
in its  doors. 


JOHX  H.  ROBERTS. 

For  over  sixty  years  John  H.  Roberts 
has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Logan 
county,  and  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  ]Mt. 
Pulaski.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
patriotic  ancestors,  he  fought  three  years  in 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  participated  in 
a  number  of  important  engagements.  He 
was  born  on  the  5th  of  Fbruary.  1830,  in 
Lee  countv,  Virginia,  of  whicii  state  his  par- 
€nts,  Philip  and  Ellen  (Silvers)  Roberts, 
were  also  natives.  The  mother  was  born  "i 
Bedford  county,  Virginia,  in  1799,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Sarah  (  Sowders") 
Silvers.  Both  the  paternal  ami  the  maternal 
grandfathers  of  our  subject  were  soldiers  of 
the  Revolutionar\-  war  and  the  father  fought 
for  American  rights  and  liberties  in  the 
war  of  1812.  In  Xnvember,  1S33,  the  lat- 
ter moved  with  his  faniily  from  \'ir- 
ginia  to  Illinois,  and  first  settled  in  Me- 
nard ciiunty,  but  in  1840  came  to  Lo- 
gan county,  and  located  on  Salt  Creek, 
live  miles  nordi  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  where 
he  built  a  house  of  round  logs,  sixteen 
li\-  twentv  feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  mud 
and  stick  chimney  and  puncheon  floor. 
The  cracks  between  the  logs  which  fonned 
the  walls  were  daubed  with  mud  and  prairie 
grass.  The  father  was  not  long  permitteiT 
to  enjo_\-  his  new  home,  as  he  died  in  what 
is  now  Aetna  township  in  August,  1841,  but 
the  mother  long  survived  him  and  passed 
awav  in  Chester  township  in  1875.  In  the 
family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  nine  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely: 
Sarah  Ann,  deceased  wife  of  Pilman  Clark : 


Susan,  wife  of  Henry  M.  Clark,  of  Oregon ; 
George,  of  Rockwell  City,  Iowa :  ]\Iary  Jane, 
widow  of  J.  V.  Town  and  a  resident  of  Cal- 
lioun  county,  Nebraska;  John  H.,  our  sub- 
ject; Eliza,  deceased  wife  of  Isaac  Miller,  of 
Chester  township;  Charles  and  Elizabeth, 
twins,  the  former  a  resident  of  Mt.  Pulaski, 
the  latter  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Downing,  of 
Rockwell  City.Towa;  and  Reyburn  \\'..  who 
served  through  the  Civil  war  with  our  sub- 
ject, and  died  in  August,  1892. 

John  H.  Roberts  was  only  three  years  old 
when  the  family  came  to  this  state,  and  amid 
scenes  familiar  to  pioneer  life  he  grew  to 
manhood.  He  was  reared  as  most  farmer 
boys  in  those  days,  and  began  his  education 
in  a  log  school  house  on  Salt  creek,  his  first 
teacher  being  David  Alilford,  and  the  second  ' 
D.  P.  Bunn,  a  Universalist  preacher,  under 
whose  instruction  he  studied  for  three 
months. 

Feeling  that  his  country  need  his  serv- 
ices during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war, 
Mr.  Roberts  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  ivi 
Compan\-  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illi- 
nois \'olunteer  Infantry,  Colonel  R.  B. 
Latham  commanding  the  regiment.  They 
were  first  sent  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1863  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Bolivar,  that  state.  Later  they  were 
in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  until  the  sur- 
render of  that  stronghold  on  the  4th  01 
July,  and  then  proceeded  to  Jackson,  IMis- 
sissippi,  but  returnetl  to  \'icksburg  on  the 
31st  of  July,  1863.  While  there  Mr.  Roberts 
received  a  sunstroke  which  disabled  him  for 
some  time  and  he  was  granted  a  short  fur- 
lough, which  he  spent  at  home,  but  he  later 
rejoined  his  regiment  at  Little  Rock,  Ar- 
kansas, and  remained  at  the  front  until  the 
cessation  of  hostilities.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  in  August,  1865,  and  was  paid 
off  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 


THE.  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


After  his  return  lionie  Mr.  Roberts  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  Cliester  township  im 
til  1887.  when  he  removed  to  Mt.  Pulaski, 
and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  in  .Seji- 
temlier.  18^)5.  he  married  Miss  Mattie  L. 
Roberts,  of  Tennessee,  where  he  met  her 
during  the  war.  She  died  in  Mt.  Pulaski 
July  10,  1892,  and  for  his  second  wife  he 
wedded  Miss  Delilah  J.  Peterson,  who  was 
born  on  Salt  creek  in  Aetna  township,  this 
county,  and  was  educated  in  the  ^It.  Pulaski 
high  school,  where  she  was  graduated  in 
1894.  Her  parents  were  Benjamin  and 
Elizabeth  (Voorhees)  Peterson.  Of  the 
three  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
second  wife,  one  died  in  infancy.  Tliose 
living  are  Ruth  and  Paul  R.  . 

For  the  past  eighteen  \ears  ]\lr.  Roberts 
has  been  totally  blind,  but  with  that  excep- 
tion he  enjoys  good  health.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Sam  Walker  Post.  Xo.  205.  G.  A.  R., 
and  is  a  man  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church. 


ALLEX  OLTSEXBERRY. 

Prominent  among  the  prosperous  and 
substantial  citizens  of  Eminence  township  i- 
Allen  Ouisenberry.  who  belongs  to  a  very 
old  and  honored  family  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky  October  19, 
1823,  and  spent  the  first  twelve  years  of  his 
life  in  his  native  state.  His  father,  Edward 
S.  Ouisenberry.  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
liorn  May  12.  1786,  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood and  married  Polly  Thealkill,  who  died 
in  Christian  county.  Kentucky,  leaving  four- 
teen children.  He  subsequently  married 
;Miss  Lucv   .\.   Claxton,   who  was  born  in 


Virginia  and  died  in  Logan  county.  By  this 
union  ti\e  children  were  horn,  making  him 
the  tatlier  cf  nineteen,  whom  he  reared  to 
man  and  Wdmanhood.  and  of  this  number 
eight  are  still  li\  ing.  In  18,^5  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Taze- 
well county.  Later  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Eminence  township,  Logan  county,  and 
here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
in  1864.  He  was  very  successful  in  busi- 
ness, and  became  the  owner  of  two  thousand 
acres  of  land,  being  able  to  leave  each  of  his 
children  a  c|uarter-section  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Religiously  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and  was 
a  man  highly  respected  and  estecmeil  by  all 
who  knew  him. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  years  Allen  Ouisen- 
berry accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emi- 
gration to  Illinois,  traveling  the  entire  dis- 
tance of  fi  ur  hundred  miles  without  even 
seeing  a  bridge,  being  obliged  to  ford  all 
rivers  and  creeks.  Our  subject  and  a  brother 
drove  two  cows  the  entire  distance.  They 
made  all  possible  haste,  their  father  having 
told  them  that  the  country  was  infested  by 
wolves.  The  other  members  of  the  family 
traveled  in  coxered  wagons.  Arriving  in 
Tazewell  county,  Allen  Ouisenberry  com- 
pleted his  education  in  a  log  school  house 
at  Hittles  Grove,  and  remained  at  home  as- 
sisting in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage. Since  then  he  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account,  and  so  successful 
has  he  lieen  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
seven  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Emi- 
nence township,  on  which  he  has  erected 
good  and  substantial  buildings  that  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enteri>rise. 

On  December  2^,.  1842.  Mr.  Ouisenberry 
was  iniited  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
ihirt.  the  ceremony  Ijeing  performed  at  Hit- 
tie's  (jnne.     Her  father  was  William  I'urt, 


424 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


one  of  Tazewell  county's  most  distinguished 
citizens.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
in  1827  he  came  to  Tazewell  county,  which 
at  that  time  was  mainly  noted  for  the  ter- 
rible encounters  between  the  earlv  settlers 
and  the  Indians,  who.  were  then  far  more 
numerous  than  the  white  inhabitants.  The 
postage  on  a  letter  at  that  time  was  twent\- 
five  cents,  and  the  early  settlers  were  forced 
to  endure  many  hardships  and  privations. 
To  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Ouisenberry  were  born 
three  children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely:  John  W'..  a  resident  of  Tazewell 
county ;  and  China  M.,  nuw  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam F.  Albright,  a  merchant  of  Chicago. 
The  wife  and  UKither,  who  was  a  most  esti- 
mable woman,  died  in  Eminence  township 
April  20,  1897.  Mr.  Ouisenberry  was  again 
married,  in  April.  1898.  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  H.  Martlin,  a  resident  of 
southern  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  a  ]\Ir. 
Dixon,  ilr.  Ouisenberry  is  living  with  his 
wife  and  step-children  on  the  old  home  farm 
in  Eminence  township,  though  he  has  prac- 
tically retired  from  active  labor,  leaving  the 
work  of  the  farm  to  younger  hands.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  politically  he  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party.  Wherever  known  he 
is  held  in  high  regard  and  as  an  honored  pio- 
neer and  highly  respected  citizen  he  is  cer- 
tainly deserving  of  honorable  mention  in  the 
history  of  his  adopted  county. 


A.  J.  PEASE. 

A.  J.  Pease,  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
highly  respected  farmers  of  section  13, 
Lake  Fork  township,  located  near  Latham, 
was  liorn  in  Sangamon  county.  Illinois, 
July  20,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  Shaw  and 


Amanda  (Pettis)  Pease.  The  grandpar- 
ents of  our  subject  were  evidently  among 
the  very  early  pioneers  of  Sangamon  coun- 
ty, and  6haw  jPease,  the  father,  was 
born  in  that  county,  where  he  became  quite 
active  in  politics,  serving  one  term  in  the 
legislature,  having  been  elected  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  He  died  there  at  about 
sixty-five  years  of  age.  The  family  is  of 
\\'elsh  lineage,  the  great-grandfather  Pease 
having  come  from  A\'ales. 

\Mien  our  subject  was  about  twelve 
}ears  of  age  his  parents  settled  on  a  farm 
near  where  he  now  resides,  and  here  the 
young  boy  was  reared  to  agricultural  life 
and  attended  the  common  schools.  He  re- 
mained upon  the  homestead  until  he  ^\•as 
married,  in  ]\Iacon  county,  near  Xiantic, 
February  27,  1878,  to  iliss  Frederika 
Bruce,  whose  home  was  in  that  county,  but 
who  had  been  born  in  Germany,  near  Kiel, 
and  had  come  to  America  with  her  mother 
and  brother  when  yet  a  little  girl.  To  ]Mr. 
and  MrG.  Pease  have  been  born  five  children, 
namely:  Ella  F.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  Mrs.  Edith  Ervin,  of  Macon 
county;  and  Louis,  Frank  and  Bertha,  of 
whom  the  last  three  are  residing  at  home. 

For  a  iew  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Pease  rented  land,  but  soon  his  industry  and 
thrift  made  it  possible  for  him  to  purchase 
one  hundred  acres  of  wild  land.  This 
property  he  has  brought  into  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  and  in  addition  he  leases  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  thus  operating 
one-half  a  section,  giving  his  attention  to 
farming,  stock  raising  and  feeding.  The 
house,  barn  and  buildings  are  all  in  excel- 
lent condition  and  his  farm  is  well  kept  up 
in  exevy  particular. 

In  politics  Mr.  Pease  has  always  been  a 
Republican,  and  has  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  local  politics.     For  several  years  he 


A.  J.   PEASE. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


427 


has  served  as  a  memljer  of  the  Republican 
county  central  committee,  including  both 
McKinley  campaigns,  and  in  a  townshiji 
that  is  strongly  Democratic  he  was  elected 
supervisor  in  1899  and  served  two  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  on  the  committee 
on  roads  and  bridges,  serving  as  the  chair- 
man for  one  year,  and  was  also  on  the 
finance  committee,  as  well  as  other  commit- 
tees. In  1 90 1  he  was  again  nominated  and 
beaten  by  only  four  votes,  which  was  re- 
markable considering  the  strong  Demo- 
cratic majority  in'the  township.  He  served 
as  school  trustee  for  about  twelve  years  and 
has  since  been  director  for  the  past  six  or 
eight  years. 

Mr.  Pease  and  his  family  are  active 
members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Xi- 
antic.  and  are  highly  respected  in  that  de- 
nomination. Socially  our  subject  was 
made  a  member  of  Latham  Ltidge.  Xo.  853. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M..  in  1899.  and  he  also  holds 
membership  in  several  other  organizations. 
He  is  a  pleasant,  genial  man.  very  popular 
and  influential  throughout  the  township. 
By  his  many  excellent  qualities  he  has  made 
liimself  well-liked  in  the  community,  and 
his  success  in  life  is  well  deserved. 


KDWIX   S.   LIXBARGER. 

Edwin  S.  Linbarger  is  conductring  a 
hotel  and  livery  stable  at  San  Jose.  Mason 
county,  but  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and 
prominent  families  of  Logan  county,  where 
he  is  himself  widely  and  favorably  known. 
He  was  born  in  Xew  York  city.  March  19, 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Linliarger.  who 
entered  land  from  the  government  in  Logan 
countv  in  i8^o.    He  was  a  native  of  Somer- 


set county,  Xew  Jersey,  born  September  2, 
1S08.  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turity he  married  Hannah  Smally.  who  was 
born  in  the  same  county  July  3,  1813.  There 
they  resided  until  after  their  marriage,  when 
they  removed  to  Xew  York  cit}-,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  hats, 
being  the  inventor  of  the  smooth  felt  hat 
now  worn.  He  rented  the  old  X'ew  York 
state  prison  and  therein  conducted  a  hat 
factory,  continuing  in  the  business  with  ex- 
cellent success  for  some  time.  In  June.  1846, 
he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  ^lexican  war 
and  served  throughout  the  struggle,  acting 
as  captain  of  his  company.  After  his  re- 
turn to  X'ew  York  city  he  was  custom  house 
ofticer,  having  charge  of  the  liquors,  cigars 
antl  fruits  imported  into  this  country.  On 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  in  th;\t 
ix^sition  he  came  westward  with  his  fam- 
ily, making  the  trip  largely  by  water.  They 
proceeded  from  Albany  by  way  of  the  Erie 
canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  the  great  lakes 
to  Chicago,  by  canal  to  LaSalle,  by  steamer 
to  Alton  and  thence  to  Jerseyville.  Illinois, 
where  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Todd  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  several  years.  In  1849. 
he  removed  to  Logan  county  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  entered  land  in  Prairie  Creek 
township,  including  all  of  section  4.  the  west 
half  of  section  9.  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  8.  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
3  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  10, 
constituting  in  all  about  fourteen  hundred 
acres.  He  made  improvements  on  section 
4.  developing  a  fine  farm,  whereon  he  re- 
sided until  the  death  of  his  wife.  December 
15.  1884.  He  then  removed  to  San  Jose 
and  lived  retired  with  his  son  Edwin  until 
his  death,  passing  awav  on  the  4th  of  March. 
iS93. 

This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of 


428 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ten  children:  David  died  in  childhood; 
Joseph  died  in  infancy;  George,  who  is  now 
living  in  Eureka  Springs,  Arkansas,  married 
Jennie  Bailey,  and  after  her  death  married 
a  ilrs.  Armstrong,  a  widow ;  Andrew  T.  is 
deceased;  Edwin  S.  is  the  next  younger; 
Virginia  L.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Flint,  of 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota;  Charles  married 
Laura  Parmeter  and  resides  in  Rich  Hill, 
^lissouri ;  Henry  wedded  Mary  ^lunson  and 
is  living  in  \\'est  Point,  ilississippi ;  John  K. 
married  Julia  Warren  and  is  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business  in  Delavan,  Illinois ;  and 
Walter,  who  has  resided  in  Chicago,  is  now 
living  with  our  subject.  He  married  Cora 
^lathews,  but  she  is  now  deceased. 

The  children  were  all  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  after  putting  aside  his 
text-books  Edwin  See  Linbarger  engaged 
in  farming  in  Prairie  Creek  township,  but 
later  was  in  the  service  of  the  Texas  Central 
and  the  Houston  &  Great  Xorthern  Railroad 
Companies.  He  acted  as  fireman  for  six 
months  and  was  then  made  a  conductor  in 
the  freight  service.  From  1871  until  1874 
he  was  in  the  Lone  Star  state,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Xew  York  city,  where  he  remained 
for  a  year.  Subsequently  he  returned  ro 
Logan  county  and  established  a  grocery 
store  in  Emden,  where  he  conducted  busi- 
ness for  three  years,  after  which  he  sold  out 
and  lived  in  retirement  from  labor  for  a  year. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  came 
to  San  Jose  and  purchased  the  drug  store 
owned  by  his  brother  George,  conducting 
the  same  until  1901,  when  he  sold  the  drug- 
stock.  In  1 89 1  he  began  the  hotel  business, 
and  adding  to  this  a  livery  stable  now  car- 
ries on  operations  along  both  lines.  He  has 
six  good  head  of  horses  and  his  barn  re- 
ceives a  liberal  patronage.  As  a  landlord 
he  is  popular,  enterprising  and    courteous, 


and  has  become  \er\-  popular  with  the  pat- 
rons of  the  house. 

Mr.  Linbarger  has  been  twice  married. 
On  the  29th  of  December,  1869,  he  wedded 
Rhoda  Gibbs,  of  Xew  York,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Gibbs,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister 
of  the  Empire  state.  ]Mrs.  Linbarger  died 
October  3,  1870,  and  our  subject  was  again 
married,  October  30,  1872,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Augusta  Snell,  of  Jeffer- 
son county,  Xew  York,  a  daughter  of  Gideon 
Snell,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  state, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  mill- 
ing business.  Unto  the  second  marriage 
have  been  born  three  children :  Katie,  who 
was  born  July  6,  1876,  and  died  February 
29,  1880,  when  about  four  years  of  age; 
Cora,  who  was  born  August  15,  1880,  and 
died  December  31  of  the  same  year;  and 
John  \\'ebster,  who  was  born  August  31, 
1883,  and  is  still  with  his  pai-ents. 

In  politics  !Mr.  Linbarger  has  followed  in 
the  political  footsteps  of  his  father,  who 
voted  for  Andrew  Jackson,  having,  since 
he  attained  his  majority,  been  an  advocate 
of  Democratic  principles.  For  eight  years 
he  held  the  office  of  postmaster  in  San  Jose, 
and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  police 
magistrate,  while  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
he  has  been  notary  public  and  is  also  a  dep- 
uty to  issue  marriage  licenses.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  San  Jose  Lodge,  X'o. 
645.  A.  F.  &  A.  !M. :  Grossman  Chapter,  Xo. 
155.  R.  A.  M..  of  Delavan;  and  Constantine 
Commandery,  X'o.  51,  K.  T..  of  Lincoln. 
He  is  one  of  the  well  known  residents  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  Whatever  success  he  has 
achieved  is  attributable  entirely  to  his  own 
efforts,  for  in  early  life  he  started  out  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and  has 
since  been  dependent  upon  his  own  resources. 
He  is  now  known  as  a  popular  man.  reliable 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


429 


in  business,  trustwortliv  in  office  and  faitli- 
ful  to  every  tluty  whicli  ilevulves  ui^jn 
him. 


EDGAR  E.  SISSOX. 

Among;  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Sheri- 
dan township  is  Edgar  E.  Sisson,  who  re- 
sides on  section  13  and  has  made  tliis  town- 
sliip  his  home  all  his  life,  having  Ijeen  born 
here  Eebruary  6,  1874.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  F.  and  Eliza  (Myers)  Sisson,  natives 
of  Jersey  county.  Illinois,  who  came  to  Lo- 
gan county  at  an  early  da\-  and  settled  in 
Sheridan  township,  where  they  lived  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  Here 
the\-  remained  for  a  few  years  and  then  re- 
turned to  Jersey  county,  but  after  a  short 
time  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  Sheri- 
dan township,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
general  farming  until  1892.  At  this  time 
he  and  his  wife  removed  to  Lincoln,  this 
county,  where  they  live  retired.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them  :  John,  wiio  married 
Susan  Beaver,  died  in  1899,  and  she  now 
resides  in  Lincoln :  Edgar  E..  our  subject,  is 
the  next  of  the  family;  Bessie  and  Emma 
are  residents  of  Lincoln.  All  of  the  children 
were  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Lin- 
coln. 

Edgar  E.  Sisson  after  completing  his  ed- 
ucation took  charge  of  the  Sisson  homestead 
on  sections  23  and  24,  Sheridan  township, 
where  he  lixed  fi\e  years.  During  that  time 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Lynch,  of  Mason 
City,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Luther  Lynch, 
a  laliorer  now  residing  in  Mason  City.  One 
child  has  been  born  of  this  union,  namely : 
Edna,  born  February  21,  1900. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Sisson  re- 
moved to  his  father's  farm  on  section   13, 


where  he  operates  four  hundred  acres  of  fine 
land  and  carries  on  general  farming  and 
stock-raisiug.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  Burtonville 
Lodge.  Xo.  6982,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Burtonville, 
Illinois,  and  of  the  Court  of  Honor  of  New- 
Holland,  Illinois.  Although  still  a  young 
man  he  has  been  very  successful  in  his  farm- 
ing- operations  and  gained  the  highest  respect 
and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


THOMAS  SMITH. 


Thomas  Smith,  deceased,  who  for  many 
years  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  ener- 
getic farmers  of  Oran  township,  Logan 
county,  was  born  August  12,  1829,  in  Eng- 
land, and  is  of  German  descent.  He  grew 
to  manhood  and  received  a  good  education 
in  his  nati\e  tongue,  at  the  place  of  his  birth. 
He  was  one  of  a  family  of  three  children. 
The  father  was  originally  from  Scotland  and 
in  early  manhotxl  x\-ent  to  England,  where 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  our  subject  was 
quite  young. 

The  death  of  the  father  rendered  it  nec- 
essary for  yotmg  Thomas  to  at  once  seek 
employment  whereby  he  would  be  enabled 
to  render  assistance  to  the  family.  He  se- 
cured work  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  in 
which  employment  he  continued  for  a  period 
of  five  years,  and  in  1865  he  left  his  native 
land  and  sailed  for  America.  Landing  at 
Xew  York,  he  at  once  started  for  Illinois, 
and  located  in  Sangamon  county,  where  for 
a  i)eri(id  of  three  years  he  cared  for  and 
herded  a  flock  of  about  three  thousand  sheep 
and  then  rented  a  small  farm,  which  he 
tilled,  making  it  his  home  for  fi\e  vcars.   He 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Avas  yew  energetic  and  economical,  and  by 
strict  attention  to  the  details  of  his  work  he 
was  enabled  during  this  time  to  accumulate 
and  save  sufficient  means  to  purchase  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  improved,  put  un- 
der cultivation  and  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  28th  of 
April,  1899.  after  a  lingering  illness  of  sev- 
eral years.  His  widow,  who  survives  him, 
occupies  the  ])resent  home  on  this  farm. 

The  tirst  wife  of  our  subject  died  in  Oc- 
tober, 1S76,  and  he  married  for  his  second 
wife  Rosina  Sheer,  daughter  of  Marx  Sheer, 
who  was  originally  from  Germany,  and  who 
married  Margaret  Bauer.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  born  on  the  i8th  of 
March.  1842.  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  tv,euty-twu  years  of  age.  Her  mar- 
riage tn  Mr.  Smith  occurred  September  28, 
1877,  and  was  blessed  with  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows: 
Mollie  E..  now  ]\lrs.  C.  E.  Gossett;  John  A. : 
Frederick  T. :  and  Mary  Elizabeth.  John 
A.  married  I'lurence  [Murray,  of  Logan 
count}-,  whiise  ]iarents  were  early  and  re- 
spected settlers  (if  this  count}-. 

]\[r.  Smith  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  although  always  hav- 
ing the  interests  of  that  political  body  at 
heart  he  never  t(X)k  an  active  part  in  politics, 
not  caring  for  office.  He  was  clearly  a  self- 
made  man  in  exery  sense  of  that  term.  Com- 
ing to  .\merica  with  no  capital,  he  started 
out  in  a  strange  land  tt^  overcome  the  dif- 
ficulties and  clistacles  in  the  path  to  pros- 
perity, and  success  crowned  his  efforts.  He 
believed  in  doing  the  work  at  hand  cheer- 
fully and  well.  He  toiled  early  and  late, 
and  while  giving  strict  attention  to  his  farm- 
ing interests  he  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time 
to  home  life,  being  ever  a  kind  and  indulgent 
father  and  devoted  Imsliand. 


PATRICK  RYAN. 

For  almost  a  half  century  Patrick  Ryan 
has  resided  in  this  portion  of  Illinois,  liv- 
ing for  many  years  in  Delavan  township, 
Tazewell  county,  and  since  1877  wpon  his 
present  farm  on  sections  9  and  10.  Prairie 
Creek  township,  Logai-i  county.  He  has 
therefore  witnessed  much  of  the  growth  and 
development  of  this  region  and  has  borne  no 
inconsiderable  part  in  the  general  develop- 
ment which  has  reclaimed  the  land  fur  pur- 
poses of  civilization  and  made  this  one  1  if  the 
richest  farming  districts  in  the  state.  .V  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  he  was  born  in  count}-  Lim- 
erick September  15,  1847,  ^  son  of  James 
and  Margaret  (Hayes)  Ryan,  whose  family 
iiun-ibered  ele\-en  children.  The  parents 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  cnunty  and  in 
1833  they  sailed  with  their  family  for  Amer- 
ica, making  their  way  direct  to  Tazewell 
county.  Illinois.  They  established  their 
home  upon  a  farni  in  Delavan  township,  and 
there  the  father  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the 
soil  throughout  his  remaining  days,  his 
death  occurring- about  1888.  ,His  widmv  still 
resides  in  Delavan,  making  her  home  with 
her  grandchildren.  Seven  of  the  children  of 
the  family  are  yet  living,  as  follows :  John, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Delavan  to\vnship, 
Tazewell  ci'.unty:  Patrick,  of  this  review-; 
Catherine,  the  wife  of  James  ]\Iurph}-,  who 
is  living  in  Odell.  Illinois:  James,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  lixery  l)usiness  in  Dela\-an  ; 
William,  a  resident  farmer  of  Delavan  town- 
ship: Daniel,  whu  is  also  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Delavan  township: 
Idella,  the  widow  of  James  ^IcGrath.  a  resi- 
dent of  Odell,  Illinois.  ^Michael  and  Johan- 
na, other  members  of  this  family,  are  now 
deceased.  The  children  were  all  provided 
with  gdiul  educatinnal  pri\-ileg-es,  a  number 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


431 


of  them  attending  college  or  other  advanced 
institutions  of  learning  after  leaving  the 
common  schools. 

Mr.  Rvan.  of  this  review,  piir.sned  his 
early  education  in  the  district  .schools,  whicii 
was  suiii)lemented  liy  a  year's  study  in  the 
University  of  Xotre  Dame  of  Indiana,  and 
as  a  life  work  t(X>k  up  the  occupation  to 
which  he  had  heen  reared,  beginning  opera- 
tions on  his  own  account  as  a  farmer  of 
Delavan  township.  Tazewell  county.  There 
he  remained  until  twenty-nine  years  of  age. 
or  until  1877.  when  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Prairie  Creek  townsliip.  Logan 
county,  purchasing  liis  present  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  on  sections  9  and 
ID.  He  has  made  excellent  improvements 
on  die  property,  and  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  with  success.  His  is 
a  valuable  property,  the  highly  cultivated 
fields,  substantial  buildings,  the  latest  im- 
pro\-ed  machinery  and  all  modern  con- 
veniences indicated  the  progressive  spirit  of 
the  owner,  who  is  a  reliable  business  man. 
well  meriting  the  prosperity  which  has 
crowned  his  labors. 

\\'hile  residing  in  Tazewell  county  Mr. 
Ryan  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hubbard,  "i 
native  of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  Nicholas 
and  Mary  (Smith)  Hubbard,  who  were 
Ixtrn  in  Germany.  Prior  to  Mrs.  Ryans 
birth  her  parents  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try, locating  in  Ohio.  There  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming  until  his  removal  to  Prairie 
Creek  township.  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ryan  has  been  blesse.l 
with  four  children:  James  \V..  Annie. 
Mamie  and  Nicholas.  The  parents  hold 
membershi|)  in  the  Catholic  church  of  De- 
lavan. In  ]K)litics  Mr.  Ryan  has  been  a 
DennK-rat  since  attaining  hi^  maioritv.  and 


has  held  several  local  offices.  He  is  now 
serving  as  township  sujiervisor,  a  position 
which  he  has  filled  for  nine  years,  and  for 
some  time  he  has  served  as  school  trustee, 
discharging  the  duties  of  both  offices  in  an 
acceptable  manner.  He  is  a  director  in  the 
Tazewell  County  Pair  Association  and  has 
done  much  to  encourage  progressi\e  meth- 
ods of  farming.  His  own  labors  ha\e  been 
so  carefully  directed  that  he  is  now  num- 
bered among  the  prominent  and  wealthy 
farmers  of  the  community  in  which  for  al- 
most a  half-centurv  he  has  made  his  home. 


JOSEPH  W.  HOBLIT. 

The  natural  advantages  of  diis  .section  at- 
tracted at  an  early  day  a  superior  class  of 
.setders,  thrifty,  industrious,  progressive  and 
law-abiding,  whose  influence  gave  perma- 
nent direction  to  the  development  of  the  lo- 
cality. Among  the  worthy  pioneers  of  Lo- 
gan county  the  Hoblit  family  hold  a  promi- 
nent place,  being  among  the  first  to  locate 
here. 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  this  county 
was  Samuel  Ilolilit.  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  He  came  west  from  Ohio  in  1839, 
and  settled  in  .Atlanta  township,  where  many 
of  his  descendants  still  live.  He  married 
Miss  Abigail  Downey.  Their  son.  John  .\. 
Hoblit,  was  born  March  5.  1833.  in  Atlanta 
township.  Later  in  life  he  moved  to  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  On  the 
17th  of  January,  1856.  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  Willmurtli.  and 
to  them  were  born  seven  children.  In  early 
manluxxl  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
two  terms.  Being  an.xious  to  take  care  of 
his   father's  estate,  he  then  took  control  ot 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  property  and  successfully  managed  the 
same.  After  acquiring  a  sufficient  knowl- 
edge of  agriculture  he  embarked  in  farming 
on  his  own  account  on  a  quarter-section  of 
land.  As  time  passed  he  prospered  in  his 
farming  operations  and  kept  adding  to  his 
landed  possessions  imtil  he  had  accumulated 
fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Logan 
county.  He  was  also  extensively  engaged 
in  stock-raising  and  met  witli  good  success 
in  that  undertaking.  As  a  director  and 
stockholder  he  was  identified  with  banks  at 
Atlanta,  Bloomington  and  Lincoln,  and  was 
one  of  the  principal  stockholders  of  the  bank 
at  Carlinville.  of  which  his  .son,  Abraham 
L.,  was  cashier,  and  Frank,  assistant  cashier. 
He  was  a  most  capable  financier  and  shrewd 
business  man,  possessing  extraordinary  good 
judgment  and  keen  discrimination.  His 
residence,  in  which  Joseph  W.  now  lives,  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  country  homes  in 
the  count}'.  The  father  died  in  February, 
•1898,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

Jnsejih  W.  Hol)Ht  was  born  Xovember 
28,  1856,  cm  the  old  homestead  in  Atlanta 
township  w  here  he  now  resides,  and  his  early 
education  was  recei\-ed  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  later  attending  the 
Shurtleft"  College  at  Alton,  Illinois,  His  life 
has  been  devoted  to  agriculture,  and  he  now 
owns  and  operates  four  hundred  acres  of 
valuable  land,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  supi>lied  with  all  of  the  con- 
veniences and  accessories  found  upon  a 
model  farm  of  the  present  day. 

On  the  5th  of  Xovember,  1892,  Mr.  Hob- 
lit  was  united  in  marriage  with  jVliss  Ivy  L. 
Tuttle,  daughter  of  Marion  Tuttle,  of  At- 
lanta, wlio  lost  his  life  while  defending  the 
stars  and  stripes  in  the  Civil  war.  ]\Irs. 
Hoblit   is  a  member  <jf  the  Baptist  cliurch 


and  a  most  estimable  lady.  In  his  political 
views  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has 
never  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
his  time  and  attention  being  devoted  to  his 
Ixisiness.  He  has  traveled  considerably  and 
has  gained  that  extensive  knowledge  of  the 
world  which  only  tra\-el  can  bring.  His  so- 
cial, genial  nature  makes  him  well  liked,  and 
he  is  a  stanch  and  loyal  friend,  fund  of  good 
fellowship  and  devoted  to  those  who^  have 
ills  confidence.  The  name  of  Hoblit  is  wdl 
known  throughout  this  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties, and  the  members  of  the  family  are  noted 
for  their  pluck,  ambition  and  good  judg- 
ment. 


WILLI A^I  H.  BOWLES. 

A\'illiani  11.  Bowles,  an  extensive  farmer 
of  Orvil  township,  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
resides  on  section  2  and  is  also  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  in  the  village  of  Emden. 
He  was  born  near  Clinton,  De  \\'itt  county, 
Illinois,  December  20,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of 
David  Bowles,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  was  very 
young  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Logan 
countv,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Orvil  township,  and  then  assisted 
his  father  upon  the  farm  until  his  marriage, 
August  22,  1875,  when  be  was  united  to 
Jennie  ]\I.  Smallwood,  a  native  of  Pike  coun- 
tv, Illincis.  She  was  born  February  12, 
1850,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  A.  and 
;\Iary  (Van  Gundy)  Smallwood,  both  na- 
tives of  the  east,  who  came  west  at  an  early 
day  and  settled  in  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  lived  until  1853,  and  then  moved 
to  Logan  Cdunty.  They  .settled  in  ^^'est  Lin- 
coln townshi])  and  li\ed  rm  a  farm  until 
1870,  when  they  moved  to  Orvil  township,- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


433 


and  remained  on  a  farm  there  for  six  years. 
They  then  removed  to  Tazewell  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  Ixjtli  now  reside,  livini^cni  a  farm 
which  is  operated  by  a  snn.  Mr.  Sniallwd.'d 
having-  retired  In  mi  active  lite.  'Mv.  and 
Mrs.  Bowles  liad  two  children,  namely : 
Mamie  B..  born  on  January  2j.  1877.  is  now 
at  home:  Brook  D.,  born  on  September  17. 
j88r,  died  on  Eebruary  22.  1901. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  moved  1'^ 
his  present  farm,  known  as  the  old  Jesse 
Bowles  farm,  and  he  now  owns  two  hundred 
and  twenty-six  acres  on  sections  2  and  3. 
Orvil  township,  and  also  ten  acres  of  timber 
land  in  Imminence  township.  He  is  one  of 
the  largest  landowners  in  the  township.  He 
is  also  in  partnership  with  D.  H.  Gemberling 
and  the  firm  own  an  elevator  in  Emden  and 
do  an  extensive  grain  Inisiness. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bowles  is  a  Prohibitionist 
and  he  and  his  wife  and  daughter  are  acti\e 
members  of  the  Bethel  Christian  church  of 
Orvil  township,  in  which  denomination  they 
take  a  great  inter^t  and  of  which  he  is  a 
deacon.  Brook  D.  was  also  a  member  of  the 
same  church.  As  a  farmer,  a  business  man, 
a  Christian,  a  husband  and  fatlier,  ^Ir. 
Bowles  has  [iroxen  himself  an  honoralile  man 
and  a  faithful  follower  of  the  teachings  of 
his  Master. 


H.\RI)IX  r..  W'Al 


i-:rs. 


For  many  years  Hardin  1!.  Walters  has 
been  one  of  the  highly  res])ected  citizens  of 
Logan  county,  Illinois.  His  l)irth  occurred 
in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky.  December  19, 
1856,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Jacob  W.  and  Lydia 
(Funk)  \\'alters.  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  1817  and  tlie  latter  in  i8_'3.  in  the 
state  of  Kentuckv.     'I'hev  are  now  hale  and 


hearty  residents  of  Coffeyville,  Kansas,  the 
lather  ha\  ing  reached  his  eighty-fomnh  year 
,ind  the  mother  her  seventy-eighth,  'i'hey 
liccanie  the  i>arents  of  eleven  children,  one 
ot  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  one  daughter. 
Mar>-  L.,  who  was  the  wife  of  F.  P.  :\larvin, 
died  in  Lincoln,  .May  26,  1890.  The  sur- 
vivors are  as  follows:  Sarah,  who  is  the 
wife  of  JI.  C.  Perry,  of  Coffeyville.  Kansas: 
J;icob  A.  is  a  farmer  in  Oklahoma;  h'.liza- 
beth.  wile  of  John  Shivel,  of  Coffeyville, 
Kansas:  (".nice  1'..,  wife  of  George  Pember- 
tr.n,  of  Sedalia,  Missouri;  Robert,  a  farmer 
in  East  Lincoln  township:  Hardin  1'..,  the 
.subject  of  this  sketch;  William,  who  lives 
in  Coffeyville;  Theodore,  an  engineer,  living 
in  Coffeyville,  Kansas;  and  Frank,  who  lives 
in  Colorado.  The  education  of  the  children 
was  obtained  in  Missouri,  where  the  family 
lived  for  seventeen  years  prior  to  their  re- 
moval to  Kansas. 

Our  subject,  Hardin  B.  Waters,  received 
but  a  limited  education,  and  was  reared  on 
the  farm,  remaining  at  home  until  he  reached 
his  nineteenth  year  and  then  began  the 
shaping  of  his  own  career.  Coming  to  Lo- 
gan countv.  Illinois,  he  engaged  in  farm 
work  during  the  summers  and  eagerly  em- 
braced the  chance  of  attending  school  during 
the  winters,  and  tints  secured  a  good  com- 
mon school  education.  For  six  years  he 
wofked  on  farms  and  then  rented  a  desirable 
tract,  exercising  continual  diligence  and 
enniomy  until  he  was  able  to  i)urcliase  his 
present  fine  farm,  in  1894. 

.Mr.  Walters  was  united  in  marriage. 
M;i_\  _M).  18S;,,  to  Miss  Lydia  Dunham,  and 
thus  became  coimected  with  one  ol  the  lead- 
ing and  representative  families  of  the  county. 
:\Frs.  Walters  was  born  September  19,  1862, 
and  became  one  of  the  best  educated  and 
popular  teachers  in  the  locality.     She  is  a 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lady  of  culture  and  refinement.  The  chil- 
dren born  of  this  marriage  are:  Violet  M., 
Noel  D..  Eva  L.,  Harry  D.,  William  H.  and 
Ruth  E.  One  died  in  infancy.  All  have 
been  afforded  excellent  school  privileges. 

The  pleasant  famil}-  residence  of  ^Ir. 
and  Mrs.  Walters  is  located  on  section  23. 
East  Lincoln  township,  the  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  extending  into  sec- 
tion 24  also.  For  this  land  ^Ir.  Walters 
was  able  to  pay  seventy-five  and  ninety  tli  hi- 
lars an  acre,  all  of  which  he  earned  by  his 
industry,  having  had  no  assistance  and  being 
without  means  when  he  came  to  the  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walters  are  among  the 
leading  members  ui  the  Christian  church,  of 
Avhich  he  is  one  of  its  worthy  elders,  and  for 
several  vears  he  has  efiiciently  served  as 
school  director.  In  a  social  way  he  is 
connected  with  Lincoln  Camp.  Modern 
^^'oodmen  of  America,  in  which  he  has 
many  friends.  His  success  shows  the  nat- 
ural results  of  an  industrious  and  temperate 
life.  Xnt  (Uily  does  he  possess  ample  means, 
but  he  also  enjoys  the  esteem  of  the  com- 
nninitN'  in  which  he  has  li\ed  so  long. 


JONATHAN   CO)>IBS. 

Jonathan  Comlis,  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  is  now 
hving  a  retired  life,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
rest  which  he  has  truly  earned  and  richly 
deserves  by  reason  of  his  industrious  ef- 
forts of  former  years.  Accomplishment 
and  progress  ever  imply  labor,  energy  and 
diligence,  and  it  was  those  qualities  that 
enabled  our  subject  to  rise  from  the  ranks 
■of  the  many  and  stand  among  the  success- 
ful fev.-. 

Air.  Combs  was  born  in  Adelphi.  Ross 


county,  Ohio,  March  I'l,  1829,  and  is  a  son 
of  Joshua  and  Sarah  (Braucher)  Combs, 
the  former  a  native  of  Bucks  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Pick-away  county. 
Ohio,  where  their  marriage  was  celebrated. 
The  father,  \\ho  was  a  farmer  and  carpen- 
ter by  occupation,  continuetl  to  make  his 
home  in  the  Bucke}-e  state  throughout  life, 
but  died  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son  Jonathan 
in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  in  1863.  The 
mother  died  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  the 
\ear  previous. 

Our  subject  accpiired  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  the  school-house  being  of  logs,  with 
a  window  at  each  end  and  the  primitive 
methods  of  teaching  being  in  vogue.  In 
early  life  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  fourteen  years.  On 
the  7th  of  January,  1849.  he  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar  Miss  Ann  Rose,  of  Ross  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Rose.  Six  children 
blessed  this  uniim.  namely :  Nelson,  who 
died  in  Cedar  c<.)unty.  ^Missouri,  in  1888, 
leaving  six  children:  Alary  .\..  wife  of  W. 
D.  Ross,  who  lives  in  Puyallup  Valley, 
Washington:  Sarah,  wife  of  J.  B.  Harri- 
son, a  farmer,  of  Logan  county,  Illinois ; 
August  S.,  a  carpentefr,  of  Alt.  Puilaski ; 
Eliza  J.,  wife  of  Samuel  C.  Dawson,  who 
lives  on  the  tild  homestead  in  Chester  town- 
ship, this  county:  and  Catherine,  wife  of 
Eugene  Sheer,  a  \\agon-maker,  of  Lincoln. 

After  his  marriage  Air.  Combs  resided 
in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  until  the  fall  of 
i860,  when  he  came  to  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  in  Chester  township,  where 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild  land  for 
eleven  dollars  and  a  quarter  per  acre.  There 
was  not  a  stick  of  timber  upon  the  place. 
His  first  home  here  was  a  four-room  house, 
but  as  the  vears  iiassed  he  made  manv  im- 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


JONATHAN   COMBS. 


MRS.  JONATHAN    COMBS. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


provenients  upon  the  farm  and  added  to  it 
until  he  had  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
under  a  liigh  state  of  cultivation  and  ecjuip- 
ped  with  a  good  set  of  farm  buildings.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  stock  raising,  making 
a  specialty  of  a  high  grade  of  short-horn 
cattle.  Besides  the  old  homestead  he  now 
owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Laenna  township  and  sixty  acres  in  Mt. 
Pulaski  township,  making  six  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  this  county,  and  he 
also  has  eighty  acres  in  Sangamon  county, 
and  eighty  acres  in  the  state  of  Washington. 
In  order  to  give  his  children  better  ad- 
vantages INIr.  Combs  removed  from  the 
farm  to  Mt.  Pulaski  in  December.  1877.  and 
has  since  made  his  home  in  that  village, 
where  he  bought  a  good  home,  surrounded 
by  a  whole  block  of  ground.  In  1879  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Z.  K.  Wood,  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Wood  &  Combs 
they  successfully  engaged  in  buying  and 
shipping  grain  of  all  kinds,  having  elevators 
at  Mt.  Pulaski.  Chestnut  and  Latham.  In 
1898  Mr.  Combs  sold  out  and  has  since 
practically  lived  a  retired  life,  though  he 
still  looks  after  his  farming  interests,  and  is 
a  busy,  energetic  man.  He  has  some  city 
property,  including  his  pleasant  home,  which 
is  complete  in  all  its  appointments.  In 
business  affairs  he  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful, and  his  success  is  but  the  just  re- 
ward of  his  own  untiring  labors,  close  appli- 
cation and  good  management,  as  he  is  a 
man  of  exceptionally  good  business  and 
executive  ability.  He  now  rents  all  of  his 
farm  land.  In  politics  Mr.  Combs  has  been 
a  stanch  Republican  since  the  organization 
of  the  party,  and  gives  his  support  to  all 
measures  which  he  l)elieves  will  prove  of 
public  benefit.     Mr.  Combs  has  been  an  ex- 


tensive traveler,  and  has  been  in  every  state 
and  territory  west  of  Buffalo  except  three, 
and  still  finds  that  central  Illinois  has  the 
l^est  farming  lands  of  any  place  he  ever 
visited.  When  on  a  visit  west  Mrs.  Combs 
died  at  San  Francisco.  January  15,  1899, 
and  was  interred    in  Mt.  Pulaski  cemeterv. 


GEORGE  H.  OUISEXBERRY. 

Among  the  worthy  citizens  of  Oran 
township  none  are  more  deserving  of  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume  than  George  H. 
Ouisenberry,  who  for  many  years  has  been 
connected  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  community,  and  who  has,  through  his 
well-directed  efforts,  gained  a  handsome 
competence  that  numbers  him  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  township.  Mr. 
Ouisenberry  was  born  in  Logan  county,  No- 
vember 10,  1 86 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Arthur  and 
Polly  (Burt)  Ouisenberry,  both  natives  of 
Kentucky,  the  former  born  in  the  fall  of 
1835  and  the  latter  in  Septemljer.  1840. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Ed- 
ward Sanford  Ouisenberry,  was  a  Virginian 
by  birth,  and  came  to  this  state  with  his  fam- 
ily in  the  fall  of  1835.  During  his  boyhood 
Arthur  Ouisenberry  received  a  good  educa- 
tion for  those  days  and  was  reared  to  habits 
of  industry.  He  became  one  of  the  foremost 
farmers  of  his  community,  a  man  of  good 
business  and  executive  ability,  and  is  now 
able  to  spend  his  declining  years  in  ease  and 
quiet  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Lincoln,  hav- 
ing retired  from  active  labor. 

Our  subject  also  received  good  educa- 
tional advantages,  attending  first  the  com- 
mon schools  and  later  the  Lincoln  high 
schnril  and  tlic  Lincoln  L'niversitv.     In  1886 


438 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  began  his  business  career  as  a  farmer  on 
his  fatlier's  farm  in  Eminence  township. 
where  lie  remained  until  i8qj,  wlien  he  re- 
moved to  liis  prcsfiil  pl.-u'c  ill  (  >ran  Inwnsliip, 
where  lie  has  four  luiiidrcd  and  lifly  acres  of 
rich  and  arable  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  pleasantly  located  only  a  few 
miles  southeast  nf  Atlanta.  He  is  a  ve\y 
\\idc-a\\ak"e  and  energetic  business  man  and 
is  meeting  wUli  excellent  success  in  his  un- 
dertakings. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  iS88,  .Air,  Quisen- 
berry  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  E. 
G.  McCormick,  a  daughter  of  James  Mc- 
Cormick.  a  nali\e  of  Sc<itland,  and  three 
children  bless  this  uuinn.  namely:  Lawrence 
B.,  born  September  28,  1889:  Pauline,  born 
February  24,  1891 ;  and  Harold,  born  No- 
vember 12,  1893.  Mr.  Ouisenberry  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  ]iart_\-,  but  has 
never  cared  for  political  lunKirs,  preferring 
rather  to  devote  his  un(li\'idtd  attentiDU  to 
his  business  interests.  Iveen  discriinination. 
unflagging  industry  and  resolute  purpose  are 
numbered  asnong  his  salient  characteristics, 
and  to  these  may  1)e  attributed  his  success  in 
life,  while  the  prosperity  he  has  won  is  but 
the  merited  reward  of  honest  effort.  His 
pleasing  manner  makes  him  many  friends, 
and  he  is  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all 


JOHN  L.  MEISTER. 

John  L.  [Meister,  of  ]\It.  Pulaski,  comes 
from  the  fatherland,  and  the  strongest  and 
most  creditable  characteristics  of  the  Teu- 
tonic race  have  been  marked  elements  in  his 
life  and  have  enabled  him  to  win  success. 
He  possesses  the  energy  and  determination 


which  mark  the  people  of  Germany,  and  hy 
the  exercise  of  his  powers  he  has  steadily 
i:ros]5ered  and  has  not  only  won  a  handsome 
competence  luit  has  c<jmmanded  uni\'ersal 
respect. 

Mr.  Meister  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, March  2,  1839,  and  in  1845  came  to 
America  with  his  parents,  George  and  Cath- 
erine IMeister.  Landing  in  New  York  City, 
the  famil}-,  including  two  children,  at  once 
procee(le<l  to  Cincinnati,  (  )hii),  where  they 
spent  the  fdllowing  winter  and  then  went  to 
St.  L.iuis,  .\h\s..iiri.  and  fn.m  there  up  the 
Mississippi  rucr  tn  I'ekin,  Illinois,  whence 
l)y  wagon  they  came  ti)  Mt.  Pulaski.  Here 
the  father  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  for  thirty  years.  He  died  in  1897, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  his  wife  in 
1885,  at  an  advanced  age.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  fi\-e  children,  namely:  John  L.,  our 
subject;  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Krieg; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Suelmeier;  Henry, 
a  farmer  of  i\It.  Pulaski;  and  Solomon,  a 
resident  of  Mt.  Pulaski. 

During  his  early  life  John  L.  ]\[eistei- 
attended  school  for  about  three  months  dur- 
ing the  winters,  and  after  completing  his 
education  worked  in  his  father's  lirickyard 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  In  1862  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  iMiss  IMary 
Long,  who  was  also  liorn  in  Germany. 
I'bey  ha\e  two  sons  living:  John  H.,  wdio- 
is  a  resident  of  Alt.  Pulaski;  and  Fred  W., 
bookkeeper  in  the  Scroggins  Bank  of  Mt. 
Pulaski.  George  S.  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-si.x  years. 

Throughout  his  Imsiness  career  Mr. 
Meister  has  been  more  or  less  interested  in 
farming,  and  has  accpiired  considerable 
property,  including  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  valuable  farm  land  in  Logan  county, 
which  he  now  rents.     He  also  has  eight  bun- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dred  and  forty-eight  acres  of  land  in  Sanga- 
mon county,  Illinois,  and  other  property  in 
Kansas,  besides  his  fine  residence  in  Mt. 
Pulaski.  His  land  is  now  well  inipnned 
and  very  valuable.  The  record  of  his  early 
life  is  that  of  an  active,  enterprising, 
methodical  and  sagacious  business  man,  and 
he  can  now  afford  to  lay  aside  all  business 
cares  and  enjoy  a  well-earned  rest.  Swi- 
ally  Mr.  Meister  is  a  prominent  Knight  Tem- 
plar Mason,  belonging  to  Mt.  Pulaski  Lodge. 
Xo.  87.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Mt.  Pulaski  Chapter. 
R.  A.  M.:  and  Mt.  Pulaski  Commandery. 
K.  T.  While  a  prominent  Democrat,  he  has 
held  no  office. 


WILLIAM  MARKWORTH. 

One  of  the  leading  German-American 
citizens  of  Lincoln  is  ^\■illiam  3tIarkworth. 
r.  dealer  in  wood,  who  was  born  in  Bruns- 
wick. Germany,  on  the  25th  of  April.  183 1. 
His  parents.  Gustavus  and  Caroline  ( Boek- 
man)  Markworth.  si)ent  their  entire  lives  in 
that  country.  His  father  was  an  attorney, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  served  as  state's 
attorney,  the  appointment  to  that  office  being 
for  life  in  Germany,  which  position  is  only 
given  to  men  of  prominence  in  their  pro- 
fession. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  de- 
scended from  a  good  old  family. 

Mr.  Markworth,  who  is  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  began  his  education  in  a 
Jewish  institute,  which  was  the  best  school 
in  his  locality.  Later  he  entered  the  gym- 
nasium at  Brunswick,  where  he  was  a  student 
from  the  age  of  thirteen  to  eighteen  years, 
and  he  later  ser\-ed  twelve  months  in  the 
German  army  as  a  volunteer  during  the 
Schlcswig-Holstein  war. 


Determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  new 
world,  Mr.  Markworth  sailed  from  the  port 
of  Bremen  in  1851,  and  after  a  voyage  of 
six  weeks  landed  in  New  York  on  Pentecost 
morning.  He  first  located  at  South  Orange, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  was  employed  as  an 
attendant  in  a  water  cure  for  a  time.  He 
then  came  west  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  up 
the  Mississippi  river  to  Galena,  Illinois,  and 
from  there  proceeded  to  Springfield,  this 
state,  where  he  found  employment  in  a  drug 
store,  having  previously  learned  that  busi- 
ness. After  spending  eighteen  months  there 
he  went  to  Galveston.  Texas,  where  he  also 
engaged  in  clerking  in  a  drug  store  for  a 
time,  and  next  held  the  position  of  agent  and 
collectc.r  on  the  Galveston  News.  In  1856 
he  returned  to  Springfield.  Illinois,  and 
clerked  in  a  drug  store  until  the  following 
year,  when  he  came  to  Lincoln.  In  this 
county  he  first  w  orked  as  a  harvest  hand,  but 
in  the  fall  of  1858  entered  the  employ  of 
Kelso  &  Boren.  of  Lincoln,  with  whom  he 
remained  some  time.  Mr.  Markworth  next 
engaged  in  getting  out  timber  for  railroads^ 
and  coal  shafts.  He  also  opened  a  brick 
yard,  being  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick  for  fifteen  years,  and  he  made  most  of 
the  brick  for  the  Illinois  Asylum  for  Feeble 
Minded  Children,  the  poor  house  and  many 
other  buildings  in  Lincoln.  He  has  since 
engaged  in  contracting  with  the  railroad  to 
furnish  timbers,  ties,  piles  and  bridge  tim- 
bers. In  business  affairs  he  has  steadily 
prospered  through  his  upright,  honorable 
dealings.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  perception 
and  unbounded  enterprise,  and  his  success  is 
entirely  due  to  his  own  well-directed  efforts. 
Mr.  Markworth  was  elected  supervisor  for 
his  township,  and  during  his  incumbency  the 
county  jail  was  erected,  he  Iteing  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  public  buildings. 


440 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


]Mr.  Markworth  was  married  in  April, 
i860,  to  Aliss  Augusta  Richter,  of  Lincoln, 
a  daughter  of  Frederick  Richter,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children :  Oscar,  who  is 
witli  his  father;  Emma,  at  home;  ]\Iinnie. 
wife  of  ]\Iark  MacEndree,  of  Chicago;  and 
William,  at  home.  ]\Irs.  INIarkworth  died 
September  21,  1886.  They  were  members 
of  the  E\-angelical  Lutheran  church,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  first  organizers  and 
a  liberal  supporter. 


J.  DAXIEL  CURRY. 

J.  Daniel  Curry,  familiarly  known  as 
Uncle  Dan  bv  the  younger  generation  and 
his  ntanv  friends  throughout  Logan  county, 
is  now  practically  living  retired  on  the  old 
homestead  in  East  Lincoln  township,  where 
he  has  resided  continuously  since  1835.  He- 
was  born  in  Grant  cnunt}-.  Kentucky.  Janu- 
ary 13,  1S22.  His  father,  Nicholas  Curry, 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  was  only  fifteen 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America. 
Settling  in  Kentucky,  he  there  married  Misr. 
Elizabeth  Robinson,  a  native  of  that  state, 
and  in  1829  they  came  with  their  family  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Scott  county,  where, 
in  tlie  midst  of  the  timber,  the  father  cleared 
and  improved  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  with  the 
assistance  of  his  children.  There  he  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  his  wife  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight.  Ten  children  were 
horn  to  them,  but  only  two  are  now  living, 
namely:  J.  Daniel,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch:  and  Ellen,  wife  of  William  Merris, 
who  lives  near  Decatur,  Illinois.  Three  of 
the  family  died  in  early  childhood. 

Our  subject  was  only  seven  years  old  on 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  Scott  county. 


Illinois.  His  early  educational  advantages 
were  limited  to  a  few  months'  attendance  at 
the  primitive  schools  found  in  this  state  dur- 
ing his  boyhood.  These  structures  were 
built  of  logs  and  seated  with  slab  benches. 
Lea\ing  Ikjuic  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
commenced  wnrking  as  a  farm  hand,  and 
two  years  later  went  to  Missouri,  where  the 
following  two  years  were  passed.  He  then 
returned  to  Illinois,  and  continued  to  work 
by  the  month  for  seven  years,  receiving  ten 
dollars  per  month  during  the  summer  and 
eight  dnllars  in  winter.  Saving  his  money, 
he  was  at  length  able  to  purchase  twn  hun- 
dred acres  (if  land  in  Scott  county,  fur  which 
he  i)aid  ten  dollars  per  acre,  and  at  once 
turned  his  attention  to  the  imiiroxement  and 
cultivation  of  the  property-. 

In  1847  Mr.  Curry  was  married  in  Scntt 
county  to  Miss  Maria  Green,  a  nati\e  oi 
England,  who  was  only  two  years  old  when 
brought  to  this  country,  and  is  now  seventy- 
three  vears  of  age.  For  over  fifty  years 
thev  have  now  traveled  life's  journey  to- 
gether, sharing  its  joys  and  sorrows,  its  ad- 
versity and  prosperity,  and  in  1897  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding. 

i\Ir.  Curry  came  to  Logan  county  in 
1855  and  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twentv  acres  of  land  on  section  16.  East 
Lincoln  township,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  He  has  transformed  the  wild  prairie 
into  a  most  beautiful  and  highly  cultivated 
farm,  making  all  of  the  improvements  upon 
his  place,  which  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farms  of  the  locality.  Every  dollar 
that  he  possesses  he  has  made  through  his 
own  industry  and  good  management  and  the 
assistance  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  has 
indeed  proved  a  true  helpmate  to  him.  En- 
joying good  health,  he  has  been  a  hard 
worker,  and  has  accumulated   six  hundred 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  nineiy  acres  of  valuable  and  well-im- 
proved land,  for  which  he  has  paid  from 
twenty  to  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  his 
hojiie  place  costing  twenty  dollars.  .\t  one 
time  he  raised  considerable  stock,  but  he  now 
rents  his  land  and  lives  retired  upon  the 
original  homestead,  enjoying  the  fruits  o! 
fomier  toil. 

During  his  long  residence  in  this  comity 
Mr.  Curry  has  witnessed  almost  its  entire 
dexelopment  and  upbuilding,  and  has  ever 
Ixjrne  his  part  in  the  work  of  improvement. 
He  is  to-day  the  second  oldest  resident  of 
East  Lincoln  township,  it  having  been  his 
home  iminterruptedly  for  over  forty-six 
years,  and  he  is  one  of  its  most  honored  and 
highly  respected  citizens.  He  has  never 
sought  political  prominence,  but  as  a  public- 
spirited  and  enterprising  citizens  gives  his 
support  to  all  interests  designed  to  promote 
the  general  welfare  or  for  the  public  good. 
He  is  a  supporter  of  all  churches,  and  gives 
lil)erally  to  public  enterprises  calculated  to 
advance  the  social,  educational  and  moral 
ir.terests  of  his  communitv. 


WILLIAM  P.  MATLOCK. 

Among  the  prosperous  citizens  of  Orvil 
township  is  \\illiam  P.  Matlock,  one  of 
the  largest  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Lo- 
gan county.  Illinois,  who  resides  on  section 
I .  and  has  lived  in  this  locality  since  he  was 
two  years  of  age.  He  has  grown  up  with 
the  community  and  is  thoroughly  identified 
with  its  best  interests. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in 
Monroe  county.  Indiana.  Xoveml)er  7.  1850. 
and  he  is  a  son  of  John  and  Martha  (  Glenn ) 
Matlock.     John  Matlock  was  Ixjrn  in  Bloom- 


ington,  Indiana,  November  19,  1828.  and 
his  wife  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Sep- 
tember 10.  1828.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  George  Matlock,  also  of  Indi- 
ana, who  came  to  Illinois  in  the  early  pioneer 
days  but  later  returned  to  Indiana,  where 
he  died  John  MatUxk,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  came  to  Logan  county  in  1852  and 
settled  on  section  3,  Orvil  township,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  six  years  and  then 
removed  to  section  2  and  lived  six  years 
inore.  After  this  he  located  upon  the  farm, 
on  section  2,  where  his  widow  now  resides, 
and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Februarv-  2-j, 
1888.  His  widow  now  resides  on  the  old 
homestead.  Mr.  ^latlock  added  to  his  first 
purchase  of  eighty  acres  until  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty-four  acres  of  rich  farming  land. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  John  Mat- 
lock and  his  wife,  namely :  William  P. ; 
Sarah  A.,  who  lives  with  her  mother :  Mary 
Jane,  deceased  wife  of  Henry  Miller,  of  this 
county,  who  now  resides  in  Missouri :  Belle, 
wife  of  Theodore  Smallwood.  of  Orvil  town- 
ship: Margaret  A.,  wife  of  Charles  Mount^ 
joy,  of  Chase  county,  Nebraska :  Frances 
Alvira,  who  lives  with  her  mother;  Charles 
H.,  who  married  Flora  A.  Ryan,  now  de- 
ceased, and  resides  upon  one  of  the  farms 
near  our  subject. 

Until  his  marriage  our  subject  assisted 
his  father  ujxjn  the  home  farm  and  then  con- 
ducted the  farm  for  a  few  years  upon  shares. 
He  then  moved  to  his  present  farm  on  section 
I,  where  he  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  acres  of  land.  He  also  owns 
fortv  acres  on  section  35  and  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising  on  Iwth 
pieces  of  property. 

Mr.   Matlock  was  married  in    1872   to 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


^liss  Adra  W'estfall,  of  this  county,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sarah  (Carnahan)  West- 
fall,  who  were  farming  people  of  Orvil  town- 
ship. The  mother  is  now  deceased  and  the 
father  resides  on  a  farm  in  Sedgwick  county, 
Kansas.  I\Ir.  and  ]Mrs.  Matlock  are  the 
parents  of  tive  children,  namely  :  Effie,  wife 
of  Dr.  Kilby,  of  ilackinaw,  Illinois;  Xellie, 
wife  of  Otis  Rogers,  of  Hartsburg,  this 
county;  Claude,  who  resides  at  home;  an 
infant  who  died;  John  P.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years. 

In  politics  I\Ir.  Matlock  is  a  Republican 
and  supports  the  candidates  of  his  party. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Lodge  Xo.  549,  of  Emden.  The 
family  are  all  members  of  the  Bethel  Chris- 
1ian  church  of  Onil  township,  and  are  very 
highly  respected  in  the  community  in  which 
the}'  reside. 

PHILIP  GRUEXSFELDER. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  of  Prairie 
Creek  township,  Logan  count}-,  Illinois,  is 
Philip  Gruensfelder,  who  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  county  since  1867  but  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  having  been  born  there  April  3, 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(AVysebrodt)  Gruensfelder,  both  natives  of 
German}-,  who  came  to  America  in  1846  and 
settled  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  for  a  short 
time,  but  then  mo\-ed  to  Pekin,  and  in  1867 
located  in  Prairie  Creek  township,  this  coun- 
ty. A  short  time  before  his  death  the  father 
removed  to  ]\Iason  county,  where  he  died  in 
1896,  and  the  mother  died  in  April,  1900. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Philip;  Christina,  wife  of  John  Philip 
Adolph,  of  :Mason  county:  Elizabeth,  \vho 
resides  in  ^lason  county  with  her  sister.  .Ml 
Avere  well  educated  in  the  common  schools. 


Our  subject  was  only  two  years  of  age 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Mason  coun- 
ty, and  here  he  grew  up  on  the  farm.  Later 
he  removed  to  Pekin,  Illinois,  and  lived  there 
a  short  time,  but  soon  went  to  Spring  Lake, 
Illinois,  and  thence  to  Woodford,  Illinois, 
After  a  sliort  residence  in  the  last  named 
place  he  returned  to  Pekin  and  there  engaged 
in  teaming  and  farming  until  1867,  when  he 
settled  in  Prairie  Creek  township,  Logan 
county,  near  his  present  farm,  on  section  32. 
Si-x  years  ago  he  removed  to  his  present  fine 
farm  on  section  6,  and  now  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land,  which  he  has 
greatly  improved  and  on  which  he  carries  on 
general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

On  August  15,  1862,  Mr.  Gruensfelder 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  in  that 
company  until  March  3,  1863,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged  and  transferred  to 
Company  K,  but  remained  with  Company  E, 
under  Captain  Bulk  and  Colonel  John  War- 
ner. The  regiment  was  assigned  to  garrison 
and  guard  duty,  so  he  only  participated  in 
the  skirmishes  during  their  march  through 
Kentucky.  Although  he  did  his  full  duty  as 
a  soldier,  he  was  never  wounded,  though 
suffered  from  the  effects  of  the  hardships 
and  climate  and  was  confined  at  the  hospital 
at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  was  later  trans- 
ferred to  the  hospital  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  on 
December  25,  1863,  remaining  there  until  he 
was  discharged,  March  3,  1864,  when  he 
returned  to  Woodford,  Illinois. 

In  1872  our  subject  married  ]\Iiss  ^[ary 
Fisher,  of  this  county,  step-daughter  of 
Henrv  Switzer,  now  deceased.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gruensfelder  have  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, namelv  :  John,  who  married  Annie 
Smith,  lives  in  Prairie  Creek  township; 
Henrv.    who    resides    in    the    same    town- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


443 


ship;  Charles,  Christina,  Philip,  Jr.,  Katie, 
Paulina,  Mary  Lydia  and  Louis,  all  at 
home;  two  infants,  who  died  unnamed; 
and  Willie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year. 
This  interesting  family  is  one  of  which  both 
father  and  mother  may  well  be  proud,  and 
when  these  good  people  are  surrounded  by 
their  children  and  grandchildren  there  is 
much  food  for  reflection  upon  the  powerful 
effect  good  example  and  careful  training  has 
upon  the  coming  generations.  The  influence 
e.xerted  by  two  good,  conscientious.  Chris- 
tian people  is  almost  untlying,  for  it  lives 
after  them  almost  indefinitely. 

Mr.  Gruensfelder  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  while  always  supporting  the  candi- 
dates of  his  party,  he  has  never  felt  that  he 
had  the  time  to  spare  to  accept  nomination 
at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  well  as 
he  is  fitted  for  office,  being  just  the  kind  of 
a  man  who  should  hold  the  affairs  of  state 
in  his  hands,  as  he  is  thoroughly  honorable 
and  steadfast  in  the  discharge  of  what  he 
considers  his  duty.  Both  he  and  his  most 
estimable  wife  are  very  earnest  members  of 
the  German  Methodist  church  of  San  Jose. 
All  of  his  life  our  subject  has  been  a 
hard-working,  industrious  man,  and  that  his 
eft'orts  have  been  crowned  with  success  his 
delightful  home,  surrounded  with  beautiful 
shade  trees,  set  in  the  midst  of  fertile  fields 
and  supplied  with  every  con\  enience,  demon- 
strates, as  well  as  the  high  respect  and  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  all  who  know  him  and 
honor  his  past  as  a  brave,  loyal,  patriotic 
soldier,  a  true-hearted  private  citizen,  a  kind 
and  generous  neighbor,  a  devoted  father  and 
husband  and  a  devout  and  liberal  member 
and  supporter  of  the  church  of  which  he  has 
been  one  of  the  pillars  for  many  years.  Mrs. 
Gruensfelder,  in  caring  for  their  children 
and  rearing  them  to  useful  manhood  and 


womanfiood,  assisting  her  husband  in  his 
many  enterprises  in  the  home,  the  church 
and  for  the  good  of  the  community,  has 
proven  herself  a  worthy  helpmate  for  our 
subject. 


ALLEX  HAIXLIXE. 

After  years  of  honest  toil,  mostly  de- 
voted to  agricultural  pursuits,  Allen  Hain- 
line  is  now  living  a  retired  life  upon  his  farm 
in  Eminence  township.  He  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  Tazewell  county,  December 
1 8,  1840,  and  is  one  of  the  four  children  in 
the  family  of  Green  and  Esther  (Allen) 
Hainline.  His  maternal  grandfather  was 
Solomon  Allen,  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth, 
who  followed  farming  throughout  his  active 
business  life  and  spent  his  declining  years  in 
Springfield,  Illinois,  in  ease  and  quiet,  dying 
in  that  city  about  1870.  He  was  quite  a 
prominent  and  influential  man  of  his  com- 
munity, and  was  elected  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture. Henry  Hainline,  our  subject's  pater- 
nal grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky 
and  a  representati\e  of  one  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies of  that  state.  Green  Hainline,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  also  lx)rn  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  1 816,  and  in  the  early  '303  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  the  family  lo- 
cating in  Hittle's  Grove,  Tazewell  Cdunty, 
where  he  subsequently  took  up  land  and  fol- 
lowed farming  with  marked  success  until  his 
death,  which -occurred  March  18.  1901. 

During  his  boyhood  Allen  Hainline  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  home,  and  when  not  in  school  worked 
with  his  father  in  the  fields  until  he  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  began  farming  on  his 
own  account.     When  the  Civil  war  broke 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


out  lie  offered  his  services  to  the  country, 
enhsting  in  1862  in  Company  E,  Seventh 
IIHnois  Vokuiteer  Infantry,  untler  Captain 
J(_ihn  A.  Smith,  and  immediately  went  south. 
He  participated  in  many  engagements,  in- 
chiding  the  fight  at  AUoona  Pass,  where, 
out  of  a  company  of  eighty-six,  seventy-three 
were  either  killed  or  wounded.  He  re- 
mained in  the  ser\  ice  until  luistilities  ceased, 
and  was  honorahly  discharged  in  Jul}-,  1865. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Logan  county 
Mr.  Hainline  resuiued  farming,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  that 
occupation,  though  he  is  now  practically  li\- 
ing  a  retired  life.  He  owns  a  good  farm  in 
Eminence  township,  where  he  continues  to 
make  liis  home.  On  the  22(1  of  Alarch. 
1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  !Miss 
Anna  M.  Judy,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Jud)-, 
who  is  one  of  Logan  count_\-'s  oldest  and 
uKJst  highly  respected  citizens,  being  now  in 
his  ninety-eighth  year,  and  who  now  makes 
his  home  in  Atlanta. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hainline  were  born 
the  following  children :  Lida,  born  August 
10,  1867.  is  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Bishop,  who  is 
now  li\'ing  in  North  Dakota  ;  Carrie  ^l..  burn 
June  17,  1869,  is  the  wife  of  ^\'.  A.  Sum- 
mers, of  the  same  state:  Imogenc,  JKjrn  De- 
cember 15,  i87r,  is  the  wife  of  A.  C.  Houser, 
also  a  resident  of  North  Dakota;  \\'alter  J., 
born  October  18,  1873,  married  Chloe  Schec- 
ter,  of  Ddnville,  Illinois,  and  is  now  living 
in  North  Dakota;  and  Anna  G.,  born  June 
16,  1876,  is  the  wife  of  Eugene  Schults,  and 
they  reside  on  the  nld  hduiestead  with  our 
subject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hainline  are  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Eminence  Christian  church,  and 
he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Prohibition 
]iarty.  As  a  citizen  he  has  always  been  true 
and  faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  so 


that  his  loyalty  is  above  question,  being  man- 
ifested in  days  of  peace  as  well  as  when  he 
followed  the  old  flag  to  victory  on  southern 
battlefields.  He  was  formerl_\-  a  memljer  of 
Armington  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  which  is  no 
longer  in  existence. 


JOHN   A.   CRITCH FIELD. 

John  A.  Critchfield,  one  (if  the  honored 
early  settlers  of  this  county,  \vho  is  miw  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Broadwell,  was  born 
March  i,  1834,  in  Na.shville,  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Elza  and 
Fanny  (Miller)  Critchfield,  both  of  whom 
died  when  our  subject  was  only  fi\-e  }ears 
old.  The  father  was  of  German  descent 
and  a  cooper  by  trade.  In  his  family  were 
three  children:  Jnhnsnn,  who  died  in  Ken- 
tucky of  chdlera  in  1S55:  John  A.,  of  this 
review;  and  Mary  S.,  wife  of  Henry  My- 
grants,  a  resident  of  W^'arren,  Indiana. 

After  the  death  of  their  parents  the  sons 
went  to  live  with  their  mother's  brotlier, 
Uncle  John  ]\liller,  and  in  184.J  they  ac- 
companied him  on  his  removal  to  southern 
Illinois.  He  was  a  caljinet  maker  and  car- 
penter by  trade.  Our  subject  received  his 
education  in  the  early  schools  of  this  state 
and  remained  with  his  uncle  until  about 
nineteen  years  of  age.  As  a  young  man  he 
made  a  business  of  breaking  cattle  for  turn- 
ing the  sod  on  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  and 
in  the  summer  would  hire  fiut  to  break 
])rairie.  On  leaving  the  home  of  his  uncle 
lie  was  employed  by  the  month  as  a  team- 
ster, tra\eling  to  and  from  St.  Louis,  being 
an  experienced  cattle  driver  at  that  time. 
His  services  were  always  in  demand,  and 
for  six  months  he  was  employed  by  a  ped- 
dler  in    Jefferson   county,   Illinois,     For   a 


J.   A.   CRITCHFIELD. 


UBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


time  lie  was  engaged  in  hauling  logs  to  St. 
Luuis  with  o.x-teams. 

The  winter  of  1853-4  Mr.  Critchlield 
spent  in  the  swamps  of  Louisiana.  On  his 
return  to  Illinois  he  purchased  a  team  and 
began  business  as  a  huckster,  traveling  be- 
tween St.  Louis  and  Jeflferson  county.  For 
r.  time  he  engaged  in  teaming  during  the 
Mimmer  months,  and  in  shipping  to  Xew 
Orleans  during  the  winter.  He  worked  at 
anything  by  which  he  could  earn  an  honest 
dollar  and  in  that  way  secured  a  start  in 
life. 

In  1858  Mr.  Critchheld  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Kline,  who  was 
living  with  her  parents  in  Logan  counfy. 
and  in  the  fall  after  their  marriage  the 
young  couple  settled  on  a  farm  in  this  coun- 
ty. Our  subject  iirst  came  to  this  locality 
in  1855  ^^■''^'^  ^  drover  from  Kentucky, 
and  remained  nearly  a.  year,  and  located 
permanently  here  in  1858.  He  improved 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  this  county, 
and  also  owns  one  of  eighty  acres  in  Ver- 
milion count}-,  and  forty  acres  in  Elkhart 
township,  which  he  bought  later,  besides 
his  home  place  of  one  hundred  acres  on 
section  34.  Broadwell  township.  He  has 
always  been  a  very  active  mati  and  success 
has  attended  his  v.ell-directed  and  energetic 
efforts.  Stock-raising  has  Ijeen  his  spe- 
cialty, and  he  has  found  that  business  quite 
profitable. 

Mr.  Critchfield's  first  wife  died  in  18S1. 
and  later,  in  1886,  he  married  Miss  Lucy 
M.  Lloyd,  who  was  born  in  Broadv.dll 
township  in  1857.  They  nov/  make  their 
home  in  the  village  of  Broadwell,  as  he  has 
retired  from  active  labor  and  can  enjoy  a 
v.ell  earned  rest. 

\\hen  Mr.  Critchfield  came  to  this 
ci'untv  th.ere  v.cre  but  few  settled  on  the 


prairie,  and  he  assisted  in  laying  out  some 
of  the  roads.  He  was  the  first  supervisor  of 
Broadwell  township.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held 
school  offices  for  several  years.  Politically 
lie  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  has  capably  discharged 
the  duties  of  every  office  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill.  Since  a  young  man  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  and  now  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  lodge  at  Elkhart,  and  has 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  in  both  that 
and  the  blue  lodge  of  the  Masonic,  frater- 
nity at  the  same  place.  Religiously  he  is  a 
prominent  member  and  an  elder  in  the 
Christian  church,  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school,  and  has  been  vice-president  of  the 
County  Sunday  School  A.ssociation.  He 
has  always  given  liberally  to  the  support 
of  all  church  and  philanthropic  work,  and 
has  taken  great  delight  in  aiding  those  in 
rieed.  His  life  has  been  manly,  his  actions 
sincere,  and  his  example  is  well  worthv  of 
emulation. 


FRANK  HOERR. 


Frank  Hoerr.  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  most  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  .vtlanta  township.  He  was  born 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  on  the  24th 
of  June,  1835,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
oight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
whose  parents  were  John  and  Katherine 
(Bitch)  Hoerr,  also  natives  of  that  place. 
The  father  died  when  our  subject  was  onlv 
twelve  years  old  and  the  mother  subsequently 
married  John  Bauers.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1866. 

Mr.  Hoerr  lived  at  home  with  his  ni..ilier 


448 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  steiD-father  until  sc\L-nleen  years  of  age, 
when  he  decided  In  try  his  fcjrtime  in  the 
new  world.  It  was  in  1X3J  that  he  cro.ssed 
the  hroad  Atlantic,  and  after  spending  two 
weeks  in  Xew  York  went  to  (  )hiM,  where  he 
resided  with  his  uncle,  Valentine  Huerr,  for 
a  time,  lleing  anxious  to  emliark  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  he  made  his  way  farther 
"west  and  stopped  in  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
-where  he  found  employment  with  J.  ( iunlon, 
•of  Atlanta  township,  with  win  mi  he  remained 
two  years.  He  next  worked  f'  iv  A.  Rei>e  as 
ii  farm  hand  ijy  the  month,  rcceix  ing  a  sin.all 
compensation  for  his  ser\  ices.  While  in  the 
employ  of  these  gentlemen  he  li\ed  economi- 
cally and  managed  to  save  a  small  amount 
uf  money.  Mr.  Hoerr  then  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  which  he  followed  in  Atlanta 
for  four  years,  and  on  selling  out  at  the  end 
•of  that  time  he  resumed  farming,  operating 
•a  rented  farm  in  Atlanta  township  until 
1880,  \\hen  he  purchased  a  farm  comprisingi 
eighty  acres,  to  which  he  subsequently  added 
a  tract  of  twenty  acres,  and  still  later  a  tract 
of  eighty  acres,  making  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  all.  This  farm  is  still  the 
I'lome  of  the  family,  and  is  now  carried  on  by 
hisson,  John  II.,  who  was  appointed  admin- 
istrator of  the  est.ite  and  is  carefully  looking 
•  after  his  mother's  interests. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  iSdj,  Air.  Hoerr 
was  united  in  marriage  with  ]Miss  Rosina 
Kauzleiter,  who  was  also  horn  in  ("lermany, 
October  20,  1836,  and  is  a  daughter  oi 
Christian  K.  and  Barbara  ( Wohlfahrt ) 
Kautzleiter.  Her  father,  who  was  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  dieil  in  1870, 
and  the  mother  passed  awa\'  in  1880.  Mrs. 
Hoerr  emigrated  to  the  Lhiited  States  in 
1 85V).  By  her  marriage  to  our  subject  she 
became  the  mother  of  eight  chiklren,  three 
sons  and  fi\-e  daughters,  of  whom  four  died 
in  infancy.     Those  living  are  Elizaljeth,  now 


Mrs.  J.  AV.  Ililpert;  Emeline,  wife  of  L.  L. 
Groves;  and  Kathcrine  and  J<:ihn  H.,  both 
at  home  with  their  mother. 

Air.  Hoerr  died  January  15,  1899,  leav- 
ing a  host  of  \\arm  friends  as  well  as  his 
immediate  famil)-  to  mourn  his  loss.  His 
political  support  was  always  given  the 
Democratic  party,  and  he  was  a  devout 
member  of  the  German  Presbyterian  church. 
He  was  noted  for  his  liberality  and  kind 
deeds,  and  he  commanded  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  a  marked 
degree.  He  was  devoted  to  his  home  and 
family,  making  every  sacrifice  for  their  bene- 
fit, and  in  his  death  the  communitv  realized 
that  it  had  lost  a  valued  citizen.  His  widow 
is  a  member  of  the  JMangelical  Lutheran 
church  and  a  most  estimable  lady,  while  his 
children  hold  membership  in  the  Christian 
church. 


OSCAR  J.  LUCAS. 

With  wide  and  thor<jngh  experience  in 
the  banking  business  to  lit  him  for  his  pres- 
ent duties,  Oscar  J.  Lucas  is  now  conducting 
the  pri\ate  l)ank  owned  by  the  firm  of  A,  H. 
Lucas  &  Son,  his  father  being  the  senior 
partner.  This  institution  has  rapidly  found 
favor  with  the  business  pulilic  and  now  re- 
cei\-es  a  liberal  patronage.  It  is  under  the 
immediate  super\isi()n  of  the  gentleman 
\vhose  name  introduces  this  review  and  who 
is  widel}-  known  as  an  enterj)rising,  jirogress- 
i\-e  and  reliable  financier. 

Air.  Lucas  was  Iiorn  u])on  his  father's 
farm  in  Alt.  Pulaski  township,  August  22, 
]86j.  and  represents  a  prominent  old  family 
of  Logan  county,  his  parents  Iieing  .V.  H.and 
Mary  J:  (Brock)  Lucas,  and  he  their  only 
son.  The  father  was  born  in  this  county  in 
1833,  but  the  mother  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


449 


wlience  she  came  to  Illinois  in  her  early  girl- 
hood days.  Through  the  years  of  an  active 
business  career  A.  H.  Lucas  has  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  and  is  now  a  prosper- 
ous fanner  of  Logan  county,  owning  a  tract 
of  land  of  eight  hundred  acres.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  stockholders  and  directors  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  and  in 
1891  he  organized  the  Latham  Bank,  which 
is  the  only  bank  in  the  town,  and  of  which 
his  son  now  has  charge. 

Oscar  J.  Lucas  was  reared  and  educatetl 
in  Mt.  Pulaski  township,  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  there  and  later  continuing  his 
literary  course  in  the  Mt.  Pulaski  high 
school.  Subsequently  lie  prepared  for  busi- 
ness life  as  a  student  in  the  Gem  City  Com- 
mercial College,  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  and 
upon  completing  the  course  there  he  re- 
turned to  his  home,  and  for  two  years  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  to  farming.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  accepted  a 
]X)sition  in  the  Sangamon  County  Bank,  at 
Illiopolis.  where  he  remained  for  fifteen 
months,  when  he  entered  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  where  he  was  employed 
for  si.x  months.  He  ne.xt  became  agent  for 
the  Mt.  Pulaski  Grain  Company,  but  re- 
signed that  ixjsition  after  thirteen  months 
and  returned  to  the  First  National  Bank, 
where  he  remained  until  the  organization  of 
the  Latham  Bank,  when,  entering  into  part- 
nership with  his  father,  he  took  charge  of 
the  institution  and  has  since  been  its  man- 
ager, making  it  an  enterprise  worthy  of  tru.st 
and  patronage.  He  has  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  banking  business  in  all  its  de- 
partments and  is  an  enterprising,  wide- 
awake young  business  man. 

On  December  7,  1892,  Mr.  Lucas  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nettie  B.  Con- 
stant, of  Illiopolis.  who  died  December  12. 
1896.     On  the  25th  of  April,  1901,  he  was 


again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Esther  K.  Kiick,  of  Latham,  the  youngest 
daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Kiick,  her 
father  a  prominent  and  well-to-do  citizen  of 
Latham.  Mr.  Lucas  is  a  prominent  Mason, 
belonging  to  Latham  Lodge,  No.  853,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M. ;  Kedron  Chapter,  No.  139,  R.  A. 
M.,  of  Illiopolis,  Illinois;  and  Mt.  Pulaski 
Commandery,  No.  39,  K.  T. ;  has  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite 
in  Peoria  Consistory,  and  also  belongs  to 
iNIahommet  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
Peoria.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in 
Logan  cOunty,  with  the  exception  of  the  very- 
brief  period  spent  at  Illiopolis,  and  therefore 
he  is  widely  known.  ^Many  of  his  warmest 
friends  are  those  who  have  known  him  from 
boyhood — a  fact  which  indicates  that  his 
career  is  one  commanding  respect.  He  is  a 
prominent  representative  of  an  honored  pio- 
neer family  and  well  deserves  mention 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  his  native 
countw 


EDWARD  E.  RITTER. 

This  well-known  contractor  and  builder, 
of  whose  skill  many  notable  examples  are 
seen  in  Lincoln,  was  born  in  ^Mason  county, 
Illinois,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1866.  He 
is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of 
nine  children,  whose  parents  are  William  T. 
and  Elizabeth  (Richardson)  Ritter,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  Our  subject's  early  educational 
privileges  were  rather  limited,  as  he  was 
only  able  to  attend  school  about  three  months 
ciuring  the  year. 

Mr.  Ritter  grew  to  manhood  in  Lincoln, 
and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his 
father,  to  whom  he  gave  the  benefit  of  his 
labors  until  he  attained    his    majority.     He 


450 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


then  worked  as  a  journeyman  until  1896, 
when  he  commenced  contracting  and  build- 
ing on  his  own  account.  In  1901  he  erected 
the  Deaconess  Home  and  Hospital,  at  a  cost 
of  twenty-three  thousand  dollars.  The  hos- 
pital is  one  hundred  and  six  feet  front,  is 
three  stories  in  height,  with  basement,  and 
contains  seventy-five  rooms.  It  is  supplied 
with  all  modern  impro\ements.  is  heated  by 
steam  and  lighted  by  electricity  and  gas. 
This  magnificent  structure  is  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran Association. 

On  the  5th  of  Septemljcr.  1889.  Mr.  Rit- 
ter  was  united  in  marriage  with  !Miss  Mar- 
garet ^\■elsh,  who  was  born  in  Champaign. 
Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Susan  (Bk;wer)  Welsh,  old  and  honored 
citizens  of  this  place.  By  this  union  were 
born  four  children,  namely:  Mabel.  Rich- 
ard P..  Helen  and  Ella  Lee.  The  family 
residence  is  at  No.  225  Fourth  street,  Lin- 
coln. Mr.  Ritter  is  a  promiiient  member 
and  past  sachem  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  ^len.  and  is  a  man  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  bv  all  who  know  iiim. 


TOHX  STRONG 


F(3r  sixty-five  years  this  gentleman  has 
been  numbered  among  the  honored  residents 
of  Logan  county,  his  home  being  in  Emi- 
nence township,  two  miles  west  of  Atlanta, 
and  as  an  agriculturist  he  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of 
the  county.  He  was  biirn  in  Greene  county, 
Ohio.  September  2.  1829,  and  is  one  of  the 
three  children  in  the  family  of  Sylvester  and 
Elizaljeth  (Downey)  Strong,  pioneers  of 
.Atlanta  township,  where  they  located  in 
1836,  on  an  eighty-acre  tract  secured  from 


the  government.  The  father  was  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  September  3,  1805,  and 
v>as  the  only  child  of  Nathaniel  and  Lois 
Strong.  As  his  father  died  previous  to  his 
liirth.  he  was  taken  in  infancy  by  an  uncle, 
Benjamin  Strong,  and  was  reared  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  his  educational  privileges 
being  meager.  On  reaching  manhood  he 
was  married  in  that  county,  November  6, 
1828,  to  iliss  Elizabeth  Downey,  who  was 
born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  September  3, 
1809,  and  was  a  daughter  of  James  and 
MarA-  Downey.  The  children  born  of  this 
union  were  as  follows:  John,  our  subject; 
;\iary  J.,  a  resident  of  Atlanta,  and  the  wife 
of  C.  M.  Turner;  and  Emma,  deceased  wife 
of  Andrew  Turner.  The  father  was  an  ex- 
cellent manager  and  was  very  successful  in 
his  farming  operations  after  coming  to  this 
county.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican, 
and  was  a  personal  friend  of  Abraliam  Lin- 
coln. He  made  his  home  in  Atlanta  town- 
ship until  his  death,  which  occurred  January 
4.  1900,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life  De- 
cember 29,  1898.  Thus  passed  away  two 
of  Logan  county's  most  prominent  pioneers 
and  highly  respected  citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about 
?>e\en  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  county,  and  his  early  life  was 
passed  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  the 
average  boy  in  a  frontier  settlement.  He 
received  a  good  country  school  education, 
and  aided  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  hom& 
farm  until  1854,  when  he  began  farming  for 
himself  en  the  one-hundred-and-sixty-acre 
tract  which  constitutes  his  present  fine  farm 
in  Eminence  township,  it  being  well  im- 
proved and  under  a  high  state  of  cultixation. 
It  is  situated  on  section  24.  township  21. 
range  2  west. 

On  the  25th  of  January.  1855.  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Strong  and  Miss 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


451 


Cerekla  Pratt,  a  daughter  of  Lanson  ami 
Sarah  (McMaiies)  Pratt.  He  wa.s  origin- 
ally from  \'ernioiit.  and  from  that  state  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  and  in  1854  he  located  in 
Atlanta  township,  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  resided  until  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Pratt  in  1856.  Later  he  married  again  and 
removeil  to  Fulton  county,  where  he  resided 
up  to  a  short  time  prior  to  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  Delavan,  Illint)is.  in  1884.  and 
liis  remains  are  interred  in  the  .\tlanta  cem- 
etery by  the  side  of  his  first  wife.  ilr.  Pratt 
was  a  school  teacher,  having  taught  for  over 
forty  years.  He  became  one  of  the  foremost 
educators  of  Ohio,  and  Prof.  David  Swing, 
of  Chicago,  was  one  of  his  puprls.  Four 
children  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Strong,  namely:     Anna  M..  bom  December 

-9-  i855-  's  ''"^^'^^'  ^'■'^  ^^''*^  '^'*  ^-  ^-  Fo&Sy  ''*"'^' 
a  resident  of  South  Dakota.  She  first  mar- 
ried Henry  Mc^^'hinney.  and  by  this  union 
had  one  son.  Clinton.  Ciiarles  F..  born  No- 
vember 5,  1837.  and  Lyman  T.,  born  A])ril 
4.  i860,  are  also  living  in  South  Dakota. 
Lucy  \\'.,  born  July  26.  1862.  is  now  matron 
of  the  Home  for  Feeble  Minded  Children  at 
Lincoln,  Illinois. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Strong  takes  quite 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local  poli- 
tics, and  has  efficiently  served  as  commis- 
sioner in  Eminence  township  nine  years,  as- 
sessor two  years  and  has  served  as  super- 
visor of  the  township  for  ten  years.  Mrs. 
Strong  holds  membership  in  the  Christian 
church,  and  both  stand  liigh  in  tlic  esteem  of 
their  fellow  citizens. 


T.\COB  MOTZ. 


'i'here  is  n<>  element  which  has  entered 
into  our  composite  national  life  which  has 
given  it  more  strength  than  that  furnished  l)y 


the  honest,  thrifty  and  ])erse\ering  sons  of 
(iermany.  Among  tl\c  multitudes  who  in 
their  youth  united  in' singing  the' "Watch  on 
the  Rhine.*"  then  left  its  crowded  shores  to 
help  swell  the  chorus  of  "America,"  was 
Jacob  Motz,who  was  born  in  Germany  June 
21.  1826,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children.  His  i)arents  lived  and  died  in  the 
Fatherland. 

Jacob  Motz  came  to  the  L'nited  .States  in 
1854  and  located  in  Ohio,  wiiere  he  engaged 
in  farming.  He  returned  to  Ciermany  in 
1859  and  remained  there  about  two  years. 
On  again  coming  to  the  L'nited  States  he 
settled  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
manufactured  brick  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing for  six  years.  Iii  the  fall  of  1866  he 
located  in  Atlanta  township,  where  he  made. 
l.is  home  for  eight  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Oran  township  and  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture. He  owned  land  in  both  Atlanta  and 
Oran  townships.  He  was  a  standi  sup- 
[icrter  of  the  Democratic  party. 

In  the  spring  of  i860  Mr.  Motz  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Tross, 
a  daughter  of  Christian  Ti^oss,  an  e.Ktensive 
grain  dealer  of  Germany.  Mr.  }ilotz  and  his 
wife  became  the  parents  of  three  children, 
one  (if  whom  died  in  infancy.  Their  daugh- 
ter Mary,  who  was  born  X<)\eniber  2.  1873, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Adolph  Gross  and  resides 
in  the  old  homestead.  Their  marriage  oc- 
curred January  14,  1900.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Gross,  as  well  as  himself,  were  originally 
from  Germany.  Fred  INIotz,  son  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  January  24,  1866,  and  also 
resides  at  home  with  his  aged  mother.  He 
carries  on  the  work  so  ably  begun  by  his  lum- 
nred  fatlier.  and  is  recognized  as  nnc  of  the 
leading  young  farmers  of  Logan  county, 
willing  at  all  times  to  assist  in  an_\-tliing  i)er- 
taining  to  the  gtxxl  of  his  county. 

Jacob  Motz  died  October  31.  1891.  at  his 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  in  Logan  county,  surrounded  by  those 
whom  he  lo\ed  and  for  whom  he  had  la- 
bored, and  by  them  his  memory  is  lovingly 
cherislied. 


JOHN  H.  LARISOX. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  and  prom- 
inent citizens  of  East  Lincohi  township  is 
John  H.  Larison,  vice-president  of  the  Lin- 
cohi  Logan  County  Farmers"  ^Mutual  Firo 
Insurance  Company.  He  claims  Illinois  as 
his  native  state,  his  birdi  having  occurred  in 
McLean  county.  September  30.  1848.  His 
parents,  James  M.  and  Margaret  C.  (Ham- 
mitt)  Larison,  were  among  the  honored  pio^ 
i:eers  of  this  section  of  the  state.  The 
father  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Ohio, 
March  17,  1812.  and  in  1830  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents,  Abel  and  Katie  Larison, 
the  family  locating  in  ^IcLean  county  on  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Bloomington.  then 
known  as  the  Blooming  Grove  settlement, 
wdiere  they  remained  one  winter,  the  follow- 
ing spring  taking  up  government  land  norfh 
of  W'aynesville,  on  which  they  resided  a 
number  of  years  and  where  the  grandmother 
died.  Her  husband,  Abel  Larison,  died  in 
Galena,  Illinois, and  the  only  member  of  their 
famly  now  li\ing  is  Abel  Larison,  Jr.,  aged 
eightv  years,  his  home  being  in  Atlanta 
township,  Logan  county,  on  land  wliich  he 
entered  ijrom  the  government.  The  paternal 
ancestors  of  our  subject  were  of  Danish 
origin,  and  the  maternal  of  Irish  extraction. 

James  M.  Larison  was  married  near 
A\'aynesville.  DeW'itt  county,  about  1834,  to 
I\Iiss  Margaret  Hammitt,  who  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  October  8,  18 14, 
and  had  come  west  with  her  parents  a  few 
months  prior  to  her  marriage.  In  1835  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Larison  removed  to  Brooks  Grove. 


near  Stanford,  McLean  county,  where  all  of 
their  children  were  born,  and  in  1850  they 
came  to  Logan  county,  making  this  their 
liome  throughout  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  The  father  entered  government  land 
in  McLean  county,  and  in  Logan  county 
paid  six,  eight  and  ten  dollars  per  acre  for 
tracts  which  he  purchased,  owning  and  op- 
erating three  hundred  and  seventeen  acres 
until  his  retirement  from  active  labor  in 
1884.  He  then  removed  to  Lincoln,  where 
he  died  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years,  nine  months  and  seventeen  days.  His 
wife  died  February  17,  1895,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  four  months  and  eight 
days,  and  the  reinains  of  both  were  interred 
in  Zion  cemetery.  Both  came  of  long-lived 
families.  During  their  early  residence  in 
this  state  they  endured  many  of  the  hardships 
and  priva-tions  incident  to  pioneer  life,  St. 
Louis  and  Chicago  being  their  principal  mar- 
ket places  in  those  days.  Mr.  Larison  was 
one  of  the  committee  appointed  to  lay  out 
many  of  the  roads  in  this  county,  and  in 
many  ways  materially  aided  in  its  develop- 
ment and  upbuilding.  He  had  received  a 
fair  education  and  was  a  well-posted  man, 
who  took  an  active  interest  in  all  philan- 
thropic enterprises,  and  during  the  Civil  war 
gave  liberally  of  his  time  and  means  in  aid- 
ing the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who 
lost  their  lives  on  southern  battlefields.  The 
Republican  party  always  found  in  him  a 
stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  he  held 
some  school  and  township  offices,  but  never 
sought  political  honors.  He  was  widely  and 
favorably  known  tiiroughout  th.e  county,  and 
is  deserving  of  prominent  mention  on  her 
roll  of  honored  pioneers. 

John  H.  Larison,  of  this  review,  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  six  children,  the 
others  being  as  follows:  Ruth  H.  is  now 
the  widow  of  John  T.  Butler,    of    Kansas 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


453 


Citv,  Missouri.     Tliomas  Perry  died  Ja 


ary  30,  1901 


.uiilw  Califnrnia 


wliere  he  localcil  in  iSdo.  ArciliiK'  is  ihi.' 
wife  of  William  I'.H.nu'y,  n\  ( ictlyslmrs;. 
South  Daknta.  Samuel  11.  lived  for  a  tiuie 
iu  Pottawattamie  county,  Luva.  liul  returned 
to  Lincoln,  and  died  at  the  Imme  of  lii^. 
mother  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years,  .\t 
the  heginning  of  the  Civil  war  he  entered  in 
the  Second  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  later  re-en- 
Hsted  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  One  1  hmdred 
and  Eoriy-lil'th  Jllinnis  Infantry.  C.reeu 
Berry  also  served  tnie  year  in  the  Sectmd  Illi- 
nois Cavalry,  and  is  nnw  a  resident  of  Potta- 
wattamie county,  Iowa, 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  passed  in  East  Lincoln  lownsbi]).  at- 
tending schoo.l  in  winter  and  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm  through  the  summer 
months.  On  the  completion  oi  his  educatii  m 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  devoted  liis 
entire  attention  to  the  farm  work.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  be  wa^ 
married,  April  6,  1871,  to  xMiss  Mary  1!, 
l\ave,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Sarah  J. 
(  Vezy)  Rave.  The  nn)ther  died  at  the  boiue 
<.f  our  subject  in  1889.  Mrs,  Larison  was 
born  in  Bloomington.  Illinois,  ['"ebrnary  _'8, 
J  849,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Marion  county.  She  has  two  sis- 
ters li\ing:  Flora  E..  wife  of  S.  ( '•.  .^idncr,  of 
Silver  City,  Iowa;  and  Helen,  wile  of  John 
Layman,  of  Abilene,  Kansas.  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Larison  have  one  son,  Earl  J.,  who  was  born 
in  Pottawattamie  county.  Iowa.  Jiil\-  3,  n'-^jj, 
and  is  now  a  well-educated  and  a  tbonnigli 
business  man,  living  upon  bis  father's  land 
He  married  Miss  Lillie  V.  .\lusick  and  they 
have  one  child,  Zella  1'., 

For  five  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Larison  resided  ujion  his  father's  fariu,  and 
then  purchased  one  huuflred  and  sixty  acres 
at  ten  dollars  per  acre.     I'o  the  im])ro\emeut 


nd  cultivation  of  that  place  he  devoted  bif, 
nergies  for  nine  years,  and  then  sold  it  for 
ort\-  tlollars  per  acre.  He  then  spent  si.N 
luthern  Kan.sas  and  a  short  time 
On  his  return  to  Illinois  he 
resent  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
teres  on  section  19,  East  Lincoln 
ir  which  he  i)aid  eight  thousand 
;  has  since  made  manv  iuirimve- 


months  ir, 
in  .Missoui 
l.)ougbt  his 


dollars. 


Ht 


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and 

is  s 

atccess 

fully  eu- 

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ts  oper 

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;m  enterprising 

farmer  an 

d  a  m: 

m  of 

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usines.- 

,  ability. 

He  is  no\ 

V  vice-j 

[iresi( 

lent 

aui 

1  a  dir 

ector  ot 

the  Lincol 

u  Log;i 

in  C' 

iunt_\ 

-  I-: 

nauers' 

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cmpj 

my. 

In  his  political  afliliations  ^Ir.  Larison  is 
a  Repulilican.  and  has  filled  several  town.ship 
offices,  but  ha-;  never  s.uight  political  honors, 
Sociallv  he  is  a  lueiuljer  of  Lincoln  Lodge, 
].  C),  O,  v..  and  religiously  both  he  and  hi;i 
wife  are  meiubers  of  the  IMethodist  Episco- 
l)al  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  steward, 
He  is  a  worthy  representative  of  that  class 
of  citizens  wIm  lead  i[uiet,  industrious,  hon- 
est and  useful  lives  .and  constitute  the  best 
iiortion'of  a  coiuiuunitv. 


GEOUCE  W,  SllCni'-RT. 

Among  the  reliable,  substanti.al  and  jiros- 
])eruus  farmers  of  luuiuence  township,  there 
is  prohablv  none  who  stands  higher  in  the 
public  estiiuation  than  George  W,  Seibert. 
wbose'bome  is  on  section  _'8.  lie  was  born 
in  Cbaiui)aign  county,  Ohio,  Septeiulier  lO, 
iSfra.  and  caiue  with  his  ])arents  to  this 
county  in  the  fall  of  nSA^,  His  father, 
Jacob  Siebert,  was  born  September  7.  1832, 
in  Cham)5aign  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son 
of  J(vhn  and  Katherine  (  P)Owers')  Siebert, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  N'irginia  respec- 


4S4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tively,  in  whose  family  were  six  children. 
In  1863  Jacob  Siebert  came  to  Logan  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  and  here  he  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  In  1864  he  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  rm  sections  28  and  29,  Eminence  town- 
shi]),  ti)  which  he  subsequently  adilcd  until 
he  had  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivatinn  and  well 
imprnved.  He  was  married  u<  Mis-^ 
Mary  C.  Printz.  of  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
and  to  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren; Katherinc  V...  wife  of  l);ivid  Gil- 
christ, whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  volume;  lileanora,  who  tlied  in  July, 
1871  ;  George  W.,  om  subject;  John  D. ; 
Carrie  C. ;  and  Jacob  E. 

Jacob  Siebert  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  his  com- 
nuniily.  antl  his  death,  which  occin-rcd  Feb- 
ruary 17.  iS()8,  was  felt  throughout  the 
township  by  a  host  of  friends  as  well  as  by 
a  large  family  connection  who  were  left  to 
mourn  his  loss.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest 
Odd  I'ellows  of  the  county,  holding  mem- 
bershii)  in  .\tlanta  Lodge,  and  was  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  jiarty.  Ik- 
served  as  road  commissioner  several  years, 
and  also  as  school  trustee  a  number  of  years, 
the  duties  of  which  jiositions  he  most  capably 
and  satisfactorily  performed. 

The  earlx-  education  of  our  subject  was 
ol)tained  in  the  distn.M  sdionls  ne;ir  his  hoy- 
hood  home,  and  lu-  ;ioiinrcd  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits  while  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  left  the 
parental  roof  and  commenced  farming  for 
bimself  upon  a  tract  of  eighty  acres.  He 
now  has  an  undivided  interest  in  three  hun- 
dred and  twent\-  acres  in  Eminence  town- 
ship, which  he  inherited  on  the  death  of  his 


father,  and  which  constitutes  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  Icjcalitw 

:Mr.  Siebert  was  married,  Sei^tember  20, 
189,^  to  Z^Iiss  Jennie  B.  Ward,  a  daughter 
of  John  Ward,  of  West  Lincoln  township, 
and  they  now  have  three  children,  namely: 
Rul))-  C,  born  February  12,  1895  ;  Helen  L., 
Iwrn  November  5,  1896;  and  Mo'Uie  L., 
l>orn  October  24,  1898. 

Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Siebert  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  socially  he  is  also  connected  with  the 
I\[odern  \\'oodmen  of  America  and  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  3,Iutual  Aid.  Political- 
ly he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democracy,  and 
he  has  filled  the  ofifice  of  school  director,  but 
he  has  never  cared  for  public  positions,  pre- 
ferring t(_i  give  his  entire  time  ami  attention 
to  his  farming  interests  and  to  his  home  and 
faniih'.  He  is  \-ery  popular  in  the  com- 
munitv  where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home, 
and  his  circle  of  friends  seems  only  limited 
by  his  circle  of  acipiaintances. 


H.   PEXDLETOX  PUR\1.\XCE. 

Since  1873  this  gentleman  has  been  a 
resident  of  Logan  county  and  is  the  present 
popular  supervisor  of  Chester  township. 
He  was  born  on  the  22(1  of  November, 
1839,  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  a  son  of 
William  H.  and  Sarah  (Mitchell)  Purvi- 
ance,  the  former  of  French  and  the  latter 
of  German  and  Scotch-Irish  ancestr}-.  The 
father  was  born  near  Pleasant  Plains,  San- 
gamon countv,  this  state,  and  was  only 
three  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
])arents  on  their  removel  to  Tazewell  coun- 
tv, where  in  later  years  lie  owned  and  op- 
erated a  farm.  Selling  that  place  in  1873. 
he  came  to  Logan  count}-,  and  is  now  living 


H.    P.   PURVIANCE. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


457 


in  Lincoln  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
In  early  life  he  affiliated  with  the  Whig 
party,  bnt  is  now  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
He  is  an  active  and  faithful  meniljer  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  churcli.  to  which 
his  wife  also  belonged.  She  died  in  Kansas 
in  1S87.  They  had  five  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others  Ijeing 
Mary  B..  wife  of  W.  B.  Dilley.  of  Maroa, 
Illinois:  H.  Pendleton,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch ;  James  A.,  a  farmer  of  Guthrie, 
Oklahoma:  and  William  C,  a  retired  farm- 
er of  Mt.  Pulaski.  Ilinois. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject 
was  acquired  in  the  district  scho<jls  of  his 
native  county,  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Logan  county,  when  he  was  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  he  attended  the  public 
schools  here  for  a  short  time.  He  thea 
look  an  elective  course  at  Lincoln  Univer- 
sity, where  he  was  a  student  for  four  years. 
After  that  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  seven 
years  in  the  school  district  where  he  now 
lives. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1885.  in  Lo- 
gan county,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Purviance  and  Miss  Clara  L.  Denny, 
who  was  born  in  Chester  township.  May 
24.  1859,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  H. 
and  Mary  L.  Denny.  The  father  died  in 
i88<;),  but  the  mother  is  still  living  on  the 
home  farm.  She  has  five  children  living: 
William  C,  a  farmer  of  Chester  township; 
Thomas,  principal  of  a  high  scho<.)l  in  St. 
Paul.  Minnesota:  Albert  M..  a  real  estate 
dealer  of  Wichita,  Kansas,  where  he  pre- 
viously sened  as  county  clerk  for  eight 
years :  James  Edgar,  a  farmer  of  East  Lin- 
coln township,  this  county:  and  Clara  L., 
wife  of  our  subject.  One  daughter.  Ella. 
married  Dr.  James  Walsh  and  died  in 
1887,  leaving  one  son,   Herman  E.     Mrs. 


Purviance  attended  lx>th  the  district 
schools  and  Lincoln  University.  Of  the 
four  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  one  died  in  infancy  and  one  at  the 
age  of  four  years.  Those  living  are  Pearl 
L.,  who  was  born  in  1887,  and  is  now  a 
student  of  Lincoln  University;  and  Ray- 
mond P.,  who  was  born  in  1889,  and  is  at- 
tending the  district  schools. 

For  four  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Purviance  operated  his  father's  farm,  and 
then  rented  land  of  Mr.  Foley,  now  having 
control  of  five  hundred  and  thirty  acres. 
In  connection  witli  general  farming  he  car- 
ries on  stock-raising  and  dairying,  and  is 
meeting  with  fair  success.  He  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  political  interests 
of  his  township,  and  in  April,  1900,  was 
elected  supervisor,  which  oflfice  his  is  now 
acceptaJ)ly  filling,  being  chaiirman  of  the! 
committee  on  public  buildings  and  a  mem- 
,  ber  of  the  committee  on  paupers.  He  also 
has  filled  the  offices  of  town  clerk  twelve 
}ears  and  road  commissioner  three  years, 
while  his  wife  has  served  as  school  director 
three  yeai's.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 
In  religious  belief  Mr.  Purviance  is  a  Pres- 
byterian, and  gives  liberally  to  the  support 
of  church  and  charitable  work.  Socially  he 
and  Mrs.  Purviance  are  memljers  of  the 
^Io<lern  American  Camp  at  Lincoln,  and  he 
is  a  man  of  prominence  in  his  locality. 


ISAAC  HOLL.VXD. 


Isaac  Holland,  deceased,  for  many  years 
a  resident  <  f  Logan  county,  was  one  of  the 
most  highly  resjiected  citizens  of  Sheridan 
township  where  his  memory  is  cherishetl  by 


45^ 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  wide  circle  of  friends.  He  was  born  in 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  August  14,  1836. 
His  parents  were  Henry  and  Ann  (  Wilson) 
Holland,  the  father,  a  native  of  Kentuck\- 
and  the  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
settled  near  Oakford,  Illinois,  but  later 
moved  to  Logan  county  and  here  engaged  in 
farming  until  their  death. 

In  1870  our  suliject  was  married  to  Hen- 
rietta Andrews,  a  native  of  Mason  county, 
Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Andrews, 
now  deceased,  who  always  lived  in  :Mason 
county.  To  Mr.  and  !\Irs.  Holland  were 
born  a  family  of  eight  children,  namely : 
Laws(;n  H.,  wlio  resides  in  Lincoln: 
Neva;  Jennie  L. ;  Charles  L.,  deceased: 
Daisv:  Charles:  Harry  and  Ruby.  On  Oc- 
tober 1,  iQOi,  Miss  Neva  was  married  to 
Henry  Wertzel,  of  New  Holland,  and  on 
the  same  day.  Miss  Jennie  married  Herbert 
Losee,  of  Dwight,  Livingston  county. 

A\'hen  iVIr.  Holland  settled  on  the  home 
farm  as  it  is  now  called,  it  was  wild  prairie 
land  and  he  made  all  of  the  improvements 
and  li\-ed  there  \-cr_\-  comfortably  until  his 
untimely  death,  January  10,  1901.  His  wid- 
ow ;ind  children  now  reside  on  the  olil 
homestead,  located  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  27,  Sheridan  township.  Mrs. 
Holland  owns  two  hundred  acres  and  carries 
on  farming  and  general  stock  raising  very 
successfully. 

In  politics  Mr.  Holland  was  a  Democrat 
and  while  not  an  office  seeker  he  served  his 
party  and  townsmen  as  school  director  and 
trustee  for  several  years.  The  success  which 
attended  his  efforts  was  entirely  due  to  his 
own  careful  management  and  hard  work  and 
he  not  only  succeeded  in  gathering  together 
a  comfortable  fortune  for  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, but  also  firmly  established  himself  in 
the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  gained  their 
deepest    respect.     As    a    father,    husband, 


neighbor,  public  official  and  business  man^ 
he  proved  himself  an  honorable,  upright 
man,  and  one  who  always  did  his  full  dutj- 
and  never  wronged  anyone. 


AREND  BERGMAN. 

Arend  Bergman,  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  Orvil  township,  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixtv-six  acres  of  excellent  farming  land  and 
has  resided  here  fur  the  past  tv.elve  years. 
He  is  a  native  of  North  Deutchland,  Ger- 
manv,  bi>rn  January  21,  1865. 

His  parents  were  Ufe  and  Grace  (Al- 
berts) Bergman,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Germany  and  came  to  America  with  thein 
family  in  1881,  settling  in  Champaign  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  the  father  purchased  ri- 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land 
and  resided  on  it,  engaged  in  farming,  until 
his  death,  in  1896.  His  wife  died  in  the 
same  ^•ear.  .Six  children  were  born  to  them 
namely :  Clans,  who  now  resides  on  a  farm, 
in  Prairie  Creek  township ;  Arend,  our  sub- 
ject; Albert,  who  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Champaign  county,  Illinois:  John, 
who  is  a  farmer  of  Iroquois  county,  Illinois; 
Efert,  a  farmer  of  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois: and  Ufe,  also  a  farmer  Oif  Champaign 
count}-.  These  children  recei\'ed  only  a  ci  mi- 
nion school  education. 

As  soon  as  he  completed  his  education 
our  subject  began  farming  in  Champaign- 
county,  and  resided  there  until  1888,  when 
he  came  to  Logan  county  and  settled  in 
Prairie  Creek  township,  where  he  leased  n 
farm.  AMiile  living  there,  in  1889.  he  was 
married  to  So])liia  Struebing,  also  a  native- 
of  Germanv,  and  a  daughter  of  Joe  Strue- 
bing, who  is  now  a  farmer  in  Prairie  Creek 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


township.      ^Ir.   and   Mrs.    Bergman   have 
two  children :    Jolin  and  Grace. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bergman  re- 
mained in  Prairie  Creek  township,  engaged 
in  farming,  until  1898,  when  he  moved  to 
Orvil  township  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  known  as  the  old  Payne  farm,  on  sec- 
tion 4,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising,  and  has  been  success- 
ful in  his  endeavors.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church  of 
Emden.  They  are  excellent  people  and  en- 
jov  the  deepest  respect  and  esteem  nf  their 
neighbors  and  friends. 


.SIXXET  RAXKIX. 

There  is  particular  .satisfaction  in  re- 
verting to  the  life  history  of  the  honored 
and  \enerable  gentleman  whose  name  mi- 
tiate-s  this  review  since  his  mind  bears  im- 
press of  the  historical  annals  of  this  county 
from  pioneer  days,  and  from  the  fact  that  he 
is  one  of  the  leading  and  influential  citizens 
of  Atlanta  township.  He  was  born  in  Fay- 
ette county.  Ohio.  August  27.  1817.  and  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  his  paternal  great- 
grandfather being  originally  from  the  north 
of  Ireland.  His  grandfather,  ^^'illiam  Rank- 
in, was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  while  his 
father,  William  Rankin,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  25th  of  July,  1784,  and  spent 
the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  on  a  farm  in 
that  state,  after  which  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Ross  county,  Ohio.  Throughout 
life  the  latter  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  and  stix:k  raising.  In  1850  he 
came  to  Logan  county.  Illinois,  and  settled 
at  Postville.  now  Lincoln,  where  he  resided 
aljout  t.\o  vears.     He  then  went  to  live  with 


our  subject,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1867.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Elizabeth  Popejoy.  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware, and  died  in  Ohio,  in  1847.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  he  married  Jane  Baldwin  and  after 
his  death  she  returned  to  Oliio,  where  she 
died. 

Sinnet  Rankin  of  this  sketcli  passed  his 
lx>yhood  and  youth  upon  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  September.  1848, 
when  in  company  with  two  brothers,  Ed- 
ward and  William,  he  came  to  Logan  coun- 
ty. Prior  to  this  he  had  received  a  good 
common  school  education,  such  as  was  ob- 
tainable in  the  country  schools  of  those  days, 
and  he  early  became  familiar  with  every  de- 
tail of  farm  work.  On  Uxating  in  this  coun- 
ty he  rented  a  farm  in  what  is  now  West 
Lincoln  township,  and  here  lived  until  1850. 
when  he  settled  on  section  10,  Broadwell 
township,  where  he  controlled  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land.  On  selling"  that 
place  in  1891,  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
on  section  27.  Atlanta  township,  which  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well- 
improved  and  highly  cultivated  land.  Al- 
though eighty-five  years  of  age  he  is  one  of 
the  most  active  men  in  the  county  for  his  age 
and  still  su])erintends  the  operation  of  his 
farm  and  enjoys  good  health.  Besides  his 
fine  farm,  he  owns  two  valuable  lots  with 
residences  thereon  in  Lincoln  and  four 
others  in  Atlanta. 

On  the  5th  of  December.  1830.  Mr. 
Rankin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
E\eline  M.  McBee.  a  daughter  of  AMUiam 
McBee.  She  died  January  26.  1888,  leav- 
ing one  daughter  :  Xancy  E..  who  was  lx)rn 
September  3.  1840.  Elmira  J.,  who  was 
Ixmi  in  (X'tober.  1846.  died  aged  nine  years. 
The  former  married  Ri;bert  P.lacker  and  died 


.460 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


April  3.  1890.  She  left  five  children.  Mr. 
Rankin  was  again  married.  Augnst  24.  1893, 
his  second  union  being  with  Elizalieth  H. 
Dalb}',  a  nati\-e  of  Virginia  and  a  daughter 
of  Jesse  Dalby.  She  was  first  married  to  a 
Mr.  Ary  and  became  the  mother  of  a  large 
family. 

Socially  Mr.  Rankin  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  frater.nity,  belonging  to  the  Blue 
Lodge  of  Lincoln,  and  politically  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party  and  its 
principles.  For  the  long  period  of  forty 
years  he  served  as  school  treasurer,  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
four  years.  He  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  commenda])le  interest  in  jjublic  afl^airs, 
especially  along  educational  lines,  and  is 
ready  at  all  times  to  assist  in  any  enter- 
prise calculated  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his 
county.  His  pleasant,  genial  manner  has 
made  him  a  host  of  friends,  and  he  is  well 
liked  and  highly  respected  wherever  known. 


T.\COB  ^lAYER. 


Among  the  leading  business  men  and 
|)n;minent  citizens  of  Mt.  Pula.ski  is  num- 
liered  Jacob  Mayer,  of  the  well-known  firm 
I  if  J.  Allayer  &  Brother,  manufacturers  of 
harness  and  dealer  in  buggies.  He  was 
born  in  that  village  en  the  i(>th  of  March, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  John  G.  and  Elizabeth 
(Work)  Mayer.  The  father  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  in  180S,  and  in 
1832  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  and  first 
located  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  On 
coming  west  he  located  in  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  employed  in  a  general 
way  in  the  Ridgley  Bank  until  1848  when 
lie   remo\-ed    to    Logan    county    and    settled 


on  a  farm  in  JMt.  Pulaski  township,  where 
he  spent  two  years.  In  1850  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Mt.  Pulaski,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  general  merchandising  with  his 
i^roither  Geiorge  midor  the  t";rni  name  of 
Mayer  Brcfdiers  for  ten  years.  He  then 
followed  farming  in  Mt.  Pulaski  township 
until  his  death,  whicli  occurred  in  1865. 
He  there  owned  two  hundred  and  fiirt\- 
acres  of  rich  and  arable  land,  and  hail  three 
hundred  and  ten  acres  elsewhere.  His  wife, 
\vlio  long  survived  him,  passed  away  in 
March,  1895.  She  was  born  in  Strasburg, 
Lancaster  county,  Pcnns\'h'ania.  in  1813. 
'i'hey  had  a  fannly  of  seven  children,  five 
sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Samuel; 
Martha:  George;  Anna,  wife  of  K.  Stoll, 
who  died  September  2'/,  1901  :  Jnhn  W. ; 
Jacob:  and  Henry,  deceased. 

Jacob  ]Mayer  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  which  he  attended  until  fifteen  years 
of  age.  and  during  the  following  tliree  years 
he  was  with  the  family  on  the  farm.  lie 
then  learned  the  harnessmaker's  trade  with 
tlie  firm  of  Mayer  &  Reitz,  serving  a  three 
years'  apprenticeship.  In  October.  1871, 
he  purchased  the  business,  and  carried  it  on 
alone  until  1873,  wlien  he  atlnutted  his 
Ijrother  John  W.  to  jiartnership,  the  firm  be- 
ing since  known  as  J.  ]\Iayer  &  lirother. 
Thev  have  built  up  an  excellent  trade  and 
have  occupied  the  same  building  since  De- 
cember. 1873.  Besides  his  business  prop- 
erty^ our  subject  owns  a  nice  home  in  Mt. 
Pulaski,  which  was  purchased  by  him  in 
1888,  and  he  also  has  a  good  farm  of  oue 
hundred  and  si.xty  acres  in  Kansas.  lie  is 
a  wide-awake,  energetic  business  man.  and 
generally  carries  forward  to  successful  com- 
l)1etion   whatever  he  undertakes. 

In  1 87 J  ^Ir.  Alayer  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Schick,  of  :\It.  Pulaski,  a  daughter  of  Adam 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


461 


aiul  Lena  Schick.  Tliey  have  two  sons: 
WilHam  W.,  a  jeweler  of  tliis  city:  and 
Ehner  B.,  who  is  attcmling-  the  Stale  Uni- 
versity at  Cliampaign.  IIHnois.  Tlie  family 
is  one  of  pron'iinence  in  the  coniniunity 
where  they  reside  and  have  a  host  of  friends 
throngh(  nt  the  connty.  Mr.  ^Mayer  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  local  afifairs,  having 
served  a  number  of  terms  on  the  city  coun- 
cil and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education.  He  is  rather  liberal  in  his 
political  views  and  is  now  a  stanch  Sound- 
iNIonev  Democrat. 


H.  KXAAK. 


H.  Knaak,  owner  of  one  -hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  line  farming  land  on  sections 
15  and  16,  Prairie  Creek  township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Logan  county,  Illinois,  since 
1879,  but  was  born  in  Germany  on  /vpril  27, 
1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Fred  and  Charlotte 
(Groth)  Knaak,  both  natives  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  witii  our  sul)ject  in 
1879  and  settled  in  Prairie  Creek  township. 
Here  the  father  lived  until  his  death,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1881,  and  the  muther  until  she  died. 
I->bruary  5,  1892. 

The  parents  had  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased  except  three  who  came 
to  America,  namely :  Fred,  who  married 
-Mbertina  Rade  and  resides  in  Prairie  Creek 
township,  engaged  in  farming;  Olreka,  wife 
of  August  Seefeldt,  residing  near  Atlanta, 
this  county;  and  our  subject.  -Ml  of  these 
children  received  go<id  educations  in  Ger- 
many in  their  native  language. 

The  family  settled  on  valley  land  upon 
coming  to  this  country  and  it  has  proved 
\ery   fertile.     Our   subject   now   owns   one 


hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sectioi^ 
21,  Prairie  C"reek  town.ship,  on  which  he 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  it  is  as  good  land  as  any  tn  be  fnund  in 
the  county. 

On  September  18,  1874,  Mr.  Knaak  was 
married  to  Miss  Augusta  Sell,  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  on  October  8,  1853, a  daught- 
er of  b'rcd  Sell,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  ilied  in  .\inerica.  Our  subject  and  wife 
had  eleven  children,  namely:  Fred,  who 
married  Katie  Fitchen  and  lives  near  our 
subject :  .Mbert,  who  married  Lizzie  Heitz- 
nian  and  lives  in  Delavan ;  Otto,  who  lives 
near  Delavan;  Ernest,  at  home;  Richard, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year;  and  Robert 
Richard,  Annie,  Henry,  Bertha  and  William, 
all  at  home. 

in  politics  !Mr.  Knaak  is  a  Democrat,  and 
is  now  pole  master  of  the  township.  I)C)tli 
he  and  his  e.Kcellent  wife  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Emden.  Mr. 
Knaak  is  essentially  a  self-made  man,  for  he 
started  out  in  life  with  nothing  but  his  tiwn 
willing  hands  and  earnest  purpose  to  make 
all  he  could  of  his  life.  That  he  has  suc- 
ceeded, his  tine  farm  and  comfortable  house 
(  one  of  the  finest  farm  houses  in  the  county) 
amply  testify.  Fle  and  his  entire  family  en- 
joy the  highest  esteem  of  the  entire  neigh- 
borhood, and  in  matters  relating  to  lownshi]) 
afifairs  Mr.  Knaak  t.'dces  a  leading  part. 


J.VMES  :\[.  MOOS. 

James  M.  Moos,  who  is  now  so  efticientlv 
serving  as  chief  of  police  in  Lincoln,  has 
sjient  his  entire  life  in  Logan  coimty.  He 
was  born  on  a  farm  in  East  Lincoln  town- 
ship, January  i,  1862.  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Margaret  (Rav)  Moiis.   The  father  was 


462 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born  in  ]Denmark  abont  1S36  and  came  to 
the  new  world  when  yonng.  After  follow- 
ing the  sea  as  a  ship  carpenter  for  three 
years,  he  located  in  Xew  York  City,  where 
he  was  married  and  resided  for  a  number  ot 
years.  In  1852  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  Com- 
pany, being  their  first  section  foreman  fron; 
Lincoln  to  Atlanta.  He  was  killed  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lincoln  when  our  subject  wa: 
only  nine  months  old.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  in  1S28,  in  County  Antrim,  in  the  nortli 
of  Ireland,  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-four years.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  named  children:  ;Maria,  wife  of 
Jajnes  Lynch,  of  Lincoln;  Francis,  a  miner 
of  Lincoln;  Peter,  a  resident  of  the  same 
place;  Jennie  and  Christian,  deceased;  and 
James  M.,  of  this  review. 
'  Our  subject  is  indebted  to  the  ptiblic 
schools  of  Lincoln  for  his  educational  advan- 
tages. His  early  life  was  spent  upon  a  farm, 
and  later  he  engaged  in  coal  mining  and 
working  in  a  tile  facton,-.  For  twelve  years 
he  has  been  on  the  police  force  of  Lincoln, 
and  in  [May,  1901,  was  appointed  chief  of 
police,  which  important  position  he  is  now 
filling  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  the  citizens  of  Lincoln. 

On  the  21st  of  April,  1885.  Mr.  :Moos 
married  ]\Iiss  Xora  E.  Sharp  of  Lincoln,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  ]\Iary  (Moran)  Sharp. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Glasgow.  Scot- 
land. ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  ]\Ioos  have  no  chil- 
dren of  their  own,  but  have  an  adopted 
daughter,  Elizabeth  Jennie,  the  child  of  [Mr. 
Moos'  sister. 

In  his  political  views  ]Mr.  [Moos  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  in  his  social  relations 
is  a  mem.ljer  of  Lincoln  Lodge,  No.  204.  T. 
O.  O.  F. :  and  Keokuk  Tribe,  Xo.  67,  I.  O. 


R.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Federa- 
tion of  Labor,  and  does  all  in  his  power  to 
promote  the  interests  of  the  laboring  classes. 
At  an  early  age  he  started  out  to  make  his 
own  way  in  the  world,  being  deprived  of  a 
father's  care  and  advice,  and  he  deserves 
great  credit  for  the  success  he  has  achieved. 
[Mr.  and  Mrs.  [Moos  are  communicants  of 
St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church,  and  have  a 
good  home  at  215  \Mllard  avenue,  Lincoln. 


ERXEST  ^I.  MOOS. 

Ernest  [\I.  [Moos,  an  expert  machinist 
residing  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  was  born  in 
that  city  on  the  30th  of  August,  1867,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  P.  and  Sophronia  (Ely) 
Moos,  who  are  still  living  here.  The 
father  was  born  in  Denmark  in  1836,  and 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land. 
There  he  learned  the  machinist's  trade, 
which  he  has  made  his  life  work.  On  his 
emigration  to  America  in  1859,  he  located 
in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  has  since  been 
identified  with  its  industrial  interests.  His 
wife  is  also  a  native  of  Denmark.  They 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  August,  a  machinist  of  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois;  Fred,  a  harnessmaker  of 
Knoxville,  Illinois;  Ernest  [M.,  our  subject; 
Annie,  wife  of  John  Crawford,  of  Beason, 
Illinois;  Lina  D.,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Lincoln, 
and  also  teaches  music  at  home,  being  an 
accomplished  musician :  and  Emil,  late  pro- 
bate judge  of  Logan  county,  who  died  April 
8,  1900,  in  his  thirtieth  year. 

The  subject  of  this  review  passed  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  Lincoln,  attending 
both  the  public  and  high  schools,  as  well  as 
a  Gennan  school  of  this  city.     At  the  age 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


463 


of  eighteen  he  aminienced  learning  the 
machinist's  trade  witli  his  father,  and  at'tc-r 
completely  mastering  the  Inisiness  went  U< 
St.  Ldnis,  Missonri,  where  he  fdlldwed  his 
didsen  ocenpatiin  fur  a  time,  lie  next 
spent  ahunt  a  year  in  Springfield,  that  state, 
and  on  the  e.xpiration  of  that  time  returned 
to  Lincoln,  Illinois,  antl  entered  the  emplov 
of  the  Illinois  A.sylum  lor.  l-eehle  :\linded 
Children,  as  a  machinist,  doing  all  of  the 
repairing  at  that  institution  for  ten  years 
under  the  administrations  of  Ih".  A\'.  B. 
Fish,  Dr.  Miller  and  Dr.  J.  ^\■.  Smith.  He 
was  then  removed  for  political  reasons  and 
accepted  a  position  in  the  Lincoln  furniture 
factory.  Snhsequently  he  was  engineer  for 
the  Electric  Street  Railway  of  Lincoln  at 
their  power  house.  Being  a  skilled  machin- 
ist, he  has  at  times  done  considerable  work 
in  repairing  and  overhauling  the  plumbing 
in  different  establishments  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Moos  was  married  December  1.4, 
1892,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Gehres,  of  Lincoln,  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  Gehres.  i>f  Lincoln.  To  them  have 
been  lx)rn  two  children :  Helen  and  Ernest 
Xeal.  In  the  spring  oi  lyoi  Mr.  I\Ioos 
was  elected  alderman  from  the  fourth  ward 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  a  term  of  two 
years,  and  most  acceptably  tilled  that  posi- 
tion. Socially  he  is  an  honoreil  member  of 
Mozart  Lodge,  Xo.  345,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


WILL  P.  W.\K1-:.M.VX. 

The  deserved  reward  of  a  well-spent  life 
is  an  honored  retirement  from  business,  in 
which  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  fcjrmer  toil.  To- 
day, after  a  useful  and  beneficial  career.  Will 
P.  Wakeman  is  quietly  living  at  his  pleasant 
home,  Xo.   140  Xinth  street,  Lincoln,  sur- 


rounded by  the  comfort  that  earnest  labor 
has  brought  him.  He  w;is  horn  in  W.ayne 
cotmty.  .\'ew  ^'ork,  ."September  j  1.  1  S40.  and 
is    a    son    ..I    John    and     Margaret     (  Sny- 

On  coming  to  the  United  States  the 
father  located  in  Lyons,  Xew  ^'ork, 
but  later  removed  to  X'ewark,  Wayne 
cmuity,  X'ew  ^'ork,  where  he  engaged 
in  business  as  a  carriage  and  wagon 
manufacturer  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1850.  His  wife  long  survived 
him.  passing  away  in    iSqu 

Mr.  Wakeman,  of  this  re\ie\v.  completed 
his  education  at  an  academy  in  Macedon, 
\\"ayne  county,  .Xew  York.  After  his  re- 
turn from  the  war  he  took  the  proscribed 
course  and  graduated  from  Duff's  L'l  mimer- 
cial  College,  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  When  the 
Civil  war  broke  out  he  manifested  his  patri- 
otism by  enlisting  in  November,  1862,  in 
Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth 
X'^ew  York  N'olunteer  Infantry,  under  Col- 
onel Van  Patten.  The  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  the  l^epartment  of  the  Gulf,  un- 
der the  command  of  Cieneral  Butler,  and  was 
first  ordered  to  Xew  Orleans.  In  1863  they 
were  transferred  to  the  Shenandoah  valley 
and  was  there  when  General  Phil  Sheridan 
made  his  famous  ride.  At  the  surrender  of 
General  Lee  they  were  stationed  at  Savan- 
nah, Georgia,  and  from  there  went  to  An- 
dersonville,  Georgia,  as  provost  guard  to 
administer  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
Georgians.  Im-oui  Harper's  Perry  they 
marched  to  Washington,  where  they  par- 
ticipated in  the  grand  review  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  Mr.  \\'akeman  was  dis- 
charged, in  Xovember,  1865.  with  the  rank 
of  second  sergeant,  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Xewark,  Wayne  county,  Xew  \'ork, 
and  then,  after  his  business  course,  was  em- 
ployed by  David  llayden  in  his  store  at  Co- 


464 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


liimbus,  Ohio,  until  February,  1866,  when 
he  came  to  Lincohi.  IlHnois,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Hyde.  Crandall  &  Company,  and 
engaged  in  clerking  for  that  tirm  and  their 
successors  for  thirteen  years.  He  embarked 
in  the  dry-goods  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  1879,  as  a  partner  of  Louis  Spitley, 
under  the  firm  name  of  W'akeman  &  Spitley. 
and  when  Mr.  Spitley  was  forced  to  retire 
on  account  of  failing  health  in  1882.  Txlr. 
AV'akeman  purchased  his  interest  and  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  the  business  very  suc- 
cessfully until  March  i,  1901,  when  he  sold 
out  and  has  since  li\-ed  a  retuxd  life.  Hi-; 
son,  Harry  F.  A\'akeman,  was  connected 
with  him  in  business  for  a  time,  the  firm 
name  being"  W.  P.  \\'akeman  &  Son.  They 
did  a  successful  business  in  dry  goods  and 
millinery,  and  at  the  time  of  selling  out  Mr. 
W'akeman  was  one  of  the  older  business 
men  of  the  city. 

In  July,  186S,  ;Mr.  W'akeman  married 
Miss  Chestina  A.  Strong,  a  native  of  Brat- 
tleboro,  Vermont,  and  a  daughter  of  Gidding 
H.  and  Sarah  (Thomas)  Strong,  who  re- 
moved to  Massachusetts  when  Mrs.  W'ake- 
man was  quite  young,  and  in  June.  1867. 
came  west.  Her  parents  are  still  living  and 
continue  to  reside  iii  Lincoln.  Although 
o\er  eighty  }cars  of  age  they  still  enjoy 
good  health  and  are  in  possession  of  all 
their  faculties.  Mr.  and  [Mrs.  W'akeman 
have  two  children:  Harry  F..  who  was 
graduated  from  the  Northwestern  Univer- 
sity of  Chicago,  after  which  he  read  law 
with  King  &  Miller,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1896  and  is  new  engaged  in 
practice,  and  A\'ilma  Strong,  at  home. 

Mr.  W'akeman  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Lincoln,  and  he  takes  an  active  part  in 
church  and  Sunday-school  work.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  L'nion  Veteran 


Union,  and  politically  is  a  Prohibitionist. 
His  life  has  been  manly,  his  actions  sincere 
and  his  example  is  well  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. In  business  affairs  he  has  prospered 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts,  and  his 
life  has  ever  been  such  as  to  command  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  lie 
has  been  brought  in  contact. 


WILLIA^I  J.   HOUSTON. 

One  of  the  most  energetic  and  success- 
fid  farmers  of  East  Lincoln  township  is 
William  J.  Houston,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 28.  He  is  a  native  of  Logan  county, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Orvil  town- 
ship. December  28.  i860.  His  father.  Will- 
iam Houston,  was  born  in  Scotland  of 
humble  but  well-respected  parents,  and  in' 
his  native  land  was  employed  in  cloth 
works,  making  prints.  In  1843,  when  but 
a-young  lad,  he  came  to  this  country,  and 
after  spending  four  years  in  Massachusetts 
removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Logan  coun- 
ty. The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  James 
Houston,  also  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  died  in  tb.is  country  when  about  seven- 
ty-eight years  (if  age.  The  tract  of  govern- 
ment land  which  he  purchased  in  Orvil 
township  is  n(jw'  owned  by  the  father  of 
our  subject,  who  has  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  and  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  until  1889,  when  he  remo\ed  to 
Lincoln  and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life, 
enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  His  early  ed- 
ucation was  limited,  as  he  began  to  assist 
in  the  support  of  the  family  when  quite 
young,  but  he  has  always  made  the  most 
of  his  advantages  and  by  untiring  industry 
and  close  application  to  business  has  become 
quite  well-to-do,  so  that  he  is  now  able  to 


WM.  J.    HOUSTON. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


467 


lav  aside  all  business  cares  and  spend  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  ease  and  quiet.  He 
has  always  enjoyed  good  health.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  held  a  number  of  local  of- 
fices, includfng  that  of  school  director, 
which  he  filled  for  many  years.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Powell,  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, who  died  in  Logan  county  in  1875. 
at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  of  this  union  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  others  are  William  J.,  the  eld- 
est and  only  son:  Eliza,  wife  of  William 
Alexander,  of  Jazewell  county;  Mary,  who 
is  now  the  widow  of  Alex  Steninger  and 
is  keeping  house  for  her  father;  Margaret, 
wnfe  of  Nelson  ParkeT.  of  Lincoln;  and 
Kittie.  wife  of  Harry  Wakeman,  of  Lin- 
coln. All  were  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  while  Margaret  graduated  in  mu- 
sic at  Lincoln  University,  and  Kittie  took 
a  normal  course. 

William  J.  Houston  of  this  review  grew 
t(j  manhood  upon  the  home  farm  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  188S. 
when  his  father  removed  to  Lincoln,  leav- 
ing him  in  charge  of  the  farm,  which  he 
successfully  operated  until  1900.  During 
that  time  he  made  enough  to  buy  a  farm  of 
his  own.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and 
ten  acres  of  land  in  Orvil  township,  pay- 
ing on  an  average  of  fifty  dollars  an  acre. 
Selling  that  place  in  1900.  he  bought  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  26,  East  Lincoln  township, 
which  he  has  since  improved  by  the  erection 
of  a  modern  and  commodious  residence.  He 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, and  is  meeting  with  good  success,  lie- 
ing  a  man  of  keen  discrimination  and  smnid 
judgment. 

On  September  11,  i8yo.  Mr.  Houston 
was  united  in  marriage  with   Miss  Carrie 

23 


B.  Seibert,  who  was  born  in  Eminence 
township,  tiiis  county,  June  28,  1867,  and 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools.  Her 
father,  the  late  Jacob  Seibert.  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  She  is  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  five 
children.  ^Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houston  have 
three  children :  Glenn  Seibert,  born  July 
20,  1891 ;  Merlin  Leslie,  August  5.  1893; 
and  Corinne  Elizabeth,  born  July  18,  1895. 
By  his  ballot  Mr.  Houston  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party ; 
has  been  active  in  party  work,  and  has 
served  as  delegate  to  county  conventions 
several  times.  While  residing  in  Orvil 
township  he  filled  the  office  of  school  trus- 
tee several  times.  He  was  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  his  community,  and 
is  quite  influential  and  popular.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Houston  are  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbvterian  church  of  Lincoln. 


PHILIP  J.  ADOLPH. 

I'hilip  J.  Adolph,  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  17, 
Prairie  Creek  township,  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  county  for  thirty-three  years.  He 
was  lx)rn  in  Tazewell  county.  Illinois.  Jan- 
uary 22,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Agnes  (Groensf elder)  Adolph,  both  natives^ 
of  Germanv,  who  came  to  America  in  184.7 
and  settled  near  Chelsea,  ilichigan.  Here 
the  father  worked  as  a  blacksmith  for  a 
short  time  and  then  they  removed  to  Wood- 
ford county.  Illinois,  and  later  to  Pekin, 
Tazewell  county,  where  he  worked  on  a 
farm  and  at  everything  honest  that  present- 
ed itself  in  order  to  support  his  wife  and 
family.  Here  he  remained  until  1868  when 
he  settled  on  section  6,  Prairie  Creek  town- 
shi]),  Logan  county,  and  engaged  in  farming 


468 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tlie  i-emainder  of  his  life.  Here  lie  died 
December  2t,.  1899,  while  his  wife  died 
alxiut  r676.  Ten  children  were  burn  tu 
them,  namely:  Catherine,  who  lives  <in  the 
old  homestead:  Lena,  wife  of  Au,s;ustns 
Schweizer,  of  Clinton,  Illinois:  Panline,  at 
home;  Philip,  oitr  subject  Charles,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Henry,  at 
home ;  Louis,  a  butcher  of  Delavan,  Illinois  ; 
Agnes.  Eva  and  Lydia,  all  three  at  home. 
All  recei\-ed  good  common  school  educa- 
tions in  the  tlistrict  schools  of  the  several 
localities  in  which  the  family  resided. 

After  attaining  his  majority  our  sul)ject 
engaged  in  farming.  He  was  married  in 
1888  to  Belta  Buss,  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  a  daughter  of  Captain  L.  L.  Buss,  an 
early  settler  of  Prairie  Creek  township,  who 
•died  in  1897.  The  mother  died  in  1883. 
Hnxe  children  have  been  born  to  our  sul)- 
ject  and  wife,  namely :  Agnes,  Alma  and 
Lucy. 

My.  Adolph  located  on  his  present  farm 
after  his  marriage  and  now  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  has  been  very  successful.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  has  been 
lionored  with  the  of^ce  of  township  collector 
for  some  years.  Socialh"  he  is  a  meniber 
of  the  Ancient  Order  oi  Unitetl  Workmen 
of  San  Jose,  Illinois,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist church  of  San  Jose,  as  were  their  par- 
ents before  them.  In  educational  matters 
Mr.  Adolph  also  takes  a  deep  interest  and 
has  ser\-ed  the  township  as  school  director 
for  several  vears.  In  every  relation  of  life, 
he  has  proven  himself  a  man  of  worth  and 
ability  and  one  willing  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  his  position  as  a  prominent  citizen, 
as  well  as  a  successful  business  man  and  the 
head  of  a  familv. 


HENRY  SHIRLEY. 

Henry  Shirley,  one  of  the  ])rosperous 
farmers  of  Orvil  township  and  director  for 
the  Logan  County  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany, is  descended  from  one  of  the  early 
settlers  in  this  locality.  His  father,  Williain 
R.  Shirley,  was  born  in  Scott  county.  Ken- 
tucky, in  1 8 19,  and  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1846,  when  he  came  west  and 
settled  in  Logan  county  in  what  was  then 
\\'est  Lincoln  township,  and  continued 
farming  for  one  year.  He  then  inn\ed  to 
what  is  now  Or\'il  township  and  settled  on 
section  ly.  where  he  resided  engaged  in 
farming  until  1 851.  In  March  of  that  year 
he  moved  to  his  son's  present  farm  on  sec- 
tion 15,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  August  5.  1862.  His  wid- 
ow iiou-  resides  in  Des  Moines,  Liwa,  with 
a  daughter. 

The  ])arents  had  tweh'e  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  now  Ii\-ing,  namel}' :  James,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Stewart  and  resides  on 
a  farm  near  our  subject;  Martha,  wife  of 
Elisha  .n.shley,  residing  near  Sioux  City, 
Iowa:  John  \\  ..  who  resides  in  Newton, 
Kansas;  Henry,  our  subject;  Oliver,  a  farm- 
er in  Lord  county,  Illinois;  George,  an  at- 
torney in  Chicago;  Charlie,  also  an  attorney 
in  Chicago;  Sarah,  who  resides  in  Iowa 
with  her  mother ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Finley 
Dunlap,  of  Des  Moines.  Iowa ;  Emily,  Sarah 
and  Elias,  now  deceased.  The  children  all 
received  good  common  school,  educations 
and  .some  of  them  attended  college  at  Eu- 
reka. Illinois. 

After  finishing  his  education,  our  sub- 
ject taught  school  in  Or\il  township  for  two 
terms  and  also,  one  term  in  Eminence  town- 
ship and  one  in  \\'est  Lincoln  township.  He 
then  settled  on  his  present  farm  on  section 
1  T,  Or\il  townshi]),  where  he  now  owns  ope 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


469 


hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  good  farming 
land  on  wliicli  lie  carries  on  general  farming 
in  addition  to  acting  as  director  for  the 
Logan  County  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

On  April  18.  1869,  Mr.  Shirley  married 
[Martha  A.  Smallwcxxl,  of  West  Lincoln 
township,  a  daughter  of  John  A.  and  Mary 
(Van  Gundy)  Small\voo<l.  Mr.  Smallwood 
■vvas  a  farmer  in  West  Lincoln  townshiji  and 
now  resides  on  a  farm  in  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  John  mar- 
ried Louella  Woland,  a  daughter  of  Ema-.-.- 
uel  Woland.  deceased,  and  they  live  in  Orvil 
township,  on  section  21  :  George  married 
Lousia  Xall,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Xall,  a 
sketch  of  \vhom  will  l>e  found  on  another 
page  of  this  work,  and  they  live  on  section 
15.  Orvil  township:  Bertha  and  Mamie  are 
at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Shirley  is  a  Republican 
and  upholds  the  candidates  of  his  party,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  members  of  the 
Bethel  Christian  church  of  Orvil  township. 
In  Ixnh  church  and  social  circles  tliey  are 
very  highly  respected  and  have  many  friends 
in  the  community  where  tliey  make  their 
home. 


JAMES  R.  BRAWLEY. 

The  greatness  of  a  state  dei>ends  not  on 
its  government  but  on  the  good  qualities  of 
its  citizens  and  their  devt^tion  to  the  public 
welfare.  Prominent  in  his  adopted  coun- 
ty stands  tlie  name  of  James  R.  Brawle\ , 
who  was  l)<)rn  in  Tennessee  October  20, 
1824.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  si.x  chil- 
<lren  who  came  to  brighten  the  home  of 
Thomas  and  Martha  (Russell)  Brawley. 
The  father  was  from  North  Carolina,  where 
he  was  Ixirn  and  reared  on  a  farm.     Joining 


the  tide  of  emigration  which  came  to  Illinois 
from  the  border  states  of  the  South  he  lo- 
cated in  Logan  county  in  1834,  where  he 
engaged  in  agriculture  until  his  death. 

James  R.  Brawley  was  a  lad  of  ten  years 
when  brought  by  hfs  parents  to  this  county, 
and  here  he  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  assisted  his  father 
and  gained  his  practical  knowledge  of  farm- 
ing. When  he  was  thirty  years  of  age  he 
liegan  farming  for  himself  on  land  which 
he  rented  for  four  years.  His  first  pur- 
chase was  that  of  forty  acres.  By  industry 
and  economy  the  following  year  he  added 
fortv  acres  more,  for  which  he  paid  one  dol- 
lar and  twenty-five  cents  an  acre.  He  was 
of  a  kind  nature  and  because  of  his  generos- 
ity in  assisting  friends  he  lost  all  he  owned. 
With  energ)^  and  perseverance  he  began  life 
anew,  and  as  the  result  of  his  labor  he  is 
nnw  the  possessor  of  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty acres  of  fine  fanning  land  where  he  and 
his  aged  wife  are  spending  their  declining 
years. 

His  wife  was  formerly  I\Iiss  Parmelia 
Attbery.  a  daughter  of  David  and  Polly 
(  .\dams  )    Attbery.  of  Logan  county. 

Mr.  Attljery  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
his  wife  of  Tennessee,  and  they  came  to 
Li>gan  county  in  the  same  wagi^n  with  Mr. 
Brawley.  They  always  lived  in  Eminence 
township,  where  they  both  died. 

.\lthough  the  union  of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Brawley  Has  been  blessed  with  no  children 
i)f  their  own,  out  of  the  kindness  of  their 
natures  and  their  desire  to  make  this  world 
a  happier  place  for  others  they  have  given 
the  protection  of  home  and  parental  affec- 
tion to  several  helpless  and  needy  children. 
In  politics  Mr.  Brawley  is  a  Republican 
and  has  been  a  trustee  of  his  district.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  long  standing 
in    the    Christian    church.     This    venerable 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


couple,  who  have  shared  th.e  joy  and  lara^-e- 
ly  met  the  disappointments  of  life,  furnish 
an  example  Avorthy  of  emulation. 


WILLIAM  CARNAHAN. 

Among-  the  prominent  citizens  nf  the 
village  of  Emden,  Logan  county,  Illinrns, 
is  William  Carnahan,  a  most  worth)-  rep- 
resentative of  one  O'f  the  oldest  families  ol 
this  coimty.  He  was  born  in  Darke  coun- 
ty, Ohio^  September  29.  1828,  and  is  a  son 
of  Elias  L.  and  Catherine  (.Martin)  Car- 
nahan, who  were  married  in  1827,  The 
latter  was  born  July  n,  1808,  in  Ohio, 
and  the  foirmer  October  17,  1804,  in  Darke 
count)-,  the  same  state.  The  grandfather 
was  William  Carnahan,  who  was  Ijorn  in 
Virginia,  November  14.  1770.  and  moved 
from  there  intO'  Kentucky,  and  later  U> 
Ohio,  locating  in  Darke  county,  where  he 
spei-it   his   last   years. 

Ehas  L.  Carnahan,  the  father  of  our 
subject.  was  a  farmer  of  Darke  county, 
Ohio-,  until  September  i,  1854.  at  which 
time  he  started  westward,  locating  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Orvil  township,  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois. On  this  farm  Mr.  Carnahan  made 
manv  improvements  and  resided  upon  this 
land  until  he  died,  October  (>.  1874.  The 
children  born  to  Elias  Carnahan  and  wife 
were  nine  in  numlier,  and  William,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  .sketch,  was  the  eldest  of  the  fam- 
ily, the  others  being  as  follows:  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  Jan-ies  Hayes,  a  farmer  near 
Bloomingtou.  Illinois;  Sarah  .\nn.  de- 
ceased: Martm,  who  now  resides  in  Sedg- 
wick county.  Kansas;  Frances,  who  mar- 
ried John  Hall,  of  Greenville,  Ohio;  Elias, 
who  is  a  resi<lent  of  Sedgwick  county,  Kan- 
sas;  Robert,  who-  is  also  a  farn-ier  in  Sedg- 


wick countv.  Kansas;  Charlotte,  who  mar- 
ried Henry  C.  Ouisenberry,  of  Lincoln, 
Illinois;  John,  who  died  young;  and  Mar- 
garet C,  who  died  in  1849,  all  of  them  be- 
ing given  a  cnmn-ion  school  education. 

While  a  resident  of  Darke  county.  Ohio, 
our  sulijcct.  W  illiam  Carnahan,  was  united 
in  n-iarriage  December  26,  1848,  to  Miss 
Hilary  Mark,  who  was  born  in  Adams  coun- 
tv. Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
John  .Mark,  who  was  a  farmer  in  that  lo- 
cality. .Mrs.  Carnahan  died  in  July,  1878, 
leaving  nine  children,  these  being:  Elias, 
l)orn  on  January  5.  1850,  married  Eliza- 
beth Gallagher,  of  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  a  general  merchan- 
dise business  at  Emden  under  the  firm 
name  of  Bo-wles  &  Company.  His  three 
children  were;  Harry  L..  deceased.  S.  C. 
and  D.  B.  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John 
Atkins,  resides  in  Oklahoma.  John  resides 
in  Sedgwick  county.  Kansas;  Ellen  is  the 
wife  of  Z,  :Mc.\llister  and  resides  in  Taze- 
well county.  Illinois;  Franklin  died  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years;  Clara,  the  wife 
of  Douglas  Thompson,  lives  in  Sedgwick 
county,  Kansas;  Kenneth  E.  married  Eme- 
line  Bennett  and  they  reside  in  Boynton 
to'wnship,  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  .\.lva 
G.  n-iarried  Catherine  .Vine,  and  they  are 
farmers,  living  in  Orvil  t(nvnship;  and 
Lucv.  who  married  Joshua  }>Iontgomery, 
resides    in    Or\-i]    township. 

In  1835  Mr.  Carnahan  followed  his  fa- 
ther to  Illinois  and  settled  on  section  10, 
near  his  father's  farm.  At  that  time  the 
town  of  lunden  was  not  in  existence  antl  the 
nearest  market  was  Peoria.  The  farm  was 
without  improvements  and  it  required  much 
and  constant  industry  to  place  the  land  under 
culti\'ation,  erect  suitable  buildings,  set  eiut 
orchards  and  attend  to  the  fencing,  but  for 
eight   years   our   subject   attended   to   these 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


affairs.  Moving-  then  to  another  farm 
south  of  this  one.  lie  remained  there  for 
three  years,  just  as  inckistrious  as  ever,  but 
at  tlie  end  of  tliat  time  tried  the  cuUivation 
of  tlie  old  Ware  farm,  in  Tazewell  county, 
returning  the  next  year  to  Logan  county. 
For  the  five  succeeding  years  he  lived  on  a 
farm  on  section  ii,  moving  then  to  what 
is  locally  known  as  the  Alexander  farm,  re- 
maining on  it  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Carnahan  then  moved  his  family 
into  the  village  of  Emden  and  for  several 
years  engaged  in  ranning  a  thresher  and 
corn  sheller.  later  going  back  to  farming 
for  several  more  years.  In  July,  1881.  how- 
ever, he  returned  to  Emden  and  was  en- 
gaged until  October,  1898,  in  the  hotel  and 
drav  business.  Selling  out  his  interests  at 
that  time  he  is  now  living  in  well-earned  re- 
tirement. For  six  years  he  efficiently  per- 
formed the  duties  of  constable,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  other  business.  During  the  past 
three  years  he  has  done  some  buying  and 
shipping  of  stock,  being  a  man  whose  en- 
ergy will  not  permit  him  to  be  entirely  idle. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Carnahan 
was  in  1881.  to  Mrs.  Mary  A.  (Johnstm) 
Snyder,  who  was  born  in  Scioto  county. 
Ohio,  on  July  _'.  1835.  and  was  a  daughter 
of  James  O.  an<l  Phebe  (Jeffries)  Johnson, 
the  former  of  wh(;m  was  lx)rn  in  1808,  and 
the  latter  June  i,  1817.  Mrs.  Carnahan 
was  the  widow  of  Andrew  J.  Snyder,  who 
was  a  nati\e  of  Scioto  count\-  and  mo\ed 
to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  in  1868,  settling 
in  Emden,  where  the  built  the  present  Em- 
den Hotel,  conducted  this  hostelry,  taught 
school  and  also  engaged  in  farming.  His 
death  occurred  on  July  30,  1877.  Mr.  and 
^Irs.  Snyder  had  seven  children,  as  follows : 
J.  Henry,  who  married  Mary  E.  Stafford  and 
resides  at  Mount  Pulaski,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged  in   a    general    mercantile    business; 


William  O.,  who  married  Jennie  Peck  and 
resides  at  Irma,  Wyoming;  Oscar  J.,  who 
resides  at  Emden,  Illinois;  J.  Milton,  a 
hcnel  man  of  luuden,  who  married  Laura 
Edwards  and  has  two  children.  Alma  and 
Arthur;  E.  J.,  who  resides  in  Irma.  Wyom- 
ing; Charles,  who  died  young;  and  Phoebe, 
who  died  in  1877. 

In  politics  Air.  Carnahan  has  been  an 
ardent  Re])ublican  ever  since  the  Civil  war, 
and  socially  he  is  connected  with  no  .irders, 
although  Mr.  Snyder,  his  step-s<in.  belongs 
to  both  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Woodmen. 
P(;th  are  also  members  o.f  the  Christian 
church.  Through  life  Mr.  Carnahan  has 
been  energetic  and  progressive,  interested  in 
the  progress  and  development  of  his  sec- 
ti<;n.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  the  township  and  county  and  is  highly 
esteemed. 


ROBERT  PECH. 

Robert  Pech,  of  Oran  township,  was 
born  in  Germany  on  Christmas  day,  1846, 
and  is  one  of  five  children  who  came  to  the 
hi  nie  of  Ferdinand  and  Dora  Pech. 
Ferdinand  Pech,  whi>  was  a  millwright, 
died  when  his  son  Robert  was  eight  years 
old.  Owing  to  the  death  of  his  father  our 
subject  was  obliged  to  assist  his  mother  in 
the  support  of  her  family  and  did  not  have 
the  opportunity  to  obtain  as  good  an  edu- 
cation as  he  desired.  Being  ambitious  to 
make  his  start  in  life  in  a  less  crowded 
country  than  his  native  one,  in  the  year 
1870.  when  twenty-four  years  of  age,  he 
took  passage  for  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica. He  landed  in  Xew  York,  then  jour- 
neyed to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  mason.  As  he  was  a  gcuxl  me- 
dia.lie  he  was  sncce'^'^ful  in  nbtaining  em- 
ployment. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  1871  he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  worked^  at  his  trade  till 
1875,  when  he  located  in  Logan  county. 
When  Mr.  Pech  first  settled  in  this  county 
he  started  a  brick  yard,  which  he  continued 
to  run  iov  thirteen  years.  The  first  three 
years  pro\'ed  very  unsuccessful,  but  since 
that  time  it  has  been  just  the  reverse,  ^^l^en 
he  first  started  in  this  industry  he  had  eigh- 
teen hundred  dollars,  but  lost  every  cent  in 
six  weeks  on  account  of  the  heavy  rains. 
A  little  at  a  time  he  accumulated  property 
till  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of.  fine  farming  land  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Oran  township,  with  a  good  resi- 
dence on  it.  He  is  \er\-  successful  as  a 
stock  raiser  and  the  great  herds  grazing  in 
his  wide  pastures  are  a  pleasing  sight. 

On  October  29,  1871,  Mr.  Pech  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Henrietta 
Stark,  a  daughter  of  Jacol>  Stark,  who  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  but  died  in  \\'aterl(io, 
Wisconsin.  The  marriage  ceremonv  of  Mr. 
Pech  and  Miss  Stark  was  jierformed  at 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  to  them  were 
horn  ten  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. Their  living  children  are :  Fred- 
crick  W..  born  May  29.  1874:  William  P., 
born  June  3.  1877:  Henry  C,  torn  October 
I,  1880:  Adolf  J.,  born  April  16.  1882: 
Dora,  born  Xovember  9,  1883;  Anna  E.. 
born  Xovember  5,  1885 ;  Henrietta,  her 
mother's  namesake,  born  July  29.  1889,  and 
Arthur,  the  baby,  born  May  29,  1896. 

]\Ir.  Pech.  his  wife  and  their  children  are 
strict  members  of  the  Lutheran  St.  Louis 
church.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  a  man  who  has 
never  sought  publicity  Init  by  his  honesty 
has  won  the  confidence  of  the  citizens  of  his 
coniUiuint}-  who  have  honored  him  with  the 
presidency  of  the  scliool  Ijoard  and  also 
made  him  a  director,  which  place  he  has  held 


for  three  years.  He  is  one  of  Logan  coun- 
ty's most  honest  and  industrious  farmers. 
His  mother,  who  resides  in  Iowa  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-three  years,  may  well  be 
proud  of  her  boy  who  began  his  life  work 
with  no  capital  but  his  own  strong  hands 
and  brave  heart,  and  in  a  strange  land  has 
\\'on  financial  success  and  an  honored  name. 
He  is  truly  a  self-made  man.  Always  just 
in  his  dealings,  he  merits  the  success  whicli 
has  attended  his  well-directed  efl:'<;irts. 


AXTHOXY  J.  LUDLA^I. 

One  of  Eminence  township's  old  and 
honored  citizens  is  Anthony  J.  Ludlam, 
who  has  been  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  this  county  for  almost  half  a 
century.  A  native  of  X"ew  Jersey,  he  was 
born  at  Dennis  Creek,  July  6,  1827,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jeremiah  J.  and  Deborah  A.  (  Fort- 
iner)  Ludlam.  Our  subject's  maternal 
grandfather  was  Joshua  Fortiner.  who  was 
born  at  Cape  May,  Xew  Jersey,  and  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  was 
lost  at  sea.  Jeremiah  J.  Ludlam.  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  also  born  at  Cape  Alay 
of  English  ancestry  and  made  his  home  in 
the  east  until  1843.  when  he  remo\'ed  to 
Sangamon  county.  Illinois,  \vhere  he  oper- 
ated a  rented  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  for  fi\-e  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  sa\-ed  enough  money  to  purchase  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  improved 
and  successfully  carried  on  until  the  death 
of  his  wife,  which  occurred  December  2, 
1874.  He  then  made  his  home  with  our 
subject  for  a  time,  but  spent  his  last  days 
with  his  son  Rhiner  in  Iowa,  where  he  died. 
He  had  a  family  of  six  children,  fi\e  of 
whom   still   sur\-i\e  him. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
in  his  native  state  and  remained  under  the 
parental  rix>f  until  fourteen  years  of  age. 
when  he  went  to  sea  and  si)ent  three  years 
on  the  briny  deep.  In  1843  'le  accompanied 
the  family  on  their  removal  to  Sangamon 
county.  Illinois,  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing there  for  five  years.  He  was  married  in 
1848  to  Miss  Priscilla  S.  Hand,  a  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  Hand,  who  was  originally 
from  New  York  and  died  in  Xew  Jersey. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Lud- 
1am  removed  to  Springfield,  where  he  found 
employment  in  a  general  store,  serving  in 
the  capacity  of  clerk  for  five  years.  In  1834 
he  came  to  Logan  county,  and  resumeti 
fanning  in  Atlanta  town.ship.  where  he  re- 
sided until  1880.  with  the  exception  of  three 
years  spent  on  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres 
in  Mt.  Hope  township.  McLean  county. 
Since  then  he  has  made  his  home  in  Emin- 
ence township,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres  on  section  10.  This 
place  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved,  and  its  neat  antl  thrifty  ap- 
pearance testifies  to  the  careful  supervision 
of  the  owner. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ludlam  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom"  five  are  living, 
namely:  Ann  Julietta.  torn  September  17. 
1850:  Delx)rah  A..  lx>rn  June  6.  185.2:  An- 
thony J..  Jr..  born  July  25.  1854:  Edward 
E..  Ixirn  May  15.  1862:  and  LeSitia  S., 
l)orn  October  2.  1804.  Those  deceased  were 
Nathaniel  H..  who  died  May  17.  1888:  El- 
ton G..  who  died  April  2^.  1865  :  Sharon  T.. 
who  died  October  14.  1868:  Henry  H..  who 
died  Septemljer  12.  1870:  Ada  P..  who  died 
Sejrtember  22.  1874:  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  Besides  their  i»wn  children  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ludlam  have  reared  three  others 
from  infancy.  This  worthy  couple  are  noted 
for  their  kindness  c.if  heart  and  generositv 


and. are  universally  respected  and  esteemed. 
Thev  are  earnest  and  faithful  members  of 
the  Methixlist  church,  to  which  their  family 
also  belong,  and  Mr.  Ludlam  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  Sir 
Knight.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Henry  Clay,  the  ^\'hig  candidate,  and  is 
now  identified  with  the  Republican  jiarty. 
He  was  connected  witli  the  legislativ  e  work 
at  the  state  house  in  Springfield  in  an  of- 
ficial capacity  for  eighteen  years,  and  has  al- 
ways  conscientiously  discharged  any  duty 
devolving  upon  him.  whether  .public  or  pri- 
vate. He  is  a  well  educated  and  well  read 
man,  who  takes  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  ^■alued 
citizens  of  his  community.  He  has  passed 
the  allotted  age  of  three  score  years  and  ten 
but  is  still  energetic,  and  with  exception  of 
occasional  touches  of  rheumatism  still  en- 
joys good  healtli. 


TOHX  T.  GREEN. 


John  T.  Green,  a  skillful  and  up-t»>-tlate 
farmer  living  on  section  15.  East  Lincoln 
township,  was  born  in  Scott  county.  Illinois, 
on  the  1 6th  of  December.  1848.  his  parents 
lieing  Thomas  and  Mary  (  Morrison  )  Green. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  England,  but  was 
onlv  a  year  old  when  brought  by  his  parents 
to  America,  the  family  locating  in  Scott 
county.  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
r.y  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  antl  led  a 
ipiiet  and  useful  life.  He  was  an  active 
worker  and  faithful  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  After  residing  in 
Scott  county  for  many  years  he  came  to  Lo- 
gan county  and  s.\^nt  his  last  days  in  East 
Lincoln  townshiii.  where  he  passed  away  in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


August,  1897,  at  the  age  of  about  seventy 
years.  His  wife  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six,  and  makes  her  home  with  a 
grandson.  She  is  a  native  uf  Ohio,  and  the 
mother  of  four  children,  namely:  John  T., 
of  this  re\-ie\v ;  James  N.,  who  is  a  machin- 
ist employed  in  the  car  shops  at  Jacksonville, 
Illinois;  :\Iary  E.,  widow  of  A.  Kilpatrick : 
and  Daniel.  The  two  younger  live  with 
their  mother  on  the  home  farm. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  county  to  a 
limited  extent  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
remained  at  home,  giving  bis  father  the  bene- 
fit of  his  labdrs  until  twenty-four.  The  fol- 
lowing twii  years  he  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  own  account.  On  coming  tO'  East  Lin- 
coln township  in  1876,  be  located  on  ilie 
southeast  quarter  of  section  16,  which  land 
belongs  to  Uncle  Dan  Curry,  and  here  he  has 
since  successfully  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing. He  has  always  kept  up  the  impro\e- 
ments  on  the  jilace,  and  its  neat  and  thrifty 
appearance  testifies  to  his  careful  super- 
A'ision. 

^\\\  Green  was  married  in  Scott  county, 
Alarch  15,  1871,  to  Miss  Carrie  Meathering- 
bam.  who  was  born  in  England,  August  24, 
1845,  and  came  tO'  this  country  when  a  child 
of  two  years.  She  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Xew  York,  where  she  li\ed  until  the 
rem(i\'al  of  the  family  to  this  state.  Unto 
'Mv.  and  Mrs.  Green  were  liorn  seven  chil- 
dren, ])ut  two  died  in  infancy.  Those  li\'- 
ing  are  Thomas  C,  a  farmer  of  East  Lin- 
coln township;  Clara,  Ethel,  Pearl  and  Jay, 
all  at  home.  They  were  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  East  Lincoln  township. 

Mr.  Green  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Repulilican  party,  and  for  eleven  years 
lie  lias  efficiently  served  as  school  director  in 
bis  district,  having  ever  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  educational  affairs.     r)Oth  be  and 


bis  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  in  which  Mr.  Green  has  served 
as  steward  and  is  at  present  the  chorister, 
and  are  people  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munitv  where  thev  reside. 


ERAXK  W.  COTTLE. 

iM-ank  W.  Cotlle.  cashier  of  the  Bank  of 
I'llkbart,  was  Imrn  in  Somersetshire,  Eng- 
land, March  15,  1847.  When  but  f(jur 
}-ears  of  age  be  emijarked  with  his  parents, 
Erancis  E.  and  ,\nne  (Biiurchier)  Cottle, 
<in  the  sailing  vessel  Clara  Wheeler,  and 
after  a  journey  of  sixty-one  days  landed 
in  Boston  harbor.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives of  England,  and  the  father  was  an 
oificer  in  the  British  na\y,  Ijut  in  America 
de\cited  bis  energies  entirel}-  tn  mercantile 
p.ursuits.  Until  jSCi^  be  cnntinued  to  live 
in  Ijiistcm  and  \icinity.  in  the  meantime 
ba\ing  made  frequent  trips  to  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  considerable  farm  land. 
After  locating  in  Chicago  at  the  end  of  the 
Civil  war,  he  engaged  in  business  on  a 
large  scale,  and  at  the  time  of  bis  death, 
in  December,  1884,  was  a  man  of  wealth 
and  ])rominence  in  the  financial  world.  He 
was  a  Quaker  in  religious  belief,  and  a  Re- 
pubHcan  in  natinnal  politics.  The  senior 
-Mr.  Cottle,  as  well  as  bis  wife,  who  died 
in  1896,  are  buried  at  Blount  Greenwood 
cemetery,  Chicago.  They  were  the  parents 
of  two  children,  Erank  \\\  and  Jordan  B., 
who  were  born  in  England,  and  came  to 
.-vmerica  in  1851.  Jordan  B.  married  Louise 
Burnett,  of  Los  Angeles.  California,  and 
is  now  the  general  manager  of  the  National 
Metal   Company,  of  the  old  City  of  ]\Iex- 


F.   W.    COTTLE. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  education  of  Frank  W.  Cottle  was 
acquired  at  a  primary  school  in  Boston,  at 
the  corner  of  Revere  and  AN'esIt  Cedaa- 
streets,  conducted  by  Miss  Corthell :  at 
Phillips  Grammar  School:  and  at  the  Park 
Latin  School,  conducted  by  Mr.  Chandler. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  while  still 
a  Ixiy,  he  left  .school,  and  in  1872  went  to 
Lake  Superior,  becoming;  bookkeeper  m 
the  First  National  Bank  at  Marquette, 
JNIichigan.  In  1877  he  came  to  Lincoln, 
Illiiwis.  as  teller  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  that  place,  remaining  there  until  he  came 
to  Elkhart  in  1890.  His  name  will  ever  l)e 
associated  with  the  organization  of  the 
sound  commercial  institution  of  which  he 
lias  since  Ijeen  the  cashier,  as  well  as  stock- 
holder and  director. 

At  Marquette,  :Michigan,  November  5. 
1873.  Mr.  Cottle  married  'Sla.ry  Eleanor 
daughter  of  Stephen  R.  and  Sarah  E.  (Ban- 
croft) Gay,  natives  of  Derby,  Connecticut. 
I\Irs.  Cottle  was  born  in  Berkshire  county. 
[Massachusetts,  [March  20,  1852.  and  comes 
of  old  Revolutionary  stock,  and  is  herself 
a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  In  1857  she  went  to  }*Iar- 
quette,  Michigan,  with  her  parents,  where 
her  father  Ijecame  a  large  iron  manufac- 
turer. He  erected  the  first  blast  furnace 
on  Lake  Superior,  and  was  the  first  to  dem- 
onstrate that  pig  iron  could  be  manufac- 
tured from  the  ore  of  Lake  Superior  in  a 
blast  furnace.  In  1864  he  visited  New 
York  and  on  the  return  journey  \\as 
stiricken  with  pneumonia  at  Detroit, 
^'icliigan,  from  which  he  never  recoverer.. 
He  is  bvried  at  West  Stockbridge.  [Mass.-, 
chusetts,  and  his  wife  is  living  with  her 
oldest  daughter.  Mrs.  \'an  Cleve.  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  Of  the  children  in  the 
■family  three  only  are  now  li\ing.  and  be- 


sides Mrs.  Charles  Van  Cleve,  who  has 
three  children,  there  is  Harry  B..  who  is  a 
bachelor,  and  Edward,  who  married  Anna 
Kellogg,  now  deceased,  of  Ypsilanti,  Mich- 
igan, and  who  now  resides  in  St.  Louis. 
Missouri.  Of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cottle.  Jordan  B.  is  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Bank  of  Elkhart,  and  is  an  extremely 
popular  and  capable  young  man.  He  was 
born  December  i^,  1S74,  in  Marquette. 
Michigan,  and  has  developed  numerous  tal- 
ents, not  the  least  of  which  has  resulted 
in  his  reputation  as  one  of  the  finest  horse- 
men in  the  state,  if  not  in  the  United  States. 
He  is  known  especially  as  a  crack  Rough 
Rider,  and  no  broncho  browses  upon  the 
])lains  with  a  will  too  stubborn  to  be  con- 
trolled by  this  unequalled  student  of  equine 
nature.  A  great  favorite  with  Buffalo  Bill, 
and  the  W'M  West  people  in  general,  he 
often  assists  them  in  giving  exhibitions  of 
prowess,  to  the  delight  and  wonderment  of 
spectators.  To  assist  in  carrying  out  his 
diversions  he  possesses  the  finest  possible 
collection  of  bridles  and  saddles  and  general 
equipment.  Of  the  other  children.  Philip 
Gay  was  born  in  Lincoln,  Illinois.  March 
21.  1882.  and  read  law  with  Senator  John- 
son, of  Chicago,  and  is  now  practicing  at 
Oklahoma  City,  Oklahoma;  John  G.  was 
born  June  i.  1884.  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  and 
is  attending  high  school  in  his  native  town ; 
Francis  W..  born  October  9,  1887,  died 
July  2^.  1888;  Robert  S.,  was  born  in  Lin- 
coln, June  10,  1889.  and  is  attending  school 
at  Elkhart :  and  Oliver  B.  was  born  January 
15.  1895,  3t  Elkhart.  Mr.  Cottle  is  presi- 
dent of  the  village  of  Elkhart,  and  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  as  justice  of  the 
l)eace  of  Hurlbut  township. 

Both  Mr.  and  [Mrs.  Cottle  are  Ejjicopa- 
lians.both  being  descended  from  archliisliops 


478 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Canterbury,  the  former  from  Arch- 
bishop Bourchier  and  ]\Irs.  Cottle  from 
Archbishop  Bancroft. 


DAVID  H.  HARTS. 

David  H.  Harts,  a  well-known  attorney 
of  Lincoln,  is  a  natixe  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  the  Xeppanoose  valley  amid  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains  of  Lycoming  county.  No- 
vember 9,  1839.  The  family  is  of  Swiss 
lineage  and  was  founded  in  America  in  col- 
onial days.  Philip  Hartz,  the  great-grand- 
father of  cur  subject,  was  l)orn  in  German- 
town.  Pennsyhania,  in  1745,  and  retained 
the  original  spelling  of  the  family  name 
which,  however,  has  since  been  changed  to 
its  present  form.  David  Harts,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Berks  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1778,  at  which  time  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  was  in  progress.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bixler.  and  followed  farm- 
ing as  a  life  W(irk.  His  s^n.  J(  hn  Harts, 
was  born  at  the  famib-  iKaue  in  Berks  coun- 
ty, in  1809,  and  also  became  an  agricul- 
turist, his  home  being  in  Lycoming  county. 
Pennsylvania.  He  wedded  ]\Iary  ]M.  Epler, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  18 14,  and 
died  in  1840.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Epkr.  a  native  of  York  county,  that  state, 
who  married  Eve  Christ.  The  Epler  fam-, 
ily  is  of  English  descent  and  representatives 
of  the  name  are  now  resident  of  Jackson- 
A"ille,  Illinois.  Mrs.  John  Harts  was  sur- 
vi\ed  by  two  sons,  David  H.  and  P.  W., 
the  latter  a  resident  of  Springlield,  Illinois. 
In  1846  the  father  married  again  and  in 
1856  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  prairie  land  in 
Logan  county. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  sixteen  yeiirs 
of  his  life  amid  the  mountains  of  his  native 


county  and  there  aided  in  the  cultivation  of 
a  small  farm.  Lessons  of  industry,  perse- 
verance and  determination  were  early  learn- 
ed and  have  largely  shaped  his  destiny, 
proving  important  factors  in  his  success. 
Hi5  educational  pri\-ileges  were  limited.  Init 
through  a  four-months  winter  term  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  a  school  house  which 
st(_i(jd  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  and  which 
was  supplied  with  westle  or  stool  benches, 
without  support  f(jr  the  back  and  too  high 
by  eight  or  ten  inches  for  the  children's 
feet  to  reach  the  floor.  Instruction  was 
principally  given  in  the  "Three  R's — readin", 
'ritin'  and  'rithmetic" — and  grammar  and 
geograph}-  were  not  taught,  so  that  the  edu- 
cation which  ^Ir.  Harts  olitainetl  there  was 
\er_\-  meager.  He  was  \evy  fond  of  trout 
fishing  and  hunting  among  the  mountains, 
and  gained  many  lessons  from  nature,  at 
the  same  time  developing  through  his  out- 
door life  a  strong-  constitution. 

After  coming  to  Illinois  he  labored  on 
the  farm  and  engaged  in  teaching  scIkioI  un- 
til i86j.  He  was  not  content  with  his  own 
knowledge,  however,  and  while  upon  the 
farm  he  laid  a  solid  foundation  for  his  own 
education  by  piu-suing  tbe  study  of  English 
grammar,  geography,  plain  surveying  and 
algebra,  and  was  so  far  advanced  in  the 
German  language  that  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  was  able  to  read,  write  and 
speak  it  well.  He  mastered  the  other  studies 
mentioned  and  during  the  same  period 
wrote  nunrerous  articles  of  a  locaJ  char- 
acter for  the  local  press.  His  father  was  in 
limited  financial  circumstaiices  and  was  thus 
unable  to  give  his  son  opportunities  for  ad- 
\anced  education.  There  was  a  mortgage 
ui)on  the  farm  and  l)etween  1856  and  i86r 
— die  hardest  times  ever  experienced  in  Illi- 
nois, a  delit  of  twenty-fi\-e  hundred  dollars- 
was  paid  off  by  the  proceeds  from  the  farm 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  the  labor  of  our  subject  and  his  brother, 
who  worked  out  by  tlie  montli. 

When  tlie  country  became  involved  in 
civil  war  Mr.  Harts  could  not  content  him- 
self to  remain  in  the  fields,  for  his  patriotic 
spirit  was  aroused  and  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
\ate  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Illinois  Infantr>-,  under  Colonel  R.  B. 
Latham.  On  the  22i\  of  July.  1862,  at 
Carroll  Station.  Tennessee,  the  company 
was  surrendered  by  the  captain  without 
lighting  in  defense  and  against  the  earnest 
protest  of  Mr.  Harts  and  many  of  the  men. 
for  which  he  was  soon  afterward  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant,  and  when  a 
little  later  a  vacancy  occurred  he  was  made 
first  lieutenant.  In  the  fall  of  1894  the 
captain  was  called  before  a  court  martial 
on  the  charge  of  cowardice,  and  rather  than 
meet  the  charge  he  resigned,  and  in  Decem- 
ber following  Mr.  Harts  was  made  captain 
of  the  company,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  July  12.  1865.  when  he  was  mustered 
out  of  service,  but  the  company  was  not  dis- 
banded until  Aug.  5.  1865.  He  was  a  pris- 
oner under  parole  from  December.  1862. 
until  September.  1863,  being  confined  to  the 
Benton  Barracks  at  St.  Louis  most  of  the 
lime.  Then  he  found  employment  by  being 
detached  as  a  clerk  in  the  post  adjutant's 
I  tlice.  and  on  rejoining  his  command  at 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  first  boat  that  ascended  the 
Arkansas  river  to  Fort  Smith  after  the  cap- 
ture of  Little  Rock,  and  made  the  trip  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery  and  fifty  men — a  dis- 
tance of  six  hundred  miles — over  shoals  and 
sandbars,  covering  a  period  of  thirty  days 
<>T  more,  relieving  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Smith  with  provisions  and  clotfnng,  with 
the  loss  of  but  a  single  man.  He  remained 
with  the  cmiinand  in  Arkansas  and  was 
for  eighteen  months  constantly  on  duty,  on 


military  commissions  and  C";>urt  martials,  in 
addition  to  the  ordinary  tlulies  of  a  line  of- 
ficer. 

After  his  return  from  the  war  Captain 
Harts  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  in  the 
Chicago  Law  School,  in  1865.  and  was 
graduated  the  following  year.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  April.  1866.  although 
he  was  not  graduated  until  July  of  that  year. 
In  August  he  established  his  ofiice  in  Lin- 
coln and  awaited  clients.  It  was  not  long- 
before  he  had  demonstrated  his  ability  to 
successfully  cope  with  the  intricate  prob- 
lems of  jurisprudence,  but  in  the  meantime 
he  again  entered  military  life,  for  in  August. 
1867.  he  was  appointed  by  President  John- 
son a  first  lieutenant  in  the  regular  army,  al- 
tliough  the  appointment  did  not  reach  him 
until  October.  He  accepted,  but  owing  to 
his  fathers  death,  which  occurred  soon 
afterward,  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish 
the  position.  He  then  returned  to  practice 
in  Lincoln,  and  was  not  long  in  gaining  a 
lucrative  business.  His  success  affords  the 
best  evidence  of  his  capabilities. 

Mr.  Harts  has  also  become  largely  in- 
terested in  the  development  of  the  coal  mines 
of  Lincoln,  and  has  been  instrumental  in 
promoting  any  enterprises  which  have 
proven  of  value  to  the  city  as  well  as  to 
the  stockholders.  He  is  now  the  owner  of 
much  realty,  and  while  carrying  on  his  own 
business  interests  and  placing  his  invest- 
ments he  has  aided  materially  in  the  im- 
provement of  the  city. 

In  1878  Mr.  Harts  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Emma  Brewster,  of  Lin- 
coln, a  native  of  Xew  York  and  a  daughter 
of  Ethan  Brewster,  a  direct  descendant  of 
Elder  Brewster  of  Mayflower  fame.  They 
have  two  sons.  David  H.,  the  elder,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  State  University  at  Cham- 
paign and   is  now  pursuing  his  education. 


48o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  Heidelburg,  Germany,  while  John  M.  is 
a  graduate  of  the  high  school  of  Lincoln. 
The  family  have  a  beautiful  home,  which 
is  celebrated  for  its  gracious  hospitality. 

:Sh-.  Harts'  early  political  training  made 
him  an  Abolitionist  and  Republican.  He 
received  his  anti-slavery  sentiments  from 
Erastus  \\"right,  formerly  of  Springfield, 
of  whom  he  was  a  great  admirer  and  friend. 
He  has  never  felt  himself  bound  by  party 
ties,  but  has  supported  such  measures  as  he 
believed  for  the  general  good  and  voted  for 
the  men  whom  he  has  regarded  as  best  qual- 
ified for  ofifice.  In  1878  he  was  elected  t'^ 
represent  the  thirty-first  district  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly,  and  in  1881  he  was  chosen 
chief  executive  of  the  city  of  Lincoln.  In 
1888  he  made  the  race  for  governor  on  the 
Prohibition  ticket,  and  has  long  been  widely 
known  as  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  tem- 
perance cause.  He  has  never  used  intox- 
icants and  supports  all  objects  which  tend 
to  the  uplifting  of  his  fellow  men.  In  early 
life  he  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  his  life  has  been 
molded  by  his  Christian  faith.  He  is  some- 
what retiring,  but  always  courteous  and 
kindly  in  manner.  .  He  holds  friendship  in- 
violable and  every  trust  sacred.  Faultless 
in  honor,  fearless  in  reputation  and  stainless 
in  conduct,  the  life  history  of  David  H. 
Harts  is  one  which  refiects  credit  upon  his 
profession  and  the  city  of  his  residence. 


SILAS  H.  DRAKE. 

The  Drake  family  of  Logan  cnmty. 
Illinois,  traces  an  English  ancestry  to  the 
noted  Sir  Frances  Drake,  and  later  its  mem- 
bers became  distinguished  in  connection 
A\ith  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  prominent 


in  the  early  struggles  and  settlement  of  the 
American  colonies. 

Silas  H.  Drake,  of  this  biography,  who 
is  a  prominent  and  substantial  citizen  of 
Logan  county,  is  a  worthy  representJltive 
of  this  honorable  family.  The  birth  of  }ilr. 
Drake  occurred  in  Miamisburg,  Mimtgom- 
ery  county,  Ohio.  July  9.  1843,  and  he  is 
a  son  of  Charles  S.  and  Lucy  E.  (Clayton) 
Drake,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  Au- 
gust II.  1802,  in  Alontrose,  New  Jersey, 
and  the  latter  at  Glory  Hole.  Clayton's 
?ilills.  near  ^ilonmouth.  Xew  Jersey.  Jan- 
uary 9,  181 1,  their  marriage  taking  place 
in  August,   1826.  in  Munnmuth. 

For  two  years  Air.  and  Mrs.  Drake  re- 
sided in  Monmouth,  emigrating  then  to  Mi- 
amisburg, Ohio,  where  for  seven  years  Mr. 
Drake  carried  on  a  shoemaking  business, 
going  from  there  to  Delaware  county,  the 
location  of  the  \\'esleyan  University,  and 
lived  there  until  1852.  At  that  date  he  re- 
mined  his  family  to  Knox  county.  li;cating 
nine  miles  south  of  Mt.  \'erncn,  that  state, 
and  CLming  to  Illinois  in  1855.  The  eight 
hundred  acres  of  land  which  Mr.  Drake 
then  purchased  was  raw  prairie,  and  much 
labor  was  required  to  place  this  land  under 
cultivaticiu.  In  doing  this  it  was  necessary 
to  use  four  yoke  of  oxen,  the  machinery 
needed,  also,  being  of  a  very  primitive  kind, 
according  to  the  ideas  of  the  present  farmer. 
Neighbors  were  far  apart,  railroads  few, 
and  the  nearest  market  was  at  Springfield. 
Here,  however,  he  passed  long  and  useful 
years,  buying  much  land,  at  one  time  own- 
ing one  thousand  acres:  filling  all  of 
the  prominent  and  responsible  offices  in  the 
gift  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  dying  June 
24,  1891.  esteemed  and  regretted  by  the 
whole  community.  His  whole  life  bad  been 
(jiie  filled  with  devotion  to  his  family, 
church   and   country,   his   religious    connec- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


tion  liaving  long  been  witli  the  Metlitxlist 
cliurcli.  at  Willianisville.  In  tlie  Masonic 
order  he  was  higlily  vaUied,  also  in  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Ih'IIows.  and  was 
an  ardent  supporter  oi  the  Republican 
party. 

The  honored  and  beloved  niDther  of  nur 
subject  passed  away  January  ly,  189O,  and 
l)oth  i)arents  were  reverently  interred  at 
i'ancy  Creek  cemetery.  The\-  were  parents 
of  ten  children  as  follows:  John,  who 
went  to  California  and  dieil  there  in  1S49: 
Thefxlore  who  died  at  the  age  if  c:ne  and 
one-half  years;  Charles.  wh<)  died  in  in 
fancy;  Moses  C.  who  married  ]\liss  Jennie 
Van  Osdell,  of  Crawfordsville.  Indiana. 
and  both  are  now  deceased;  Henry,  wlm 
married  Cdlumliia  A.  McKinney.  of  Spring- 
field, where  they  reside:  Charles  12).  wlm 
is  a  graduate  of  ^'ale  Cnllege  and  Drew 
Theological  Semin;n-y  and  is  ;i  merchant  in 
Xew  Haven.  Cimnecticut :  .Silas  I!.,  i^t  this 
sketch:  Octavius.  wlm  married  Alice  Wea- 
ver and  later  went  U>  C'alifurnia.  where  he 
died:  Zachery  T..  who  married  ^laggie 
Lcxrkridge  and  resides  un  the  old  home- 
stead: and  Lizzie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Clampet  and  resides  in  Jacksonville,  Illi- 
nois. 

The  early  educatiim  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  obtained  in  the  Liiui  drove  dis- 
trict .school,  but  his  studies  were  interrupted 
by  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Although 
but  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  left  his  books 
to  become  a  defender  of  his  country,  enlist- 
ing in  her  service  August  29,  1861,  in  Com- 
])any  K,  Fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry, 
and  he  was  accompanied  by  his  brother  Oc- 
tavius, who  was  but  fifteen  years  old.  The 
loyal  spirit  of  both  ])aternal  and  maternal 
ancestry  burned  in  their  veins,  (jrandfather 
Clayton  having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Patriot 
army  and  suffering  imprisonment  at  the  bat- 


tle of  Princeton;  Thomas  Kane,  another  an- 
cestcir.  also  serving  in  the  same  army;  still 
another  \aliantly  ser\ing  under  Commodore 
I'erry.  while  his  father  was  a  member  oi  the 
militia  called  out  once  a  year  after  the  Uevo- 
luti(.nary  war.  .Mr.  Drake,  of  this  skctcli, 
served  faitiifnlly  through  three  years  and 
three  months,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Champion  Hills,  Jackson,  Mississippi,  and 
tiie  siege  of  Vicksburg,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged November  14,  1864. 

During  the  two  years  following  his  re- 
turn fro.m  the  army  Mr.  Drake  was  a  student 
at  the  \\  esleyan  I'niversity  at  Bloomington, 
and  then  went  as  far  west  as  Nebraska, 
where  he  took  up  a  homestead  claim  ami 
lived  upon  it  for  three  years,  but  later  re- 
turned to  lUinriis  and  exchanged  his  farm 
there  for  one  he  n(iw  occupies,  and  resided 
w  ith  his  father  for  ten  years. 

On  December  1 1,  1879.  at  the  old  home- 
stca  '  m  this  county,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  ]Miss  Sarah  Wright,  who  was  born 
in  Watseka,  Illinois,  .August  11,  i8r)0.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  T.  and  Laura 
(\\'a.shbum)  ^^'right,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  the  latter  of 
Prairie  City.  Illinois.  Father  Wright  was 
killed  al  uie  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  after 
which  time  the  mother  came  west  ami  lo- 
cated at  Prairie  City  and  there  married 
James  Chandler,  both  being  now^  deceased. 
The  three  children  of  the  first  marriage  were 
as  follows:  Clara,  wdio  married  Joseph 
Lindley.  later  Jose])h  Pratt,  the  editor  of  a 
news])aper  in  Webster  City.  Iowa:  Aleta.  the 
wife  of  David  liacon,  who  is  a  large  mine 
owner  :md  resides  in  Wel)b  City,  Iowa:  and 
.Sar.ah.  the  wife  of  our  sul)ject. 

.\fter  marriage  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Drake  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  which  they  have  since 
()-ci")i,'d  and  wi'i'b  is  one  of  the  very  best 
in  Logan  countv.     It  consists  of  two  bun- 


482 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


drr J.  niif!  fort}  acres  of  the  best  land  in  Hurl- 
l)ut  township,  and  his  elegant,  modern 
residence,  just  completed,  is  an  ideal  country 
home.  ^Ir.  Drake  is  a  fine  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  and  has  served  in  many  repre- 
sentative offices  in  his  township.  For 
fifteen  years  he  was  the  most  efficient  com- 
missioner of  highways  and  one  of  the  town- 
ship trustees.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  Modern  Woodmen 
and  Farmers'  Alliance  orders,  and  in  politics 
is  one  of  the  stanch  Democrats  of  this  sec- 
tion. 

The  children  born  to  :Mr.  and  >,Irs.  Drake 
are  as  follows  :  Clara,  born  April  20.  1881  ; 
Lucy,  born  June  14,  1883:  John  C.  born 
Jnlv  30.  1886:  and  Cora,  born  September  27. 
'1889. 


FRANK  ATLASS. 

Success  is  determined  by  one's  aliility  to 
recognize  opportunity  and  to  pursue  this 
with  a  resolute  and  unflagging  energy.  It 
results  from  continued  labor,  and  the  man 
who  thus  accomplishes  his  purpose  usually 
becomes  an  important  factor  in  the  business 
circles  of  the  community  with  which  he  is 
connected.  Through  such  means  Mr.  At- 
lass  has  attained  a  leading  place  among  the 
representative  business  men  of  Lincoln. 

He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Grivia, 
Germany,  August  5.  1868,  and  in  1871  ac- 
companied his  parents,  ]\Ioses  and  Rebecca 
Atlass,  on  their  emigration  to  America. 
The  family  landed  in  New  York,  and  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
where  they  resided  for  fifteen  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Lafayette,  that  state,  where 
the  parents  made  a  permanent  home  and  still 
reside. 

Frank  Atlass  attended  the  public  schools 


of  Indianapolis,  completing  his  education  in 
the  high  school  of  that  city.  He  then  began 
his  business  career  at  Lafayette,  Indiana,  as 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  ]\Iax  Atlass  & 
Brcther,  dealers  in  poultry.  At  the  end  of 
four  years  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  com- 
pany and  remo\ed  to  Decatur,  Illinois, 
where  he  carried  on  the  same  business, 
buying  out  the  firm  of  Bills  &  Mason.  After 
two  years  spent  at  that  place  he  disposed  of 
his  interests  there,  and  in  1890  came  to  Lin- 
coln and  opened  an  establishment  in  a  build- 
ing owned  by  Frank  Frorer,  as  a  wholesale 
dealer,  packer  and  shipper  of  poultry,  eggs, 
butter,  hides,  wool  and  junk.  When  that 
Iniilding  was  burned  he  bought  property  in 
Lincoln,  and  subsequently  purchased  his 
])resent  store  house,  which  he  has  enlarged 
and  remodeled,  making  it  one  of  the  best 
buildings  adapted  to  his  business  to  be  found 
in  this  section  of  the  state.  It  is  a  large, 
substantial  brick  structure.  Mr.  Atlass' 
l)usiness  in  Lincoln  has  grown  so  rapidly  that 
he  new  furnishes  employment  to  fifty  people, 
and  ships  annually  from  this  place  two  or 
three  hundred  carloads,  his  principal  markets 
being  New  Yo^rk  City  and  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  has  established  branch 
houses  at  Carlinville,  Delavan,  Mt.  Pulaski, 
Bone  Gap  and  New  Holland,  Illinois,  and 
has  a  manager  at-  each  place.  His  business 
at  Lincoln  now  amounts  to  over  a  quarter 
of  a  million  dollars  annually.  He  is  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Lincoln  National  Bank, 
and  has  already  accumulated  considerable 
property.  At  present  he  is  erecting  an  ele- 
gant residence  on  North  Logan  street,  which 
will  be  modern  in  all  its  appointments  and 
will  cost  at  least  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 

I\Ir.  Atlass  married  Miss  Sarah  Barnard, 
of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  they  now  have 
two  children :  Irma  and  Harry  Leslie. 
Politically  Mr.  Atlass  is  a  stanch  supporter 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


483 


of  the  Republican  party  and  its  principles : 
iind  socially  is  a  member  df  Lincoln  Lodge. 
X().  204,  I.  O.  O.  F.  As  a  business  man 
he  is  best  known.  lio\vc\cr,  and  in  all  liis 
undertakings  he  has  prospered  thus  far.  his 
excellent  success  being  but  tiie  logical  result 
of  his  careful  and  painstaking  business 
methods.  He  is  still  comparatively  a  young 
man.  but  has  already  \von  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  commercial  circles. 


gec)R(;e  h,  smith. 

Among  the  prosjierous  farmers  of  Broad- 
well  township,  Logan  county.  Illinois,  is 
George  H.  Smith,  who  resides  on  a  hue  farm 
on  section  27.  He  is  the  son  of  George  J. 
Smith  and  Elizabeth  ( Luckhart )  Smith. 
The  father  was  the  son  of  Balthaser  Smith. 
who  never  came  to  America  but  resided  in 
Germany  all  his  life.  George  J.  Smith  was 
born  in  Hesse,  Germany,  in  1842.  and  after 
coming  to  America  in  1S64  he  married 
Elizabeth  Luckhart,  who  was  also  born  in 
Germany  in  1838.  They  .settled  in  Xew 
York  City,  where  they  lived  for  eight  years. 
They  had  eight  children,  namely  :  Lewis  H., 
who  resides  at  home  in  Broadwell  township; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Lincoln  Eisiminger,  also 
of  Broadwell:  George,  our  subject;  Martha, 
who  died  in  childhood:  Katie,  wife  of  Frank 
Davison,  of  Clinton,  Illinois;  Mary  H. ;  An- 
nie, wife  of  James  R.  AN'roughton,  of  Broad- 
well township;  and  Frank  R..  at  home. 

George  J.  Smith  is  a  shoemaker  by 
trade  and  has  carried  on  this  calling  ever 
since  coming  to  America,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  few  who  have  made  a  success  of  this  line 
of  business.  Many  years  ago  he  settled  in 
the  village  of  Broadwell.  where  he  has  be- 
come quite  prominent  and  has  long  been  a 


member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
i-"ello\\s.  lie  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
a  deacon  and  trustee,  and  is  \ery  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  well 
etlucated  in  the  German  language  and  has 
learned  to  speak  and  write  English  since 
coming  to  America  through  his  own  un;iided 
efforts. 

George  H.  Smith,  our  sulijecl.  was  born 
I\ larch  2b.  1870,  and  during  the  winter 
months  attended  the  district  school,  receiv- 
ing a  good  common  education.  In  the 
si)ring  and  summer  he  worked  by  the  month 
u])on  the  farms  in  the  surrounding  district 
luitil  he  became  of  age.  During  all  this 
time  he  was  very  frugal  and  saved  his  money 
and  was  thus  enabled  to  engage  in  farming 
for  himself,  now  C)i>erating  a  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  eighty-six  acres  of  land,  which 
he  devotes  to  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  He  has  operated  this  farm  since 
1898  and  has  made  a  number  of  improve- 
ments upon  it.  The  farm  is  in  a  well  culti- 
\ated  state  and  shows  the  results  of  good 
management,  yir.  Smith  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church  of  Broadwell.  and  is  a 
liljeral  supporter  of  the  same.  Being  a 
}oung  man  of  energy,  a  hard  worker  and 
understanding  farming  thoroughly,  he  is 
very  successful,  and  has  also  won  the  resjject 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him  b_\-  his  many 
excellent  qualities. 


GEORGE  W.  \'OXDERLIETH. 

One  of  the  re])resentati\e  and  prominent 
business  men  of  Mt.  Pulaski  was  George  W. 
\'onderlieth.  a  well-known  and  successful 
dealer  in  windmills,  ])umps  and  go\-ernors  to 


484 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  same.  A  native  of  Logan  county,  he 
was  born  in  Mt.  Pulaski  township  on  the 
4th  of  July,  1859,  and  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  Vonderlieth,  who  are  mentioned 
more  fully  in  a  sketch  of  his  brotlier  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume. 

'Sir.  Vonderlieth  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  this  county,  and  was  married  in 
i88i  to  Miss  Catherine  \\'.  :\Iiller,  of  ilt. 
Pulaski,  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Caro- 
line (\\"ittigj  Miller.  Two  children  blessed 
this  union,  namely :  -\!ma  C,  a  graduate  of 
the  Mt.  Pulaski  high  school;  and  Leonore, 
n.ow  seven  years  of  age. 

For  several  years  Sh:  \'onderlieth  was 
in  partnership  with  Cliarles  F.  Schafer  in  the 
hardware  and  implement  business  at  ]\It. 
Pulaski,  and  together  they  built  up  a  large 
and  profitable  trade.  As  manufacturers  of 
and  dealers  in  windmills  they  have  a  good 
business,  and  when  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved by  mutual  consent  Mr.  \'onderlieth 
took  that  branch  of  their  business,  to  which 
he  since  added  many  specialties,  until  he 
carried  a  large  and  varied  stock.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  extensive  dealers  in  his  line 
in  this  part  of  the  cauntry,  and  enjoyed  a 
large  trade,  extending  over  several  states. 
His  windmills  became  noted  for  their 
efficiency  and  durability,  and  therefore  fouuil 
a  ready  sale.  For  some  years  Air.  \'(inder- 
heth  manufactured  the  "Yankee"  windmill. 
which  proved  a  success,  and  was  also  dealer 
in  other  kinds.  Besides  his  business  prop- 
erty Mr.  Vonderleith  owned  a  fine  fann  situ- 
ated within  the  corporate  limits  of  ]\It. 
Pulaski,  and  a  handsome  residence,  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  lawn  ornamented  by  na- 
tive forest  trees.  Socially  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Woodmen 
of  the  \\'orld,  and  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  ■Nit.  Pulaski  fire  department,  in  which  he 
alwavs  took  an  active  interest.     While  inde- 


pendent in  politics,  he  had  been  township 
treasurer  many  years  but  refused  other 
offices.  He  was  widely  and  favorably  known 
as  an.upright  and  honorable  man,  and,  with 
his  wife,  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Lu- 
theran church.  Mr.  \'nnderlieth  died  Oc- 
tober 7,  1 90 1. 


ALFRED  C.  SCROGGIX. 

Alfred  C.  Scroggin  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  the  efficient  supervisor  of  Mount 
Pulaski  township.  His  residence  in  the 
county  covers  fifty-nine  years — the  entire 
period  of  his  life,  for  he  was  borii  upon  a 
farm  in  Mount  Pulaski  township,  Alay  14, 
1842,  and  throughout  the  years  of  his  busi- 
ness activity  he  has  been  connected  with  ag- 
ricultural interests  here.  His  father,  Leon- 
ard K.  Scroggin,  is  a  prominent  and  wealthy 
banker  of  Mount  Pulaski.  His  mother, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Lavinia 
Buckles  and  was  the  daughter  of  Robert 
Buckles,  was  born  and  reared  in  Logan 
county  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  its 
honored  pioneer  families. 

Amid  the  quiet  scenes  of  rural  life  Al- 
fred C.  Scroggin  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  assisting  in  the  work  of  the  fields 
from  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  un- 
til the  harvests  were  garnered  in  the  late  au- 
tumn. He  then  entered  the  district  school 
and  after  mastering  the  preliHtinary 
branches  of  English  learning,  continued  his 
studies  in  a  select  school  at  Mechanicsburg. 
L'pon  the  home  farm  he  remained  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age  and  then  started  out 
upon  an  independent  business  career,  but 
made  no  change  in  his  occupation. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  the 


A.   C.   SCROGGIN. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUN05S 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


487 


journey  t)f  life  Mr.  Scroggin  chose  ^liss 
Mary  Erances  Pliillippc.  a  native  ni  Cham- 
paign county,  llHnois.  and  a  ilau,L;hter  ot 
John  and  Jane  (F.uscy.)  Phillippe.  'I"hc 
wedding  was  celehrated  in  18A5,  and  the 
voung  people  l)egan  their  domestic  lite  upon 
a  farm,  but  soon  removed  to  the  village 
(jf  :Mount  Pulaski,  where  Mr.  Scroggin  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  and  stock  business  for 
several  years.  He  then  went  tn  Champaign 
county  and  devoted  his  time  to  farming 
and  handling  stock,  but  after  a  few  years 
he  returned  to  Mount  Pulaski  township. 
where  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  choice  land  on  sections  3  and  4. 
his  residence  being  on  section  4.  Here  he 
was  actively  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the 
.soil  fm-  twelve  years,  when,  wishing  to  pro- 
vide liis  children  with  liettcr  educational 
prixileges  than  the  district  schools  afford- 
ed, he  again  went  to'  Augusta,  Kansas, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  and  then 
returned  tu  tlie  village  <>i  .Mdunt 
Pulaski,  where  he  m;ide  liis  home  for  eie\en 
years.  On  the  expiraliim  nx  that  period 
he  again  took  up  his  residence  upnn  his 
farm  and  has  since  conducted  it  with  grati- 
fying success.  In  1876  he  erected  here  a 
line  residence  and  has  since  built  good 
Ijarns.  sheds  and  all  the  necessary  outbuikl- 
ings  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock. 
He  raises  hogs  and  cattle  of  high  grades, 
breeding  from  thoroughbred  males.  He 
also  buys  and  feeds  a  large  number  of  cat- 
tle and  hogs,  shipping  from  two  to  three  car 
loads  annually.  The  farm  upon  which  he 
resides  is  one  of  the  old  ones  of  the  county. 
having  been  impro\ed  by  William  Cope- 
land  alKnit  1832. — ten  years  before  the  birth 
of  our  subject.  Mr.  Scroggin  has  made  it 
one  of  the  valuable  farming  ])roperties  in 
the  county,  improved  witJi  ;ill  modern  ac- 
cessories  an<l   c<,inveniences   anel   character- 

26 


ized  by  neatness  and  order  in  every  particu- 
lar. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scroggin 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children :  Net- 
tie A.,  now  the  wife  of  \\":  E.  Birks.  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Logan  county;  Orin  O.,  a 
farmer  of  .Mimiesota;  and  Mary  F.,  at 
home.  In  his  ijolitical  views  our  subject  is 
a  st.'uich  Democrat,  unfaltering  in  support 
of  the  princii)les  of  the  party.  In  1892 
he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Mount  Pulaski 
township  for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  three  times  re-elected, 
.so  that  he  has  served  for  eight  consecutive 
\ears,  discharging  the  duties  of  the  ot'lice 
in  a  manner  above  suspicion  or  re])roach. 
He  is  a  genial,  cordial  gentleman,  with  a 
host  of  warm  friends  and  as  one  of  the  rep- 
iesenlati\e  farmers  of  the  communit}'  he 
well  deserxes  mention  in  this  volume. 


PETER  ^lAUS. 

Peter  Mans,  who  is  now  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  and  coal  business  in 
L.athani,  lUinois,  was  horn  in  Nassau,  Ger- 
many, on  tlic  jotit  of  (.ktober,  1838,  a  son  of 
Conrad  ami  I\\-a  Catherina  ^laus.  In 
1835  the  family  emigrated  to  the  United. 
States,  and  after  stopping  for  a  short  timer 
in  .\ew  York  city  came  to  Illinois  and  made 
tlicir  lionie  in  I'coria  for  a  while.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1 850,  they  removed  to  Logan  county, 
and  the  father  i)urchased  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred .and  si.xty  acres  in  what  is  now  Laenna 
township,  to  the  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  active  busi- 
ness life.  lie  lost  liis  wife  in  1888.  and  his 
death  occurred  ten  years  later.  They  were 
the  parents   of  siv  children,   two   sons   ;ui(l 


488 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


four  daughters,  who  grew  up,  namely : 
Pliilip,  now  deceased;  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Fishbach;  Peter;  Margaret,  wife  of  Chris 
Suedmier ;  Katie,  wife  of  Pauhis  Horn ;  and 
^linnie,  wife  of  George  Stoll. 

Peter  Maus  was  educated  in  the  pubUc 
schools  of  his  native  land,  which  he  attended 
from  the  age  of  six  to  fourteen  years.  He 
came  with  the  family  to  the  new  worl^  and 
assisted  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm  until  the  inauguration  of  the 
Civil  war.  Prompted  by  a  love  for  his 
adopted  country,  he  enlisted  in  1862  in  Com- 
pany B,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  Colonel  Latham  com- 
manding the  regiment  and  Captain  John 
Asher  the  company.  He  did  mostly  guard 
imd  garrison  duty,  and  was  in  active  service 
three  years,  being  honorably  discharged  in 
July,  1865,  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Logan  count\ . 
?\Ir.  Maus  resumed  farming  upon  land  which 
he  rented  from  his  father.  On  the  ist  of 
February,  1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Louise  Zimmerman,  of  Logan 
countv,  a  daughter  of  John  Zimmerman. 
They  have  two  children :  Henry,  who  was  a 
student  in  the  Lincoln  high  school  for  three 
vears  and  is  now  aiding  his  father  in  business 
at  Latham;  and  Henrietta,  wife  of  L.  E. 
Hunt,  a  confectioner  antl  baker,  of  Latham. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Avians  resided  vn 
the  old  homestead  for  three  years,  and  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Laenna 
township,  to  which. he  subsequently  added  a 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He 
was  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  there  until  1S78,  and  still 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
that  township.  He  then  removed  to  Latham 
and  formed  a  partner.ship  with  Z.  K.  Wood 
imder  the  firm  name  of  Z.  K.  ^^'ood  &  Com- 
pany, and  as  such  they  have  since  success- 


tully  engaged  in  the  grain  and  coal  business, 
r.o  other  firm  in  his  line  having  continued  in 
business  as  long. 

Socially  Mr.  Maus  is  a  member  of  the 
AIcKlern  Woodmen  of  America.  The  Dem- 
ocratic party  has  always  found  in  him  a 
stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  his 
fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability,  have  called  upon  him  to  serve  four 
terms  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  and 
two  years  as  county  supervisor.  Though 
born  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  he  is 
thoroughly  American  in  thought  and  feeling, 
and  is  patriotic  and  sincere  in  his  love  for 
the  stars  and  stripes.  His  career  is  identi- 
fied with  Logan  county,  where  he  has  ac- 
quired a  comfortable  competence  and  where 
he  is  an  honored  and  respected  citizen. 


SA^IUEL  H.  McLEAX,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Samuel  H.  McLean  is  the  present 
efficient  superintendent  of  the  Asylum  for 
Feeble  blinded  Children  at  Lincoln,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  of  the 
county.  A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in 
Montgomer}-  county,  April  12.  1849,  and  is 
a  son  of  Robinson  and  Emily  (  Barry )  ]^Ic- 
Lean,  natives  of  Xorth  Carolina  and  Ken- 
tucky, respectively.  They  were  married 
near  Hillsboro,  Illinois,  and  on  their  farm 
near  that  place  spent  their  entire  married  life. 
The  father  was  educated  in  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  native  state,  and  always  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  politics 
he  was  first  an  old-line  Whig  and  later  a 
Republican,  but  was  never  an  aspirant  for 
office,  though  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  minor 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  his  locality. 
He  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  in  January-,   1877,  and  his  wife 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


489 


in  January,  1895.  Tliey  were  the  jjarents  of 
nine  children,  of  whcmi  seven  reached  ma- 
turity, namely:  Jnhn  C.  a  farmer  of  Bund 
ctmnty,  lllinnis,  who  enlisted  at  the  at^'e  of 
.seventeen  in  the  I'orty-ninth  Illinois  \'olun- 
teer  Infantry,  during  the  Ci\il  war  antl 
served  four  years;  Samuel  II.,  our  subject; 
Nina,  wife  of  Jesse  Seybert,  of  Alacoupin 
county,  Illinois;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  H. 
Brown,  of  Jilontgomery  county;  Joseph  R., 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm  in  that  county; 
Melissa,  wife  of  Iimory  Barr,  of  t]reen\ille. 
Illinois;  and  Ida.  wife  of  Hemy  Mitts,  of 
Hillsboro.  The  children  were  all  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Montgomery  county. 

Dr.  McLean  grew  to  manh(X)d  upon  the 
home  farm.  His  early  education,  acquired 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
was  supplemented  by  three  years'  attendance 
at  Hillsboro  Academy.  He  also  took  an 
elective  course  at  Lincoln  University,  where 
he  spent  one  year,  and  then  entered  the  Ec- 
lectic Medical  Institute  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1874.  He  be- 
gan the  practice  of  medicine  at  Donnellson, 
Montgomery  count}',  and  after  .spending 
three  years  at  that  place  removed  to  Hills- 
boro, where  he  built  up  a  large  and  lucrati\e 
]>ractice.  remaining  there  until  ajipointed  to 
his  present  position  by  Ciovernor  Yates  in 
1901.  He  has  much  natural  ability,  but  is 
withal  a  close  student  antl  believes  thor- 
oughly in  the  maxim  "there  is  no  excellence 
without  labor."  His  devotion  to  the  duties 
of  his  profession,  therefore,  combined  with 
a  comprehensive  understanding  of  the  jjrin- 
ciples  of  the  science  of  medicine,  has  made 
him  a  most  successful  and  able  practitioner, 
whose  prominence  is  well  deserved. 

At  Hillsboro.  in  1875,  Dr.  McLean  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lina  Kerr, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1850,  and  was  ed- 
ucated  in   the  public  schools  and   llillsboro 


Academy.  Her  parents  both  died  in  this 
state.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  one 
son,  licnjaniin  ( ).,  born  in  l'"el)ruary,  1886. 
They  are  both  nieniljcrs  of  the  Methodist 
]'"])isc(*pal  church,  and  he  is  connected  with 
se\eral  fraternal  orders,  including  the  Ma- 
sons, which  he  joined  in  1876.  As  a  Re- 
])ublican  he  takes  quite  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics, and  is  very  prominent  in  medical  circles. 
Dr.  McLean  has  for  many  years  been  active 
in  Republican  circles,  having  been  mayor  of 
llillsboro  three  terms,  chairman  of  the 
county  and  congressional  Republican  central 
committees,  and  during  the  campaign  of 
1900  was  on  the  McKinley  electoral  ticket. 


JOSEPH  A.  SNOOK. 

Joseph  A.  Snook,  who  carries  on  farm-* 
ing  most  successfully  on  section  24,  At- 
lanta township,  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in 
that  locality,  and  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  one  of  its  honored  families,  Ijeing  a  son  of 
John  A.  and  Allsha  (Hendrickson)  Snook. 
The  father  was  born  in  ^Maryland,  ^larch  li, 
i8jo,  and  in  early  life  engaged  in  the  distill- 
ing business  for  a  few  years,  but  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  was  always  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  he  became  one  of 
the  extensive  farmers  of  Logan  county.  In 
1864  he  removed  from  Indiana  to  McLean 
county.  Illinois,  and  snl)sequently  took  ii]i  his 
residence  in  Logan  count}',  ha\ing  iiropcrty 
in  both  counties.  Here  he  died  July  JO, 
JOOO.  leaving  a  large  family  and  a  host  of 
friends  to  mourn  his  loss.  He  was  what  the 
world  terms  a  self-made  man,  having  started 
in  life  with  na  capital  save  that  acquired 
through  his  own  unaided  exertions.  He  was 
left  an  or])han  at  a  tender  age  and  was 
reared  by  strangers.     His  wife  departed  this 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


life  August  7.  1890.  They  were  the  parents 
of  tliirteen  eliildren,  seven  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Jay  county,  Indiana,  August  16,  1859,  and 
in  1864  came  with  his  parents  to  this  state, 
being  reared  on  tlie  farm  in  Atlanta  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land,  and  is  quite  successfully  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  received  a  good 
common  school  education,  is  industrious,  en- 
terprising and  progressive,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  best  citizens  of  his  community. 

^Ir.  Snook  was  married,  February  19, 
1882,  to  Miss  Emma  ^lorford,  a  daughter  of 
Robert  M<jrfr.rd,  of  DeWitt  county,  Illinois. 
Tlie  onlx-  child  born  cf  this  union  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Snook  atfiliates  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern AX'cc'dmen  cf  America.  He  has  never 
sought  pubhcity,  but  is  considered  one  of  the 
up-to-date  farmers  of  the  community,  and  is 
ready  to  assist  all  enterprises  for  tlie  public 
good. 


WILLIAM   G.   PAYXE. 

William  G.  Payne,  proprietor  of  the  only 
livery  and  feed  stable  in  Hartsburg,  has  for 
more  than  a  third  of  a  century  been  a  resi- 
dent if  Logan  county.  He  was  born  in 
Monroe  county,  Indiana,  March  jo,  1847, 
his  parents  being  Noah  and  Lucinda  Payne, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina, whence  after  their  marriage  they  re- 
mo\ed  to  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  where 
the  father  devoted  his  energies  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  his  death,  which  occur- 
red February  3,  1883.  when  he  was  seventy- 
two  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  b<:;rn  No- 
vember 25,  1816,  and  died  August  10,  1901. 


They  had  a  family  of  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  Frank,  who  resides  upon  a  farm  in 
?ilonroe  county ;  John,  who  is  living  on  the 
old  homestead  there;  Maggie,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Mattingly,  a  resident  of  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa:  William  G.  and  Daniel, 
who  died  in  the  army  in  1863. 

Like  the  other  children  of  the  family,  ]\lr. 
Payne  pursued  his  education  in  the.  public 
schools  near  his  home  and  in  his  youth  he 
assisted  in  the  labors  of  the  home  farm.  .\t 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  Logan  county, 
where  he  secured  employment  on  the  old 
Sheets  farm  in  Orvil  township,  remaining 
there  for  six  years.  Then  with  the  money 
he  had  saved  from  his  earnings  he  purchased 
a  small  farm  on  section  36,  Orvil  township. 
making  it  his  home  for  four  years,  when  he 
bought  another  tract  of  land  on  section  4  of 
the  same  township.  Establishing  his  home 
thereon,  he  was  there  engaged  in  farming 
for  seventeen  years,  carrying  on  his  work 
with  good  success,  the  well  tilled  fields  yield- 
ing to  him  golden  harvests  in  return  for  his 
labor.  At  length,  selling  the  farm,  he  re- 
m(^\ed  to  Hartsburg  and  opened  the  livery 
and  sale  stable  of  which  he  is  still  the  pro- 
prietor. It  is  his  earnest  desire  to  please 
his  patrons,  and.  therefore,  their  trade  once 
gained  is  always  retained.  He  has  a  nice 
line  of  rigs  and  some  good  horses,  and  his 
business  is  constantly  growing.  He  is  also 
engaged  in  the  stock  business,  buying  and 
shipping  cattle  and  hogs. 

^Ir.  Payne  was  united  in  marriage  to 
iliss  Elizabeth  Sheets,  a  nati\e  of  Monroe 
county,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Sheets,  who  was  also  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Logan  county,  Illinois,  taking  up  his 
abode  upon  a  farm  here  in  1855.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  have  now  passed  away.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Payne  have  been  born  ten  chil- 
dren :    Myrtle,  the  wife  of  James  BerrA-,  who 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


491 


is  living  in  Prairie  Creek  townsliip 
ci>untv:  Miggie.  ;ii  lidme;  I-'rank.  w 
sists  his  father  in  the  livery  stable 
also  town  marshal :  Samuel,  Xettie. 
McDonald.  Oilie.  Lulu  and  (ieorge.  a 
their  parents.  l~or  several  years  Mr. 
has  served  as  school  director  of  ()r\  il 
ship,  and  in  his  political  afliliations  1 
stanch  Democrat.  He  and  all  liis 
are  members  of  the  Bethel  Cliristian  c 
and  in  the  coninuniity  they  have 
friends. 


Xoali 


GEORGE  A.   KRETZIXGER. 

G.  A.  Kretzinger,  postmaster  at  Latham, 
Illinois,  and  one  nf  the  prominent  citizens  of 
this  locality,  was  born  in  Latham,  March  lO, 
1869.  and  is  a  son  of  \\'.  H.  and  Sarah  E. 
(Leib)  Kretzinger.  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  The  father  is  still  living, 
aged  sixtv,  while  the  mother  died  at  Latham 
in  Ai)ri!,  1889. 

W.  H.  Kretzinger,  with  his  family,  came 
to  Illinois  soon  after  his  marriage  in  Ohio, 
and  for  a  short  time  farmed  near  Warsaw. 
Later  they  removed  to  Logan  county,  long 
before  the  construction  of  the  railroad  in 
this  locality.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and 
our  subject's  boyhood  was  spent  on  a  farm. 
He  not  only  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation but  also  was  given  the  advantage  nf 
attending  an  excellent  business  college  at 
Springfield.  Illinois,  when  he  was  about  nine- 
teen years  i;f  age.  After  finishing  this 
course  he  worked  at  various  callings,  among 
other  things  clerking  in  a  Chicago  hotel  for 
two  years,  and  one  year  he  s])ent  in  Kansas 
City.  Missouri. 

Returning  to  his  early  home  Mr.  Kretz- 
inger was  married  in   1894  to  .Miss   luniice 


Clark,  (jf  Latham,  and  two  children  have 
been  l)r,rn  of  this  imi<in,  namely:  llamld 
and  Mary  Fern,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Latham. 

The  elder  .Mr.  Kretzinger  ha^  ;ilways 
been  a  stanch  Republican  and  prominent  in 
the  councils  of  the  party.  l'"o^r  two  terms  he 
served  with  distinction  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture and  was  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  senaf; 
for  several  vears  as  well  as  clerk  of  the  house 
two  terms.  .Xaturally  our  subject  should 
from  boyhood  take. an  active  intere'^t  in  poli- 
tics, and  just  as  naturally  that  he  should  be 
as  strong  a  Republican  as  his  father.  In 
1897  he  was  appointetl  postmaster  if  La- 
tham, and  he  has  been  re-appointed  to  the 
same  office,  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of 
being  the  first  to  receive  appointment  under 
President  [McKinley's  tirst  administration  in 
this  congressional  district.  Mr.  Kretzinger 
is  a  memlier  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  Xo.  321,  and  has  served  as  vener- 
able consul,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Farmers'  Federation.  Mr.  Kretzinger  has 
also  adiled  a  stock  of  groceries  to  his  busi- 


JACOB  XIX. 

Jacob  Xix,  a  substantial  and  ])rominent 
farmer  of  Logan  county,  operates  a  iine 
estate  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres 
in  I'^lkhart  township,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
resi)ected  citizens  of  the  districL  The  birth 
of  .Mr.  Xix  occurred  in  Germany,  May  17, 
1840.  and  he  was  a  >on  of  Jficob  and  Katie 
(Schaefer)  Xix,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
The  i)arents  passed  their  lives  in  their  native 
count rv,  where  the  father  died  in  i8qo  and 
the  mother  in  iSSr,.  They  had  .1  family  of 
four  children,  these  being:  i'hiloptne.  who 
resides,   unm;irried,   in  ( )ran   townshii),   this 


492 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


county ;  Mary,  widow  of  Gustave  Kneclit,  of 
tlie  same  township,  whoi  died  in  1890;  Annie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Tisenger  and  re- 
sides on  the  Rhine  in  Germany ;  and  Jacub 
the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  Jacob 
Nix  was  a  schoolboy  in  his  native  land,  after 
which  he  followed  farming  until  he  was 
drafted  into  the  German  army,  in  December. 
1869.  His  ser\'ices  co\-ered  two  years  and 
he  took  part  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war, 
surviving  nine  fierce  battles.  The  year  fol^ 
lowing  the  war  he  spent  in  his  Fatherland, 
but  in  October,  1873,  he  came  to  Elkhart 
township,  Logan  county,  Illinois^  and  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  by  the  month,  finding 
plentv  of  employment.  For  some  two  )'ears 
Mr.  Nix  rented  land,  gradually  preparing  to 
locate  in  a  desirable  part  of  the  county  and 
establish  a  home. 

Mr.  Nix  was  united  in  marriage,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1882,  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  to  Miss 
Barbara  Tanbenreiter,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, February  6,  1852.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Tanbenreiter,  also  a  native  of 
Germany,  where  l)oth  nf  her  parents  dietl, 
having  ]i\-ed  upon  a  farm  all  their  li\-es. 
Mrs.  Nix  came  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  from 
her  German  hoane  in  1881.  She  was  one  of 
a  family  of  twelve  children,  as  follows: 
Conrad,  who  resides  in  Germany;  Katie, 
who  married  and  died  in  Germany ;  Barbara, 
who  married  Conrad  Bellman  and  resides  in 
Springfield,  Illinois;  Efhe,  who  resides  in 
Germany  and  recei\-es  a  pension  from  tha 
German  government,  her  deceased  husband 
having  been  an  official :  while  the  others,  with 
the  exception  of  ]\lrs.  Nix.  still  remain  at 
the  old  home. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  ^h. 
and  Mrs.  Nix,  as  follows:  Avey,  wife  of 
David  Cowhick,  of  \Vinchester,  Scott  coun- 
ty, Illinois;  Henry,  at  home;  and  Anna  B., 


who  also  remains  at  home.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Nix  continued  to  farm,  and  now 
operates  a  large  estate  in  section  30,  Elkhart 
township,  where  he  has  been  particularly  suc- 
cessful in  raising  high-grade  stock  for  mar- 
ket. He  is  considered  one  of  the  best  farm- 
ers in  his  locality  and  is  surroimded  with 
every  comfort.  His  political  belief  is  in  the 
Democratic  part}-,  and  he  is  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  in  Lin- 
coln, Illinois. 


PATRICK  MURPHY. 

Patrick  Murphy,  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Ilurlbut  township,  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  was  born  in  County  Carlow,  Ire- 
land, July  25,  1825,  a  son  of  John  and  Brid- 
get (Roach)  Murphy,  natives  of  Ire- 
land, the  latter  born  in  County  Wexford, 
The  parents  were  married  in  their  native 
land,  where  the  fatlier  engaged  in  farming 
and  stone-cutting,  and  where  he  ilied  in  1827, 
his  wife  surviving  him  until  1856.  Into  this 
family  were  born  the  following  children : 
Catherine,  who  married  Alichael  Welsh,  the 
fomier  of  whom  died  in  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  the  latter  in  Texas ;  Ann,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Lawrence  Murphy  and  died 
in  Ireland ;  Julia,  who  is  the  widow  of 
[Michael  Ryan  and  lives  in  Freeport,  Illinois; 
Patrick ;  and  Thomas,  who  married  Maggie 
Walters,  l)oth  of  whom  died  in  Freeport, 
Illinois.' 

In  his  native  land  Patrick  Murphy  at- 
tended the  public  schools  until  his  fourteenth 
vear,  after  which  he  worked  for  his  step- 
father, Patrick  Burns,  until  he  was  eighteen 
vears  old.  Following  this  he  lived  with  his 
sister  for  a  time,  and  April  8.  1849,  i"  com- 
panv    with    his    brother,  he  embarked    for 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


493 


America  from  Wexford.  The  .sailiiisj  craft 
Don  Bnxlie  had  a  calm  and  pleasant  voyage, 
under  command  of  Captain  Williams,  and 
the  brothers  landed  in  New  Ndrk  Mav  i. 
1849.  For  a  day  and  a  night  Mr.  Murpliy 
remained  in  New  York  City,  and  the  follow- 
ing Sunday  morning  arrived  in  Bennington, 
\'ermont.  In  that  state  he  worked  by  the 
montii  on  a  farm  for  seven  dollars  and  a  hall". 
Iiis  hours  of  service  extending  from  tdur  in 
the  morning  until  nine  in  the  exening.  At 
the  end  of  a  year  he  sought  tn  better  his  con- 
dition by  remo\-ing  to  Hoosick  l'"alls.  Xcw 
\'ork.  where  he  worked  for  one  man  un  his 
farm  for  tive  yeai's.  In  the  fall  of  1834  be 
went  by  rail  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  from 
there  to  Springfield,  l)eing  unsuccessful  in 
finding  work  in  either  place.  Somewhat  dis- 
couraged, he  went  to  Chatham,  but  was  st^on 
sent  for  to  fill  a  position  in  the  .\merican 
Hotel,  at  Springfield,  at  twenty-fix  e  dollars 
I)er  month.  Springfield  was  then  but  a  small 
village,  and  the  hotel  was  located  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  square.  After  a  year 
and  a  half  Mr.  Murphy  repaired  to  Freeport. 
Illinois,  where,  after  a  long  illness,  he  en- 
gaged in  different  occupatinns.  among  them 
being  that  of  hardware,  contracting  and 
railroading. 

On  August  9.  1855.  at  Galena,  Illinois, 
Mr.  Murphy  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Ann  Barrons,  a  native  of  County  }kleath, 
Ireland,  born  August  15,  1836.  The  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Murphy,  Thomas  and  Catherine 
(Tallon)  Barrons,  were  natives,  respect- 
ively, of  County  ]\Ieath  and  County  Louth, 
Ireland.  The  father  was  a  farmer  in  his 
native  land,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 
1850  on  the  .sailing  vessel  Fidelia,  the  vov- 
age  consuming  five  weeks  and  three  days. 
The  trij)  was  a  stormy  one,  and  there  was 
one  death  aboard  ship.     Landing    in    Xew 


York    May    10,    1850,  the  Barrons  family 
came  to  Illinois  after  a  visit  of  a  month,  and 
located  fifteen  miles  southwest  of  Freeport. 
<:n  a   farm  of  one  hundre<l  and  sixlv  acre-;, 
where   they   passed   the   remainder   of   their 
(lays.    The  father  died  Aijril  <).  i8;8.  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one  years,   and   the  niniher 
.May   31,    1894,   at   the  age   nf   eighty-eight 
years.      They   were  successful    fanners,  and 
left  til  their  children  nvir  four  hundred  acres 
<>\  valuable  land.      Mr.   liarrons  held  almo.st 
all  <■{  the  tciwnship  .ifiices.      He  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  a  niembt-r    of  the  Catholic  church, 
and   was  well   thought    nf    all    through  the 
county.    Of  the  children  born  tn  this  cnuple. 
I^ennis  married  Alary  Malian  and  lived  in 
Freeport,  and  both  are  dead:  Mary  is  also 
deceased,  as  is  her  husband,  Israel  Sheets,  of 
Stockton.  Illinois; John  died  from  the  eiifects 
I  if  e\])osnre  while  serving  in  an  illinnis  regi- 
ment iluring  the  Civil  war:  Ann  is  the  wife 
I'i   I'atrick   Alurphy :  Catherine  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-three  years:  I'atrick.  who  never 
married,   .served  during  the  Ci\il   war,   was 
assistant   postmaster  at   Xew   C)rleans,   and 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  xears :  Lucv 
resitles  at  Freeport  and  keeps  lu;use  for  her 
brother,  Josejjh  Barrons, the  next  of  the  fam- 
ily :  and  Eliza  died  at  the  age  if  eleven  vears. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  .Murphy  lived  for 
five  years  in  Freeport,  Illinois,  and  then  went 
to  Sangamon  County,  where  he  remained  for 
a  year  and  a  half.     In  Menard  county  he 
then  purchased  forty  acres    of    land,    upon 
which  he  lived  for  seven  years,  and  then  .sold 
the  same  and  rented  land  for  two  years.    He 
later    came    to    Hurlbut   township.    Logan 
county,  and  bought  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  lives,  and  which  contains  two  hundred 
acres  on   section  9.     He  has  a   fine  home, 
situated  on  a  high  knoll,  and  raises  the  best 
marketable    stock    and    engages  in  general 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


farming.  In  politics  ,lie  is  a  Democrat,  and 
with  his  family  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

The  children  born  to  :\Ir.  and  ilrs.  :\Iur- 
])hy  are:  Bridget,  bcirn  ^lay  28,  1836,  is 
the  wife  of  ^[ichael  Grennan.  has  ten  chil- 
dren, and  lives  on  a  farm  of  ten  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  Whiteside  county;  John,  liurn 
December  8,  1858,  married  Bridget  ]\Iurph\-, 
has  four  children,  and  li\es  at  Glenarm, 
Sangamon  county;  Eliza.  Imrn  Xi)\ember  7, 
j86i.  died  June  5,  1890;  Ahuy.  b..rn  Feb- 
ruary 2.  1864,  is  not  married,  and  lias  en- 
gaged in  educational    work    in    the    i)ul)lic 


itteen  }ears : 
li\-es  iin  a 
Kiis:  Lucy.  1 
,.f   John   Ka 


imas, 


M: 


schools.. f  I'llkhart  for 

Ijorn  Aijril   12.    i86fi. 

A\"hiteside  cnunty,  Illi 

II,   1868.  is  the  wife 

lives  near  McCook.  Nebraska;  William,  born 

September  25,  1869,  lives  ou  a  farm  in  Ld- 

gan  countv :  Catherine,    born    January    1 7. 

1S72.   lives   with   her   parents;  James,   burn 

Tanuarv  j8.  1875.  is  time-keeper  on  the  canal 

being  built   thmugh     lllinciis;    and    Ji>seph. 

born  August  S,  1878.  lives  with  his  parents. 


CHARLES  A^'.   TYLER. 

Logan  county  is  fortunate  in  luuing  in 
its  offices  men  of  well  known  Inisiness  abil- 
ity and  of  un(|uestioned  loyalty  and  iimbity. 
Such  a  one  is  Charles  W.  Tyler,  who  has 
per\-ed  as  county  super\isor  from  Prairie 
Creek  township.  He  is  variously  connected 
with  the  agricultural  and  industrial  inter- 
ests of  the  county,  and  in  every  relation  of 
life  has  borne  himself  in  a  manner  to  win 
the  confidence,  good  will  and  respect  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 

Few  people  can  trace  their  ancestry  in 
autlientic  line  to  a  more  remote  period  than 


Mr.  Tyler,  who  is  descended  from  the  fa- 
mous Wat  Tyler  of  England,  who.  in  the 
}-ear  1831,  labm-ed  to  free  the  poorer  class 
of  England  from  the  excessive  burden  of 
taxation  placed  upon  it  by  the  aristocracy. 
J-le  is  mentioned  in  Longfellow's  poem  en- 
titled Miles  Standish.  He  had  three  sons, 
Sanu'cl,  John  .-ind  William,  who  emigrated 
to  this  country  and  from  the  last  named 
the  subject  of  this  review  ,  is  descended. 
Prominent  representatives  of  the  name 
have  been  connected  with  events  shaping 
the  history  of  the  country  and  the  p(3Sterity 
of  the  three  1)rothers  is  now  a  \ery  numer- 
ous one.  Cai)tain  John  Tyler,  the  father  of 
Charles  W'..  is  known  to  every  old  inhabit- 
ant of  this  part  of  Illinois,  being  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  the  locality.  He 
was  born  in  Penn  'N^an,  Yates  cnunty.  New 
York.  July  10,  1810.  and  was  united  in 
marriage  to  ^Nliss  Susan  Battle  on  the  ist 
of  January,  1838.  After  her  death  he  was 
married  again,  September  i,  1844.  iii  R^iys- 
-\ille.  Henry  county.  Indiana,  his  second 
union  Iieing  with  Mahala  Willits,  and  their 
first  child  was  Charles  W.  Tyler,  whose 
name  introduces  this  review,  and  who  was 
l)orn  in  Raysxille.  Xovember  9,   1845. 

In  1852  Cajjtain  Tyler  and  his  family 
started  westward,  traveling  in  a  "prairie 
schooner"  until  they  arrived  at  ^Nliddletown, 
Logan  county.  Illinois.  February  2,  1852, 
which  was  then  an  important  trading  point. 
There  a  settlement  was  made,  Init  after  two 
years  they  remo\-ed  to  Prairie  Creek  town- 
ship, locating  upon  a  farm  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  re\-iew  was  reared  to  manhood. 
The  schools  of  the  neighborhood  were  of  a 
rather  primitive  character  and  therefore  his 
educational  ])rivileges  were  limited,  but  ex- 
perience, reading  and  observation  in  later 
vears  have  made  him  a  well  informed  man. 
With  the  other  meml)ers  of  the  familv  he 


C.  W.  TYLER. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


497 


experienced  many  hardsliips  and  trials  of 
pioneer  life  in  the  early  days.  The  settlers 
lived  large! \-  ujxvn  wild  game — deer,  dncks 
and  geese,  all  nf  which  were  plentiful.  The 
nearest  market  was  Pekin,  which  was 
twentv-five  miles  distant,  two  days  heing 
required  to  make  the  trij).  Corn  sold  fur 
ten  cents  per  hushel  and  coal  cost  ten  cents 
per  hushel.  It  was  principally  used  for 
fuel,  for  the  timher  in  this  locrdity  was 
\ery  scarce. 

:Mr.  Tyler  assisted  in  the  work  of  the 
home  farm,  the  planting  and  plowing,  and 
in  all  other  departments  of  the  laljor  neces- 
sary for  the  development  of  the  land  and 
the  cultivation  of  the  cnips.  On  the  i6th 
of  September.  1866,  however,  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and 
after  traveling  for  two  weeks  in  a  prairie 
schooner  through  rain  and  mud  he  arri\ed 
at  Columbia,  Boone  county,  Missouri.  In 
that  localitv  he  carried  nn  farming  until 
September,  1867,  l.iut  at  that  time  the  coun- 
trv  in  that  region  was  still  full  of  bush- 
whackers, and  he  still  bears  the  scar  from 
a  wound  receixed  while  chasing  a  gang  of 
those  lawless  men.  The  conditions  of  the 
country  led  him  to  return  east,  and  he  went 
to  Wellington,  Lorain  county,  Ohioi.  but 
soon  afterward  removed  to  Cleveland. 
There  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and 
after  comjjleting  his  apprenticeship  he  re- 
moved to  Anderson,  Madison  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  mastered  the  German  lan- 
guage. His  rte.Kt  place  of  residence  was 
Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  in  February, 
1877,  he  returned  with  his  family  to  Prairie 
Creek  township. 

In  the  meantime  he  had  been  married 
to  Miss  H.  J.  .\ldrich.  who  was  a  teacher 
in  the  institute  for  the  blind,  in  Indianapu- 
lis.  the  wedding  taking  ])lace  (X-tciber  7, 
1874.     She  lived  little  more  than  fuur  years 


after  their  marriage,  dying  January  16, 
i87(),  and  leaxing  him  with  twu  small 
children:  Pessie  !•"...  who  married  janies 
Weaver  and  the)-  reside  at  ();ik- 
ford.  lllinuis:  SimcdU  A.  married  Mina 
Teagarden.  of  Steuben  county.  Indiana, 
and  they  reside  at  San  Jose.  Illinois.  On 
the  _'4th  of  December,  following,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Woehrle,  of  Forest 
Citv,  Mason  county,  Illinois,  and  by  this 
uniiin  there  have  been  born  five  children, 
four  (if  wh(im  are  living:  Byron  F.,  Lill- 
ian W..  Frederick  C.  and  Mary  C.  all  at 
home. 

U|)on  again  coming  to  Logan  county 
Mr.  Tvler  resumed  farming  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  farming  property  near 
San  Jose.  This  is  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  is  supplied  with  all  modern  ac- 
cessories and  conveniences  for  facilitating 
his  work  and  rendering  it  more  effective. 
While  he  is  a  progressive  and  energetic 
agriculturist,  he  does  not  confine  his  atten- 
tion along  this  line  of  endeavor,  being  one 
of  the  directors  and  the  vice-president  of 
the  Citizens  Coal  &  Mining  Company,  of 
Lincoln,  and  a  stockholder  in  the  San  Jose 
Bank,  of  San  Jo.se.  His  fellow  citizens, 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  as  well 
as  his  patriotic  citizenship,  have  elected  him 
to  public  office.  In  1880  he  was  chosen 
for  the  position  of  town  clerk,  in  which 
capacity  he  acceptaljly'  served  for  eight 
years,  and  in  1889  he  was  elected  super- 
visor of  Prairie  Creek  township,  filling  that 
])osition  continuously  for  nine  years.  Over 
his  jHiblic  life  there  falls  no  shadow  of 
wrong,  for  at  all  times  he  has  been  loyal 
til  his  duty.  In  business  transactions  his 
course  is  ever  straightforward,  and  in  all 
life's  relations  he  has  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  his  fclliiw  men.  The  success  he 
has   achieved    is   the   result   of   his   uwn   ef- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


forts,  for  in  early  manhood  when  he  started 
out  in  Hfe  he  had  no  capital,  and  it  has  been 
the  years  of  industry  and  enterprise  which 
have  brought  to  him  prosperity. 


EDWARD  B.   XICHOLSOX. 

One  of  the  most  progressive  farmers  and 
reliable  and  esteemed  citizens  of  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  is  Edward  B.  Nicholson. 
who  was  born  :May  4.  185 1.  in  Elkhart 
Grove,  this  county,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  E.  (Constant)  Nicholson,  the  former 
a  native  of  Yorkshire.  England,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Sangamon  county.  Illinois,  born  on 
Wolf  creek. 

John  Nicholson  canTe  to  America  and  lo- 
cated in  this  state.  He  met  and  married 
]\Iary  E.  Constant,  in  Springfield.  Illinois. 
He  engaged  in  farming  near  Elkhart  Grove 
and  Ijecame  the  possessor  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  fertile  land.  His  death  occurred  in 
1S54.  His  widow  later  married  R.  C. 
Lloyd,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  they  lived 
on  the  farm  owned  by  the  widow  until  1866. 
when  they  remo\ed  to  the  farm  known  in 
this  neighborhood  as  the  Miles  Leach  farm, 
where  they  remained  until  1886.  when  they 
made  a  trip  to  Iowa,  prospecting,  but  shortly 
after  INIr.  Lloyd  was  taken  ill  at  a  hotel  and 
died,  in  1890.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
died  December  21.  1900. 

Edward  B.  Nicholson,  of  this  sketch,  was 
one  in  a  family  of  three  children  by  the  first 
marriage  of  ^Irs.  Lloyd,  his  one  sister  and 
one  brother  being, — Hattie.  who  died  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years;  and  J.  T..  who  mar- 
ried Anna  Bogardus,  of  Elkhart,  Illinois, 
and  resides  at  Dexter,  Kansas.  The  chil- 
dren by  the  second  marriage  were  as  follows : 
Julia,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years ; 


Henry  L.,  unmarried,  a  retired  farmer  living 
in  Lincoln,  Illinois ;  Garrett,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years ;  Robert,  who  died  at  the 
age  of 'two  years;  and  John  B.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  at  W'ellman,  Iowa. 

Edward  B.  Nicholson,  of  this  biography, 
passed  his  boyhood  attending  school,  being 
an  apt  and  ambitious  student  in  the  Prairie 
College  school-house  in  Elkhart.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old,  preparing  for  his 
later  successful  agricultural  life. 

Mr.  Nicholson  was  united  in  marriage, 
October  20.  1873,  at  Elkhart,  Illinois,  to- 
Miss  Lizzie  Chick,  who  was  born  in  Spring- 
field in  1852,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Chick,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Her  death  oc- 
curred Alarch  20,  1881.  Air.  Nicholson 
was  married  February  ^o,  1886,  at  Winfield, 
Kansas,  to  ]^Iiss  Jennie  Cochran,  a  native  of 
Saybrook.  Illinois,  born  November  29.  1866, 
and  the  daughter  of  John  Cochran,  who  was 
born  in  Palestine,  Illinois,  February  14, 
1830.  and  his  wife.  Lizzie  (Jordan)  Coch- 
ran, who  was  torn  in  Gosport,  Indiana.  Feb- 
ruar}-  22.  i't>2,7-  and  in  that  city  was  married 
]\larch  20.  1855.  yir.  and  Mrs.  Cochran 
remained  for  a  time  in  Gosport,  and  then  re- 
moved to  AIcLean  county,  Illinois,  locating 
at  Saybrook,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 
but  later  removed  to  Winfield,  Kansas, 
where  he  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres^ 
of  land.  The  mother  died  November  20, 
1S94.  and  she  was  laid  to  rest  at  Prairie 
Ridge,  Kansas.  In  1862  Mr.  Cochran  en- 
listed for  ser^ite  in  the  Civil  war,  entering 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  gallantly 
through  four  years,  accompanying  General 
Shennan  in  all  of  his  campaigns.  He  was 
mustered  out  as  orderly  sergeant,  in  June, 
1865.  He  is  an  honoi-ed  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  attends- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


499 


and  liberally  supports  the  Christian  church. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mrs.  Nicholson  is  one  of  a  family  of  three 
sons  and  three  daughters  born  to  her  par- 
ents, namely.  Alfred,  who  married  Minnie 
Caster  and  resides  at  Eatonville.  Kansas; 
James,  who  married  Hattie  Oertington  and 
resides  at  Eatonville,  Kansas;  Jennie  L..  the 
wife  of  our  subject;  Nellie,  who  married 
Newton  Julien  and  resides  at  Black  well, 
Oklahoma;  John  W'.,  who  married  Eliza 
Thompson  and  resides  at  Eatonville ;  and 
Julia,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Nichol- 
son by  his  first  wife,  namely:  Hattie  M., 
bom  November  i6,  1875,  died  Januan,-  24, 
1880;  John  E..  born  August  15,  1878,  re- 
sides with  his  father;  Hallie  :M..  born  Au- 
gust 24.  1880.  married,  March  8,  1898.  Orf 
French,  resides  at  Mt.  Pulaski  and  has  one 
son, — Harold ;  and  Thomas  J.,  born  October 
12,  1882.  resides  with  his  parents.  The 
children  of  the  second  marriage  were :  Con- 
stant, who  was  lx)rn  January  5,  1887,  and 
died  July  26,  1888;  Nellie,  born  December 
10.  1889;  and  Mvrtle,  lx>rn  December  18, 
1892. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Nicholson  went 
to  Kansas  and  soon  became  identified  with 
public  aflfairs  in  Winfield,  being  made  mar- 
shal there  and  holding  the  position  for  three 
years.  The  next  year  and  a  half  were  spent 
in  Illinois,  but  he  then  went  back  to  Kansas, 
where  he  b<iught  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  upon  which  the  family  lived 
for  fourteen  years,  until  1894.  Our  subject 
then  returned  to  Logan  county,  selling  ail 
his  business  interests  in  Kansas  and  renting 
the  farm  he  now  occupies  from  his  step- 
lirother,  L.  H.  Lloyd.  Here  he  has  two 
hundred  and  four  acres,  located  in  sections 
31  and  ^2,  Elkhart  township,  \\-ith  an  excel- 
lent residence,  barns  and  all  kinds  of  im- 


provements ;  in  fact,  this  is  one  of  the  most 
desirable  country  homes  in  the  locality.  He 
is  everywhere  held  in  the  highest  esteem  as 
a  man  of  integrity  and  honor. 

Mr.  Nicholson  has  always  taken  an  ac- 
tive part  in  politics  as  a  Republican,  has  been 
a  member  of  the  executive  committee  and 
was  elected  as  supervisor  in  1898,  and  al- 
th(Xigh  it  was  a  Democratic  Iward  he  was 
placed  on  the  jxior  farm  committee  for  two 
vears.  one  of  the  active  committees  of  the 
board.  He  was  re-elected  in  1900.  running 
ahead  of  his  ticket,  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  work  of  the  board.  In  educa- 
tional affairs  he  also  takes  his  part,  having 
been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  some 
vears  and  president  of  it  for  the  past  two 
vears. 


JOHN  F.  TALMAGE. 

As  a  farmer,  speculator  and  all-around 
business  man  and  enterprising  memljer  of 
society  Mr.  Talmage  is  destined  to  fill  an 
important  place  in  the  history  of  Lincoln  and 
vicinity.  At  present  living  on  his  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  ninet\-  acres  in  Broadwell 
township,  he  is  contemplating  a  speedy  re- 
moval into  the  city  of  Lincoln,  where  he  is 
a  large  property  owner  and  has  many  inter- 
ests to  engage  his  many-sided  ability.  He 
was  born  in  Logan  county,  Septemljer  15, 
1864,  and  in  his  youth  had  ever  l^efore  him 
the  example  of  an  industrious  and  progress- 
ive father,  Benjamin  F.  Talmage.  who  was 
born  in  Newark.  New  Jersey,  in  1832.  The 
elder  Talmage  was  reared  in  his  native  state, 
and  when  partially  grown  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  four  years  to  a  caqjenter.  He 
came  to  Illinois  about  1856  and  settled  in 
Lincoln,  where  he  built  some  of  the  first 
houses  in  the  village,  but  he  eventually  re- 


500 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mo'\-ed  to  Broadwell  township,  wliere  he  he- 
canie  the  possessor  of  two  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  of  land,  and  where  he  li\-ed  un- 
til he  was  able  to  retire  from  active  labor, 
when  he  returned  to  Lincoln,  and  he  resided 
there  f(ir  about  fifteen  years  prinr  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  189 1.  He  was  a 
lemarkablv  prosperous  man,  a  good  financier 
and  a  man  of  high  moral  principle,  and 
started  nut  to  make  his  way  in  the  world 
fn»m  the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned,  besides  his 
farm  property,  considerable  real  estate  in  the 
city  of  Lincoln.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  suliject  was  of  English  descent,  and 
died  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  about  thirty 
years  ago,  the  grandmother  H\-ing  to  be 
ninety-one  years  of  age. 

Benjamin  Talmage  was  married,  in  i860, 
to  Elizabeth  C.  daughter  of  Charles  C.  Fer- 
ris, who  came  from  Ohio.  Of  this  union 
there  were  twd  children,  of  win  mi  Jnhn  F. 
is  older  and  Charles  D.,  now  living  in  Lin- 
coln, is  the  y(.>unger.  Jolm  F.  Talmage  was 
educateil  in  the  district  schools  of  Logan 
county  and  the  high  school  of  Lincoln,  and 
also  took  a  course  at  the  business  college 
at  Burlington,  Iowa.  He  aided  his  father 
in  the  management  oi  the  home  farm,  and 
de\eloped.  when  quite  young,  amliitions  and 
industrious  tendencies.  After  his  father's 
death  he  came  into  the  possession  of  his 
present  properties,  which  he  has  managed 
with  skill  and  upnn  strict  liusiness  principle^. 
He  has  built  a  pleasant  home  at  the  corner  of 
Wyatt  avenue  and  Hamilton  street.  Lincoln, 
Avhere  he  has  made  his  home  since  the  au- 
tumn of  1901. 

In  i8q3  Mr.  Talmage  married  Louise 
Friend,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Friend,  now 
deceased.  ]Mrs.  Talmage  was  born  in  1874, 
and  had  one  sister,  Mattie,  who  is  now  the 
Avife  of  I.  P.  Dehner,  of  Lincoln.     Two  chil- 


dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tal- 
mage. Hiram  F.  and  Marie  L..  who  were 
born,  respectively,  in  1894  and  1900.  Mr. 
Talmage  is  a  Repu])lican  in  politics,  but  has 
never  sought  office.  Fraternally  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  with 
the  Modern  ^\'oodmen  of  America. 


JOHN  C.   GRAHAM. 

John  C.  Graham,  one  of  the  prosperous 
and  well-known  farmers  of  Logan  county, 
was  born  in  County  West  Meath.  Ireland, 
October  10.  1836,  a  snn  df  \\  illiam  and  Ann 
(  Lowe )  Graham,  nati\es  1  .f  the  same  part  of 
Ireland.     The  parents  were  married  in  their 
native  land,   and   there  the  mother  died  in 
1844.     The  father,  entertaining  large  hopes 
of  life  in  America,  emigrated  with  his  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  in  1849.       The  journey 
was    undertaken    in    a    sailing    vessel,    and 
lasted    three    weeks,  the    voyagers    settling 
in     New     Jersey,     where     the     father    pur- 
cliased     fortv     acres     of     land     where     the 
town  of  Clayton    is    now  locateil.     Life  in 
the  new  country  so  auspiciously  begun  was 
destined  to  be  overtaken  with  misfortune,  for 
when  three  nmuths  had  elapsed  the  father 
sickened  and  died  and  the  children  were  face 
to  face  with  tlie  dire  problem  of  their  own 
su]3i)ort.     Jijhn  C.  had  received  a  limited  ed- 
ucation in  Ireland,  but  he  was  an  industrious 
lad  and  faced  the  great  calamity  of  his  fa- 
ther's death  with  fortitude  and  practical  as- 
sistance, for  he  at  once  began  to  work  on  a 
farm  by  the  month.      Hoping  to  better  his 
pr(is]jects.   he  came   to   Illinois   in    1855.   lo- 
cating in   Menard   county,   where  for   four 
\ears  he  continued  to  do  farm  work  by  the 
month.     From  the  savings  of  his  labors  he 
was  enabled  to  purchase  forty  acres  of  partly 
improved  land,  which  he  proceeded  to  culti- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


5or 


vate,  and  to  tliis  was  added  from  time  to  time 
until  he  became  tlie  jxjssessor  of  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty-live  acres  of  land.  Part  of 
this  was  in  Menard  and  the  balance  in  Logan 
counties,  and  at  the  present  time  it  is  splen- 
didly improved,  with  an  excellent  residence 
and  modern  barns,  fences  and  outhouses. 
Mr.  Graham  moved  to  his  pleasant  home  on 
section  8,  Hurlbut  township,  in  1S92.  While 
it  was  an  improved  farm,  whicii  he  had 
rented  for  some  time,  he  has  practically  re- 
newed all  of  the  buildings  and  made  a  beau- 
tiful home. 

At  Lincoln,  Illinois,  Octi.iber  16,  1879. 
Mr.  Graham  married  ^largaret  F.  Goodpas- 
ture, who  wa^  born  near  Petersburg.  Menard 
county.  May  10,  1846.  Her  parents,  Jeffer- 
son and  Margaret  (Masters)  Goodpasture, 
were  natives  of  Tennessee,  in  which  state 
the\-  were  married,  Septeml^er  9,  1832,  and 
from  there  they  removed  to  Illinois  soon 
afterward.  They  at  first  located  near 
Petersburg,  and  then  spent  some  time  in 
Missouri,  returning  to  Menard  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  the  father  bought  land.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  Xovember  6.  1881.  he  had 
disix)sed  of  his  farm  and  purchased  property 
in  Lincoln.  Illinois,  where  his  declining  days 
were  si)ent.  The  mother,  who  died  April 
]8,  1862,  was  the  mother  of  a  large  family 
of  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living: 
Thomas,  who  is  living  with  Mr.  Graham ; 
Sarah,  who  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Graham, 
of  Athens,  Illinois;  Winburn.  wlm  married 
Adaline  Dennis  and  lives  at  Adams.  Ne- 
braska; Hester,  who  is  the  wife  of  James 
Madison  Masters,  of  ToI)ias,  Nebraska; 
Mary,  who  is  married  to  Isaac  Masters,  of 
Menard  county,  Illini)is;  Margaret,  who  is 
n.ow  Mrs.  Graham:  and  Jennie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Comstock,  of  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Graham  began 


housekeeping  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  and 
in  1892  moved  to  Logan  county,  upon  the 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  left 
him  by  his  uncle,  and  which  has  since  been 
his  home.  In  addition  to  general  farming 
lie  raises  a  high  grade  i>i  cattle  and  horses 
for  market.  Mr.  Graham  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat and  interested  in  local  and  county 
aft'airs,  but  has  ne\er  been  willing  to  accept 
i:olitical  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church  of  Irish  (h'ove, 
and  stands  high  in  the  community  as  a  man 
whose  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  who 
is  a  progressive  influence  in  all  departments 
of  life. 

To  yii:  and  Mrs.  Graham  have  been  born 
the  following  children  :  Addie.  born  Decem- 
ber 16.  1880;  William  John,  born  February 
22.  1882;  Gracie,  born  December  8,  1883; 
Ivobert,  born  June  2,  1885,  the  twin  of  Ber- 
tha, who  died  Octoi>er  28,  1894;  Frank,  born 
February  2j,  1889;  ^^"^  Josie,  the  twin  sister 
of  Frank,  all  of  whom  have  been  given  good 
educational  advantages. 

Much  credit  is  due  Mr.  Graham,  who 
\vas  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  in  a  strange  land,  dependent  on  his 
own  resources.  He  was  the  second  child 
and  eldest  son  of  a  family  of  five  children. 
Thus  beginning  with  nothing  but  a  determi- 
riation  to  succeed,  Mr.  Graham  has  come  to 
be  not  only  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  Lo- 
gan county,  but,  what  is  more, — one  of  its 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens  for  his  in- 
tegrity and  sterling  worth. 


JOIIX  KIICK. 

Aniniio-  the  ])ri>minent  farmer  citizens  of 
Logan  county.  Illinois,  now  living  retired 
after  a  life  of  industry,  is  John  Kiick,  the 


>502 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


owner  of  eiglit  lumdred  acres  of  land  and 
one  (if  tlie  cnunty's  most  substantial  resi- 
dents. The  birth  of  IMr.  Kiick  occurred  in 
Hanover,  German)',  March  26.  18,^3,  and 
he  is  a  son  of  Hans  and  Margaret  (Broch- 
ers)  Kiick.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  a 
farm  in  his  native  country  and  was  a  school- 
boy until  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  spending 
the  time  between  that  age  and  his  majority 
in  various  kinds  of  work,  and  at  the  same 
time  making  plans  to  emigrate  to  the  United 
States.  His  means  were  very  limited,  but 
he  finally  accumulated  enough  to  start  on 
the  trip  and  landed  in  New  Orleans,  soon 
after  reached  St.  Eouis,  and  went  from  there 
to  Mount  Pulaski.  Almost  immediately  he 
found  work  among  the  neighboring  farm- 
ers and  by  industry  and  energy  was  pre- 
jaared  to  set  up  a  home  of  his  own  by  1857. 

It  was  in  this  year  that  Mr.  Kiick  was 
married  to  !Miss  Catherine  Christman,  who 
was  a  step-daughter  of  Adam  Shick,  and  by 
this  union  nine  children  were  born,  as  fol- 
lows :  Margaret,  who  married  Paul  Heiser- 
man,  and  lives  in  Macon  county;  John  Her- 
man, who  lix'es  in  the  same  county ;  Frank 
^^'illiam,  a  farmer  of  Logan  county,  living 
in  Latham ;  Jacob  Ernest,  who  is  a  mer- 
chant of  Latham:  George  E.,  who  is  a  farm- 
er of  Latham ;  Clara  Emma,  who  married 
Lynch  James,  of  Latham;  Mary  A.,  who 
married  George  Gulp  and  lives  near  Latham ; 
Esther  Catherine,  who  married  O.  J-  Lucas, 
of  Latham ;  and  \\'alter,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years. 

In  1865  our  subject  rented  a  farm  and 
worked  it  faithfully  for  three  years,  at  tlie 
end  of  this  period  purchasing  his  first  forty 
acres  of  land,  near  Burr  Oak  grove,  Laenna 
township.  In  1874  he  sold  this  tract  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  adjoin- 
ing Latham,  which  he  still  owns,  and  as  the 
years   went  by  Mr.   Kiick  kept  on  adding 


land  to  his  fine  farm  until  now  he  is  the 
owner  of  eight  hundred  acres  in  this  vi- 
cinit}-.  All  of  this  property  has  been  well 
improved  and  is  under  cultivation  with  the 
exception  of  the  last  tract  purchased  two 
years  ago. 

Mr.  Kiick  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat 
and  for  two  terms  was  the  eflicient  road 
commissioner,  during  which  time  he  ren- 
dered his  township  excellent  service.  Al- 
though reared  in  the  Lutheran  church,  he 
has  become  identified  with  the  Evangelical 
denonfination,  where  he  is  most  highly  re- 
garded. 


^^•ESLEY  A.  KOCH,  M.  D. 

Among-  the  pronunent  and  successful 
young  professional  men  of  Middletown,  Lo- 
gan county,  Illinois,  is  Dr.  W.  A.  Koch,  who 
also  took  part  in  the  Spanish- American  war. 
The  birth  of  Dr.  Koch  occurred  at  Pekin, 
Ilinois,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Henry  L.  and 
Catherine  (Eckhart)  Koch,  both  of  whom 
were  nati\-es  of  Germany,  although  married 
in  Pekin,  Illinois,  where  Mr.  Koch  is  en- 
gaged in  a  prosperous  furniture  and  under- 
taking business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Al- 
bertson  &  Koch.  His  father  was  John 
Koch,  and  with  him  Henry  came  to  the 
LTnited  States  from  Germany  when  he  was 
but  six  years  of  age.  The  trip  across  the 
ocean  required  seven  weeks,  as  it  was  made 
in  a  sailing  vessel,  which  landed  its  passen- 
gers at  New  York  City.  Later  Mr.  Koch 
came  west  and  located  at  Sheboygan,  Wis- 
consin, where  Henry  attended  school  until 
he  was  fifteen  }-ears  of  age.  Then  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Peoria,  Illinois,  where  he  was  given  educa- 
tional advantages  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
lea\ing  school  at  that  time  to  become  a  mem- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


503 


ber  of  a  volunteer  company.  He  served 
faithfully  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  after 
which  he  made  his  home  in  Pckin.  Illinois, 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  upholstering. 
Three  years  later  he  embarkeil  in  the  business 
for  himself  and  carried  it  on  until  1880,  when 
he  enlarged  his  stock  to  embrace  wall  paijer, 
paints,  etc.,  and  in  1886  asstciated  with  him 
Mr.  Albertson,  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking business. 

Dr.  Koch  was  given  e.xcellent  educational 
advantages,  his  younger  years  Ijeing  passed 
at  school  in  a  private  German  institution  in 
Pekin.  Later  he  attended  the  ward  schcwls. 
passing  with  honor  through  the  high  school. 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1896.  For  one 
year  the  young  man  studied  the  science  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  John  L  Skelly,  of  Pekin. 
and  thus  prepared,  entered  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  in  the  University  of  Illinois,  grad- 
uating with  well-earned  honors  ^May  28, 
1901. 

On  April  28,  1898,  Dr.  Koch  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  enter- 
ing Company  G,  Fifth  IJlinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  was  mustered  in  at  Springfield. 
From  there  he  went  direct  to  Chickamauga 
Park,  then  on  to  Newport  News.  \'irginia. 
whence  the  regiment  went  on  a  transport  un- 
der orders  for  Porto  Rico.  The  Doctor  was 
mustered  out  at  Springfield,  October  15, 
1898,  having  been  corporal  of  his  company. 
Dr.  Koch  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, the  others  Ijeing  as  follows :  Rudolph 
married  Lydia  Margarete,  a  daughter  of  a 
minister  of  the  Gennan  Methodist  church, 
and  resides  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where  he 
is  in  the  agricultural  implement  business. 
They  have  one  child.  Lewis,  unmarried,  h 
a  resident  of  Pekin.  George  attends  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Pekin.  Celia  is  the  wife  of 
Louis  De  Vries,  of  Hepler,  Kansas.     Clara 


is  at  home.     Etta  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years. 

On  lune  _'8.  1901,  Dr.  Koch  came  to 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  located  for  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Middletown, 
where  in  this  short  period  he  has  built  up  a 
very  encouraging  practice.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Medical  Association, 
and  is  an  able,  energetic  and  scholarly  young 
man.  who  has  every  promise  of  becoming 
distinguished  in  his  profession.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  church. 


ZADOC  W.  GRAFF. 

A  prominent  citizen  of  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  is  found  in  Zadoc  W.  Graff,  a  resi- 
dent of  ]\Iiddletown,  where  he  is  highly  es- 
teemed. His  birth  occurred  in  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  October  23,  i86r,  and  he  is 
a  son  of  Washington  and  Elizabeth  (Flynn) 
Graff,  lx>th  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  state 
of  Kentucky,  although  they  were  united  in 
marriage  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  The  fa- 
ther engaged  in  farming  all  his  life,  his 
death  occurring  November  7,  1895,  tlie 
modier  having  passed  away  in  1864.  The 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Graff,  senior,  was  in 
1865,  to  Elizabeth  Owen,  who  died  in  1883, 
and  in  1884  he  married  Minnie  Christian, 
who  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm 
near  Jackson\ille. 

The  children  born  to  the  first  union  were 
as  follows :  Molly,  who  is  the  widow  of 
^Nlarcellus  Crum,  and  resides  in  \'irginia, 
Illinois ;  ^^■illianl,  who  married  Matie  Berry 
and  resides  in  ^lorgan  county,  Illinois; 
Marguerite,  deceased,  who  married  Harmon 
Fisher,  and  later  John  McCawley  and  re- 
sided in  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  George,  who 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


died  at  the  age  of  one  year ;  Frank,  who 
married  Elvira  Cogdell,  and  resides  at 
Springfield;  Zadoc  W..  of  this  biography: 
and  General  Grant,  who  married  Emma 
Lewis  and  resides  near  Jackson\-ille. 

Zadoc  \\'.  Graff,  the  snbject  of  this  biog- 
raphy, attended  the  district  school  at  the 
Graff  school,  remaining  there  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  fifteen  years,  then  becom- 
ing a  student  in  the  Jacksonville  Business 
College,  and  leaving  that  institution  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years.  He  began  his  busi- 
ness career  in  Albuquerque,  Xew  ^lexico, 
where  he  was  mail  agent  between  that  city 
and  Pon  Dowe,  where  there  was  a  stage  line 
of  eighty  miles  with  but  one  stop,  which  was 
at  a  smelting  mill.  At  the  end  of  a  year  he 
returned  to  Virginia.  Illinois.  The  year  fol- 
lowing his  southern  trip  Mr.  Graff  was  en- 
gaged in  the  butcher  business  and  then  went 
to  Chandlersville,  where  for  one  and  one- 
half  years  he  was  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, but  was  then  induced  to  remoxe  to  Fort 
Pierre,  South  Dakota,  and  open  up  a  real  es- 
tate business,  which  for  two  years  was  a 
successful  business  venture.  \\"hen  he  lo- 
cated there  the  flourishing  town  of  Canning 
was  only  ''on  paper,"  but  during  his  resi- 
dence there  he  did  much  to  promote  its  in- 
terests, and  at  tliis  time  the  population  of 
this  growing  little  city  is  fully  one  thousand 
citizens.  Although  he  still  feels  an  interest 
in  the  locality.  :\Ir.  Graff  has  sold  all  of  his 
holdings  there. 

Returning  to  Illinois,  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  twO'  hundred  and  thirty  acres  in 
Cass  county,  and  lived  upon  that  place,  with 
his  brother,  alx»ut  one  and  one-half  years, 
when  the  brothers  sold  this  propertv  and 
bought  two  hundred  acres  in  ^Morgan  coun- 
ty, living  there  about  two  years.  Mr.  Graff 
then  saw  a  fine  opportunity  to  embark  in  the 
grain  business,  and  carried  this  on  in  Xa- 


trona,  Mason  county,  for  four  years,  return- 
ing then  to  the  old  homestead,  where  he 
lived  until  1897.  In  November  of  that  year 
he  moved  to  Middletown,  after  settling  up 
his  father's  estate,  and  again  embarked  in 
the  grain  business,  in  which  he  has  been 
eminently  successful.  He  owns  one  large 
grain  elevator  in  Middletown,  and  another 
at  Fancy  Prairie,  Illinois,  being  one  of 
the  leading  grain  buyers  of  this  section. 

Mr.  Graft'  was  married,  September  15, 
1898.  at  Middletown.  to  Edna  Glenn,  who 
was  born  here  August  17,  1880,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  J-  A.  Glenn,  whose  biographical 
sketch  appears  in  another  part  of  this  vol- 
imie.  To  I\lr.  and  ]\Irs.  Graft"  was  burn  one 
son, — Glenn  \\'.,  nn  May  4,  1899. 

Socially  Mr.  (iraft'  is  connected  \\ith 
A.shland  Lodge.  K.  P.;  :\Iyrtle  Lodge.  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  of  [Middletown,  and  the  Court  of 
Honor.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
ably  performs  the  duties  of  a  member  of  the 
town  board  of  the  prosperous  little  city  of 
jNIiddletown.  He  is  president  of  the  Middle- 
town  Mutual  Telephone  Company  and  one 
of  its  organizers,  it  being  a  prosperous  com- 
pany with  over  one  hundred  'phones.  He  is 
also  captain  of  the  Rough  Riders,  a  branch 
of  the  Anti-Horsethief  Association,  and  has 
held  the  position  since  its  organization,  two 
vears  ago. 


CHARLES  S.  LA\^  REXCE. 

The  name  of  Lawrence  is  identified 
with  the  early  days  of  Illinois,  and  with 
tiie  large  and  successful  agricultural  under- 
takings which  have  placed  the  state  fore- 
most in  the  production  of  sustenance  inr 
the  nation.  Charles  S.  Lawrence,  whose 
rseful  and  well  l)alanced  life  spanned  the 
distance   between   his   birth,  September   8, 


CHARLES    LAWRENCE. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


507 


1847.  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his 
children  in  Logan  county,  and  hi>  tlealli. 
November  i_>.  1895.  was  typical  of  the  en- 
ergetic and  honored  middle  western  farmer, 
who  judiciously  manages  and  abuntlantly 
reaps.  His  father,  Theodore  Lawrence,  a 
native  of  Hardy  county,  West  \'irginia. 
was  one  of  the  widely  known  pioneers  of 
this  part  of  the  county,  coming  here  di- 
rectly after  his  marriage  in  Springfield.  Il- 
linois. Xoveml)er  29.  1837.  with  Eliza 
Ann  Talxir,  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  had  pre- 
\iously  purchased  land  in  Logan  county, 
to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time,  so 
that  at  the  time  of  his  death.  March  23. 
1862.  he  was  the  possessor  of  nearly  two 
thousand  acres.  He  was  a  self-made  man 
in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  at  the  age 
of  twelve  years  began  to  personally  support 
three  brothers  and  one  sister.  He  cher- 
ished a  pride  of  birth,  especially  on  his 
mother's  side,  for  in  this  connection  he  was 
kin  of  the  Steenbergers,  one  of  the  old  and 
aristocratic  soutiiern  families.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  i>olitics.  but  steadfastly  re- 
fused official  recognition,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
\\ith  his  wife,  who  died  March  19.  1889. 
he  is  buried  on  the  okl  homestead  in  Logan 
county. 

The  education  of  Charles  S.  Lawrence 
was  gained  through  a  tutor  and  governess, 
Ixjth  of  whom  came  to  his  father's  house. 
He  was  one  in  a  family  of  five  children, 
namely:  Frances  E..  who  is  the  widow  of 
Alfred  W.  Turner,  who  died  June  6.  1881 ; 
Elizal)eth  A.,  who  liecame  the  wife  of  Alex- 
ander Lawrence,  of  Logan  county,  and  lx)th 
of  whom  are  deceased;  William  S.,  who 
married  \'irginia  Daley,  and  they  are  also 
deceased:  John  T..  who  married  Frances 
Lawrence,  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Logan  county;  and  Charles  S. 

27 


At  the  age  of  sixteen  Mr.  Lawrence  left 
school,  and.  his  father  having  in  the  mean- 
time died,  he  became  associated  with  his 
brother  in  the  care  of  the  home  farm.  On 
November  13.  1872.  he  married,  at  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  Miss  Anna  Eliza  Westfall, 
who  was  lx)rn  in  Sangamon  county,  near 
Old  Berlin,  April  5.  1853.  Mis,  Lawrence 
was  one  in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  namely:  Smith  Westiall,  who 
lives  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri:  Anna  Ji.. 
who  was  the  wife  of  Charles  S.  Lav.ience : 
Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five; 
George,  who  is  a  resident  of  the  Sand\>  ich 
Islands:  Leona.  now  deceased,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Strawbridge,  of  Ot- 
lawa.  Kansas:  and  Charles,  who  lives  in 
Ottawa.  Kansas.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
S.  Lawrence  were  born  seven  children,  all 
of  whoiii.  with  the  exception  of  Roy.  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  are  living  on 
the  homestead.  The  children  are:  Anna 
Louise,  Gwendolen.  Stella,  \\inifred.  Mar- 
garet D.,  and  Frances  Theodora. 

After  his  father's  death  'Sir.  Lawrence 
became  possessed  of  one  thousand  acres  of 
land,  including  the  old  homestead,  upon 
which  he  carried  on  large  farming  and 
stock-raising  interests.  He  prospered  ex- 
ceedingly, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  left 
o\-er  one  thousand  acres  ^n  the  splendid 
mral  home  now  occupied  by  his  daughters,, 
and  lie  also  owned  property  in  Springfield. 
Illinois.  His  wife  died  July  J8.  1894.  and 
is  buried  at  Oak  Ridge  cemetery  with  her 
husband.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  prominent  in 
the  aft'airs  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
represented  his  district  in  the  37th  general 
assembly.  He  was  fraternally  associated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, of  Elkhart,  and  was  a  member  of 
Christ  Episcopal  church,  of  Springfield,  of 
which  he  was  vestrv  man  for  a  time.     He 


5o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


possessed  many  of  tlie  stable  and  strong- 
characteristics  handed  di^wn  from  liis  Eng- 
hsh  ancestry,  and  he  was  universally  es- 
teemed for  his  integrity,  his  public-spirited 
enterprise,  and  for  his  agreeable  personal- 


HON.  NICHOLAS  P.  GASAWAV. 

Nicholas  P.  Gasaway,  of  the  firm  of 
Gasaway  &  Son,  general  merchants,  of 
Latham,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  March  4,  1848,  a  son  of  J.  D.  and 
r^Iartha  J.  (Caldwell)  Gasaway.  He  was 
four  years  of  age  when  his  father  left  Ohio 
and  located  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  where 
they  spent  one  winter,  going  then  to  Lake 
Fork  trnxnship,  Logan  county,  \\here  the 
fatlier  Iwught  land,  and  upon  that  farm  our 
subject  grew  to  manhood.  There  was  much 
to  be  done,  as  his  father  raised  many  head 
of  cattle,  and  the  only  schoohng  be  recei\ed 
was  through  the  winter  months. 

AMien  almost  twenty-one  our  subject 
was  married,  February  u,  18' ig.  to  Miss 
Eliza  T.  Sherer,  of  Lake  Fork,  Illinois,  who 
was  born  in  Grant  county.  Kentncky,  and 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  David 
Sherer,  when  she  was  a  child.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  Gasaway  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  father's  land  for  a  few  years,  but  later 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  wild  land,  for 
which  he  paid  twenty-se\en  dollars  an  acre. 
and  followed  farming  until  1900.  ]\Ir.  and 
]\Irs.  Ga.saway  have  had  a  family  of  five 
children,  and  four  of  these  are  still  living. 
A  sad  blow  was  gi\-en  oiu"  subject  and  wife 
in  the  death  of  the  only  daughter,  Carrie 
E.,  a  sweet  girl  of  sixteen.  The  sons  all 
grew  to  maturity  and  are  among  the  most 
honored  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  this 
county,  namely :  Thomas,  who  is  a  ])artner 
in  the  mercantile  business  with  his  father,  in 


Latham;  J.  D..  who  is  an  extensive  farmer 
in  Lake  Fork  township:  Levi,  who  is 
also  a  farmer  in  Lake  Fork  township :  and 
John,  tlie  youngest,  who  is  an  efficient  clerk 
in  his  father's  store. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  imbued  with  its  principles, 
and  he  was  still  _\-uung  when  he  l>egan  to 
take  an  active  interest  in  political  matters. 
As  earlv  as  1885  he  was  chosen  supervisor 
of  Lake  Fork  township,  and  for  the  twelve 
succeeding-  years  no  change  was  made  in 
the  incumbency  of  that  office.  He  was  the 
chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  during 
the  last  five  }-ears  of  his  official  connection 
w  ith  the  Ix^ard,  and  during  his  administra- 
tion man\-  impri>\-ements  of  a  substantial 
character  were  made  in  the  county.  It  was 
through  his  instrumentality  that  eighty  acres 
of  land  were  added  to  the  county  farm,  and 
it  was  his  good  management  that  gained  the 
county  ten  iron  bridges,  these  being  the  first 
of  the  kind  ever  built  here.  Mr.  Gasaway 
had  the  interests  of  the  poor  farm  at  heart 
and  he  did  much  toward  its  improvement 
and  U])building-  during  bis  management  of 
the  office. 

In  }S()H  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
Ijy  his  fellow  citizens  was  shown  by  his  elec- 
tion as  their  representative  to  the  forty-first 
general  assembly,  which  met  in  1899.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  service  he  was  on  the  import- 
ant committees  on  banking,  jniblic  build- 
ings and  sanitary  committees,  fulfilling  all 
the  duties  jjertaining  to  these  ])ublic  trusts 
with  aliility  and  efficiency.  He  has  l>een 
sent  as  a  delegate  many  times  to  conven- 
tions, being  some  five  times  a  state  delegate. 
His  political  record  is  an  enviable  one,  and 
he  is  well  and  thoroughly  known  tiirough 
the  countv.  his  public  life  having  brought 
him  into  coiitact  witli  the  most  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  of  die  state. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509 


Mr.  Gasaway  is  also  prominent  in  n 
number  of  fraternal  orders,  particulruiy  tlio 
^Masonic,  and  was  raised  in  Lodge  Xo.  3.21. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Illiopolis,  but  dimitted 
and  became  a  charter  memljer  of  the  Latham 
Lodge,  Xo.  S53,  in  1898,  and  has  been  its 
treasurer  ever  since  its  inauguration.  He 
took  the  degrees  of  Knight  Templar  and 
Royal  Arch  at  Mount  Pulaski,  Xo.  39  and 
X'^o.  121,  respectively.  He  is  also  a  charter 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of 
Latham,  where  he  has  passed  all  of  the 
chairs,  and  he  has  been  sent  as  a  representa- 
tive to  the  grand  lodge. 

Mr.  Gasaway  is  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  Latham,  where  his  private,  busi- 
ness and  political  life  has  redounded  only 
to  his  credit,  and  no  record  of  Logan  county 
would  be  complete  without  a  biographical 
mention  of  this  representative  citizen. 


Ml 


MARGARET  ELLIS. 


A  representative  social  leader  in  the  town 
of  Lincoln,  ]Mrs.  ilargaret  Ellis  is  also  a 
large  property  owner,  and  a  business  woman 
of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  The  widow 
of  Xicholas  Ellis,  remembered  as  one  of  the 
most  substantial  and  successful  of  the  ag- 
riculturists of  Logan  county,  Mrs.  Ellis  i^ 
the  youngest  child  born  in  Europe  to  Jacob 
and  Katherine  Fuhs,  who  emigrated  to 
America  in  1856  with  their  four  children. 
The  children  in  the  order  of  their  births  are  : 
Christ,  who  is  now  living  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  from  Washington  Heights,  Cook 
county,  Illinois:  Emma,  who  resides  on  the 
home  place  in  Cook  county:  Mary,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Kieffer,  and  lives  at  Wash- 
ington Heights:  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Ellis; 
Charles  F.,  who  also  lives  at  Washington 


Heights:  and  biscph,  who  lives  on  the  home 
place. 

Mrs.  Ellis  received  excellent  educational 
training  in  her  youth,  and  in  1876  married 
Xicholas  Ellis,  a  son  of  Martin  E.  Ellis,  who 
emigrated  from  Germany  with  his  wife  and 
si.x  children  about  1856.  Martin  Ellis  was 
one  of  tlie  very  early  pioneers  of  Chicago 
and  \icinit\-,  and  the  first  work  in  which  he 
engaged  after  coming  to  Illinois  was  cutting 
logs  from  the  present  site  of  Chicago.  Sub- 
secjuently  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  on  the 
prairies,  a  not  too  profitable  undertaking, 
for  when  he  arrived  in  Springfield  with  his 
family  he  was  the  possessor  of  the  inspiring 
sum  of  twenty-five  cents.  His  wife  seems 
to  have  imbibed  the  courageous  and  free 
sj)irit  of  the  plains,  for  she  put  her  shoulder 
to  the  wheel  and  worked  with  her  husband 
in  a  hemp  factory  in  Springfield.  After  a 
time  the  father  became  interested  in  a  pork 
packing  concern  in  the  town,  and  gradually 
made  his  way  to  the  front,  and  in  time 
owned  considerable  land  in  Logan  county. 
As  may  be  imagined,  his  son,  Xicholas,  was 
obliged  to  shift  for  himself  at  a  very  early 
age,  and  he  fortunately  possessed  industry 
and  application  sufficient  to  overcome  what- 
e\er  of  discouragement  or  obstacles  came  his 
way.  In  the  family,  besides  himself,  were: 
Catherine,  who  died  in  Broadwell  township ; 
Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  Frank  Risley, 
and  died  in  1874:  Fred,  Cliristine,  and 
Josephine,   who  all   died   in  childhoiul. 

After  her  marriage  Airs.  Ellis  came  to 
Logan  county,  where  her  husband  bought  a 
farm  in  Broadwell  township,  upon  which 
they  lived  for  about  seventeen  years.  Mr. 
Ellis  died  on  the  home  farm  January  8, 
1894,  after  which  Airs.  Ellis  clo.sed  up  her 
farming  interests  and  purchased  a  pleasant 
home  at  515  Xorth  Logan  street.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ellis  were  born  four  children,  two 


5IO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sons  and  two  daughters,  namely :  Ji  ihn 
M.,  who  was  born  February  17,  1883,  and 
is  living  at  home:  ]\Iary,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 25,  1885  ;  Susan  J.,  who  was  torn  Sep- 
tember 18,  1886 ;  and  Allen  J.,  who  was  born 
August  3,  1888.  The  children  are  being  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  of  Lincoln,  and 
it  is  the  intention  of  their  mother  to  give 
them  e\er\'  opportunity  in  her  power  to  im- 
prove their  talents  and  general  ability.  The 
propertv  of  I\lrs.  Ellis  consists  of  one  farm 
of  four  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  in 
Broadwell  township,  and  another  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-seven  acres  in  the 
same  township,  and  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-three  acres  in  Chester  township. 
The  farm  projierty  is  all  rented  mit  to  ten- 
ants. Mr.  and  Airs.  Ellis  were  among  the 
earlv  communicants  of  St.  ^Mary's  Catholic 
church  of  Lincoln  and  assisted  liberally  in 
building  both  church  edifices. 


J.VAIES  AVRES. 

James  Ayres.  a  well-known  retired  farm- 
er of  Mt.  Pulaski,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
on  a  farm  in  Miami  county  November  15, 
1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Darius  and  Orpah 
( Rosebrough )  Ayres.  The  father  was  born 
in  Madison  county,  that  state,  in  iSoo,  while 
the  mi  ther  was  Ixjrii  in  Kentucky  in  1804. 
They  were  married  in  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio,  and  later  remo\  ed  to  Miami  county, 
that  state,  where  the  father  was  engaged  in 
general  farming  until  his  death  in  1839. 
The  farm  which  he  left  to  his  widow  was 
.small,  but  it  was  all  paid  for.  In  1852 
she  and  her  family  came  to  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  three  miles  northeast 
of  the  village  of  Mt.  Pulaski,  where  she  con- 


tinued to  make  her  home  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  her  life.  She  li\ed  to  rear  her 
children  and  see  them  all  comfortably  settled 
in  life,  and  passed  quietly  away  in  1891, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-six  years,  loved 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  her.  She 
had  seven  children  who  lived  to  be  grown, 
namely:  Richard  F.,  deceased,  who  once 
served  as  sheriff  of  Logan  county:  Mary, 
wife  of  J.  C.  \\'ebster;  Alfred,  a  resident  of 
Chestnut.  Logan  county ;  John  R.,  a  retired 
farmer  of  ]\It.  Pulaski:  Susan,  wife  of 
Thomas  S.  Clark,  of  the  state  of  \\'ashing- 
ton :  James,  our  subject :  and  Rebecca,  w1k> 
married  John  H.  Dement  and  both  are  now- 
deceased. 

Mr.  Ayres.  of  this  re\'iew.  spent  the  first 
seventeen  years  of  liis  life  in  his  native  state, 
and  is  indebted  to  its  district  schools  for 
the  greater  part  of  his  education.  He  at- 
tended a  subscription  school  for  one  term 
after  coming  with  the  family  to  Illinois. 
His  early  life  was  passed  upon  the  home 
farm  and  he  assisted  his  mother  in  caring 
for  the  family. 

On  October  17.  1883,  Air.  Ayres  mar- 
ried .Mrs.  Christina  Webster,  of  Logan  coun- 
ty. Her  first  husband,  J.  C.  ^^'ebster.  was 
an  early  resident  of  this  county,  having  lo- 
cated near  Chestnut  in  1849.  He  was  a  very 
prominent  man  and  was  elected  circuit  clerk 
of  the  county,  ti)  which  office  he  was  subse- 
([uently  re-elected,  serving  in  all  eight  years. 
Later  he  was  elected  as  the  first  mayor  of 
the  city  of  Lincoln.  He  died  leaving  four 
children,  namel\- :  Elmer  L.,  who  is  miw  in 
the  employ  of  the  go\-ernment  and  is  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois;  Estella, 
wife  of  George  A.  Mayer,  of  Alount  Pulaski : 
Alice,  wife  of  W.  C.  Purviance,  of  Mount 
Pulaski;  and  Jo.seph  C.  a  resident  of  Fulton 
county,  Illinois. 

}vlrs.    Avrcs   is   a    native    of    Schoharie 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


county.  New  'S'ork.  and  a  danshter  of  Henry 
I.  Warner,  who  was  l)orn  in  tlie  same  state 
in  1796  and  came  tn  lllinc  is  in  1837.  locat- 
ing in  Lincoln,  where  he  m;i(le  his  Imme  un- 
til his  death,  in  1SS4.  His  wile,  who  liore 
the  maiden  name  of  Margaret  Becker,  died 
in  Lincoln  in  1S58.  leaving  live  children: 
George  and  Da\  id.  who  are  now  deceased : 
]\Irs.  Florine  Lawrence,  a  resident  of  Syra- 
cuse, New  York;  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Jones,  of 
Lincoln,  Illinois:  and  Christina,  wife  of  our 
subject.  Five  children  died  previous  to  the 
mother's  death. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ayres  remainetl 
on  the  old  homestead,  having  purchased  the 
interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  place,  and 
to  it  he  added  a  tract  of  forty  acres,  making 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  all.  It  is  now 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  im- 
proved widi  good  and  substantial  buildings. 
Renting  the  farm  in  March.  1893,  Mr.  Ayres 
removed  to  Mt.  Pulaski,  and  has  since  lived 
a  retired  life,  though  he  still  looks  after  his 
property  interests.  While  living  in  the  coun- 
try he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
several  years,  and  has  always  taken  a  deep 
and  commendable  interest  in  all  enterprises 
calculated  to  advance  the  social,  moral  or 
material  welfare  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives.  He  is  a  man  of  the  highest  re- 
spectability, and  is  well  liked  by  all  who 
know  him. 


WILLIAM   SI1.\\\'  DUXHAAI. 

Prominent  among  the  business  men  of 
Atlanta  is  William  Shaw  Dunham,  who  for 
over  forty-five  years  has  been  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  the  city,  while  his 
name  is  insejjarably  connected  with  its  com- 
mercial and  financial  records.  In  business 
affairs  he  has  l)ecn  wonderfullv  successful. 


and  is  now  president  of  the  Atlanta  National 
P.ank.  and  one  of  the  largest  land  i>wners  in 
Logan  county. 

Mr.  Dunham  was  bom  in  Washington 
county.  Ohio.  September  28,  1827.  and  is 
one  of  a  family  of  six  children  whose  par- 
ents were  William  W.  and  Mary  G.  ((ireen) 
Dunham.  'i"he  father  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  came  to  the  United  States  with 
two  hroihers  at  an  early  day.  Having 
learned  the  trade  of  a  compositor  and  done 
considerable  newspaper  work  in  England, 
he  immediately  located  in  Providence.  Rhode 
Island,  on  his  arrival  in  this  country,  and  be- 
came editor  of  the  Pro\idence  Journal. 
After  publishing  that  paper  for  several  years 
he  removed  to  Marietta,  \\'ashington  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  and  assumed  the  editorship  of  thfe 
Marietta  Gazette,  carrying  on  that  paper  un- 
til two  years  before  his  death,  when  he  came, 
in  April,  183 1,  to  Waynesville,  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  its  operation  until  his  death, 
in  October,  1833.  His  wife  survi\ed  him 
many  years  and  died  in  August,  1877. 

Our  subject  was  only  six  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  as  the  family 
was  left  in  limited  circumstances  he  was 
forced  to  seek  a  livelihood  for  himself  and 
mother  at  the  age  of  twelve.  As  his  time 
was  then  spent  in  following  the  plow,  his 
education  was  necessarily  limited.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
and  was  then  linund  out  by  his  mother  to 
.\.  P..  Lewis  as  clerk  in  his  dry-gootls  store 
at  Waynesville.  where  he  worked  for  three 
years,  at  a  salary  of  five  dollars  per  month 
the  first  year;  second  year,  ten:  and  the  last 
year  was  paid  a  salary  of  two  hundred  dol- 
lars. During  that  time  he  managed  to  save 
enough,  with  the  assistance  of  his  brother, 
to  embark  in  a  similar  enterprise  w  ith  C.  H. 
Ormsbv,   this  ])artnership  existing   for  two 


512 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years.  He  afterward  took  his  two  brothers 
in  with  him,  the  firm  being  known  as  J.  P. 
Dunham  &  Company,  and  they  carried  on 
business  together  at  Waynesville  for  twelve 
years. 

In  June,  1856,  Mr.  Dunham  came  to  At- 
lanta and  opened  a  mercantile  establishment 
under  the  name  of  Dunham  «S:  JMaltby,  which 
partnership  continued  until  the  fall  of  1858, 
when  he  sold  out  and  established  another 
business,  which  he  carried  on  alone.  In 
1 86 1  he  formed  a  partnership  with  James 
Shores  and  Jacob  Hawes.  Tlie  latter  sul> 
sequentlv  sold  out  to  William  Milliner.  This 
firm  existed  some  eighteen  years,  but  in  1879 
purchased  the  entire  business  and  admitted 
his  son  to  partnership,  the  firm  having  since 
Ijeen  known  as  W.  S.  Dunham  &  Son.  They 
enjoy  an  excellent  trade  and  h^^ve  one  of 
the  largest  clothing  establishments  in  At- 
lanta. Mr.  Dunham  owns  ten  hundred  and 
forty-two  acres  of  valuable  farming  land,  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  which  adjoin 
the  city  of  Atlanta,  while  the  remaining 
four  hundred  and  two  acres  are  on  the  out- 
skirts of  Pontiac.  Besides  this  projjcrty  he 
has  considerable  real  estate  in  Atlanta,  and 
has  just  completed  one  of  the  nidst  hand- 
some and  miulurn  residences  in  the  place,  at 
a  cost  of  seven  thousand  dollai-s.  Tlie  plan 
was  taken  from  a  California  mansion,  and 
the  work  was  carried  on  day  by  day  under 
his  watchful  eye.  the  interior  woodwork  be- 
ing a  piano  finish. 

Mr.  Dunham  was  first  married.  Novem- 
ber 3.  185 1.  t(i  ^liss  Adeline  Branson,  of 
Sangamon  county,  and  to  them  was  born  a 
son,  William  W.,  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
wife  died  ]\iav  29,  1S53.  and  was  interreil 
with  her  little  child  in  the  Waynesville  cem- 
etery. On  the  3th  of  September,  1855,  Mr. 
DunliAm  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  E. 
Harrison,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  F.  F.  Harrison. 


of  \\'aynesville.  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  five  children,  of  whom  Samuel  C. 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  Meneta  E., 
an  accomplished  and  highly  educated  young 
ladv.  died  in  her  twenty-ninth  year.  The 
surviving  children  are  Addie,  now  the  wife 
of  Thomas  H.  Slaughter,  who  conducts  a 
musical  conservatory  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  a  graduate  of  the  same;  Kate 
D.,  wife  of  Samuel  K.  Huston,  an  expert 
diamond  cutter  and  jeweler  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois; and  William  S.,  Jr.,  general  merchant 
of  Atlanta. 

Mr.  Dunham  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  since 
1848,  and  president  of  Union  Hall  Associa- 
tion of  Atlanta.  He  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  General  Winfield  Scott,  the 
Whig  candidate,  and  since  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  in  1856  has  been 
one  of  its  stanch  supporters.  He  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill  various  official  jwsitions 
of  honor  and  trust,  being  a  member  of  the 
state  legislature  in  1894,  and  serving  on  a 
number  of  the  important  committees,  includ- 
ing that  of  state  buildings,  agriculture  and 
lianks.  He  was  also  on  the  committee  that 
visited  all  the  state  institutions.  Fie  served 
with  distinction  as  mayor  of  the  city,  alder- 
man and  trustee  for  one  term  each,  and  was 
president  of  the  school  board  for  three  years. 
Owing  to  advancing  years,  he  now  de- 
clines all  ]>oIitical  honors  which  the  people 
would  confer  upon  him,  preferring  to  spend 
his  remaining  days  in  ease  and  Cjuiet.  Mr. 
Dunham  is  noted  for  his  liberality,  giving 
generouslv  at  all  times  to  any  enterprise  cal- 
culated to  advance  the  interests  of  his  fel- 
low citizens  or  promote  the  general  welfare. 
His  career  has  ever  been  such  as  to  warrant 
the  trust  and  confidence  of  the  business 
world,  for  he  has  ever  conducted  all  trans- 
actions on  the  strictest  principles  of  honor 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


515 


and  integrity.  His  devotion  to  the  public 
gootl  is  unquestioned  and  arises  from  a  sin- 
cere interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow- 
men.  Religiously  his  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  MetluKlist  church,  and  they  are  people 
of  prominence  in  the  city  which  has  so  long 
been  their  home. 


HUGH  .\.  BIXXS. 

One  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Middletown.  Logan  county.  Illinois,  who  is 
prominently  identified  with  many  business 
enterprises,  is  Hugh  A.  Binns.  a  descendant 
of  an  old  English  family  which  located  in 
Virginia  at  a  very  early  day.  He  was  lx)rn 
in  Pike  county.  Ohio,  January  30,  1855,  and 
is  a  son  of  Lee  Durham  and  Jane  (Johns- 
ton) Binns.  the  former  of  whom  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, their  marriage  taking  place  in  the 
state  of  Ohio.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  Civil  war,  serving  for  three  years 
in  the  Xinety-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returnctl  to 
Ohio  and  engaged  in  fanning  there  until 
1870.  at  that  date  moving  to  Logan  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  kxrating  on  a  farm  in  Cor- 
win  township.  Until  his  death.  August  11. 
1874.  he  followed  farming  and  l)ecame  a 
well-known  and  respected  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity. His  widow  survived  until  Decern 
ber  31.  1900.  passing  out  of  life  with  the  old 
vear.  Both  were  laid  away  in  the  Pleasant 
\'alley  cemetery,  in  Corwin  township,  Logan 
county. 

Hugh  A.  Binns  is  one  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Philip,  who 
married  Molly  Pittman,  resides  in  Xebraska ; 
Johanna  resided  with  her  nvither  until  her 


death:  Susan,  who  married  James  K.  War- 
ren, resides  in  Marion  county.  Kansas: 
Hugh  A.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch :  Lee 
D..  who  married  Rosie  Martin,  resides  in 
Sheridan  township  on  a  farm;  James,  who 
married  Truda  \\'orth,  resides  at  Red  Oak, 
Iowa,  engaged  in  farming  and  cattle-rais- 
ing :  and  Charles,  unmarried,  resides  in  Xew 
Holland.  Illinois,  where  he  has  held  the  po- 
sition of  cashier  in  the  Merchant's  Bank  for 
the  past  eight  years. 

The  educational  opportunities  afYorded 
our  subject  in  his  youth  were  limited  to  the 
seasons  during  the  winters,  as  the  sununers 
were  occupied  in  work  on  tlie  farm,  Inu  un- 
u\  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  managed  to 
pass  a  part  of  each  winter  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhotxl,  obtaining  an 
education.  He  came  to  Logan  county.  Illi- 
nois, with  his  parents,  and  was  on  the  home 
farm  until  alxwt  1893.  when  he  purchased 
eightv  acres  of  land  in  Corwin  township,  on 
section  6.  living  on  section  5,  on  his  mother'? 
farm.  This  farm  he  still  owns,  as  well  as 
three  shares  in  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Binns  was  married,  Xovember  11, 
1893,  in  Sheridan  township,  at  the  residence 
of  his  brother-in-law.  to  ^Miss  Fannie 
W'indle.  who  was  born  in  1865  in  that  town- 
.■^hip.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Han- 
nah (Hagen)  Windle.  Her  father  was  a 
farmer  of  that  place,  but  is  now  in  York 
county,  Xebraska. 

Mrs.  Binns  is  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children  born  to  her  parents,  naiuely  :  Doug- 
lass, Joseph.  Clarence,  Katie    and    Fannie. 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  Mildred,  Howard,  Alma  and  Hugh, 
the  two  eldest  being  in  school. 

.\fter  marriage  Hugh  A.  Binns  remained 
on  the  homestead  farm  and  his  mother 
moved  into  Xew  Holland.  He  had  pur- 
chasetl  all  of  the  machinery,  implements  and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


stock  and  continued  the  operation  of  the 
farm  for  the  following  two  years,  removing 
then  to  Xew  Holland,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  business  of  stock  buying  for  a  period  of 
three  years,  coming  then  back  to  the  farm, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years  more.  He 
next  m<>\ed  to  IMiddletown,  where  he 
opened  up  a  grain  business  and  has  pros- 
pered exceedingly.  Mr.  Binns  owns  eighty 
acres  in  C<  irwin  township,  and  a  part  of  the 
old  homestead,  while  he  also  owns  in  Kansus 
a  fine  property  comprising  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  For  a  number  uf  years  he  has 
been  one  of  the  stockholders  in  the  (ierman 
American  National  Bank  of  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois, while  he  is  socially  connectetl  with 
Camp  Xo.  5713,  ^I.  W.  A.  A  Republican 
in  ix:Iitics,  he  has  been  active  in  the  ranks  of 
his  party  and  is  a  very  efficient  member  of 
the  INliddletuwn  village  board.  The  relig- 
ious connection  of  the  family  is  with  the 
ilethodist  church,  where  all  are  held  in  high 
esteem. 


DAXIEL   SHOCKEV. 

Among  the  soldiers  of  the  Ci\il  war 
whom  it  is  our  duty  and  pleasure  Xo 
honor,  none  stand  higher  in  his  com- 
munity than  Daniel  Shockey,  who  re- 
sides on  sectimi  12,  Hurlbut  township.  Lo- 
gan county,  lllinc^is.  j  He  was  born  in 
Franklin,  county,  Pennsylvania.  March  10, 
1 83 1,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Monn)  Shockey.  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  state  as  our  subject. 

The  ])arents  were  married  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  lived  there  until  1S56.  where  the 
father  operated  a  farm  and  raised  stock, 
but  at  that  date  the  family  removed  to  Elk- 
liart,  Illinois.  John  Shockey  purchased  a 
great  manv  Mexican  land  warrants,  and  at 


one  time  owned  over  four  thousand  acres 
of  land,  the  greater  i)art  of  which  was  south 
and  west  of  Elkhart,  in  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  resitled  on  the  hill  now  occupied  by 
Mrs.  John  D.  Gillette,  and  here  he  died  in 
1858,  his  wife  having  died  one  year  prior  to 
his  death.  He  had  refused  to  hold  public  of- 
fice, but  took  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertained  to  the  advancement  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived.  In  politics  he 
Avas  a  Rqiul'.lican  and  he  attended  the 
Dunkard  church,  of  which  his  wife  was  a 
member.  He  is  remembered  to  this  day  as 
c  )ne  of  the  most  highly  respected  and  public- 
spirited  men  of  that  locality,  and  his  death 
was  mourned  as  a  public  calamity.  To 
himself  and  wife  were  born  seventeen  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  John,  who  married  Cath- 
erine Beck,  and  resides  in  Bates  county, 
Missouri:  Daniel,  our  subject;  Christopher, 
who  married  a  IMiss  Hoover  and  resides 
in  Franklin  county.  Pennsylvania;  Susan- 
nah, who  married  John  Reinhart  and  first 
resided  in  Illinois  and  then  returned  to 
Pennsyhania ;  Jerry,  who  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I.  One  Himdred  and  Sixth  Illinois 
^■olunteer  Infantry,  and  died  of  fever  while 
in  the  service :  Henry,  who  married  ^liss 
Susannah  Shockey.  deceased,  now  resides 
in  Pennsylvania;  :\Iary.  who  married  John 
J.  Moore  and  resides  near  Mount  Pulaski, 
Illinois;  Lydia.  who  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen; and  nine  other  children  who  died 
in  childhood. 

Daniel  Slmckey  had  limited  educational 
ad\antages.  but  attended  a  district  school  in 
Franklin  cotmty.  Pennsylvania,  until  he 
was  nineteen  during  the  winter  and  then  as- 
sisted his  father  upon  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-one.  In  1853  he  came  west  to  Il- 
linois and  located  in  Logan  county,  where 
he  prospered  and  accumulated  over  three 
hundred  acres  of  land. 


DANIEL   SHOCKEY. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UHIVERSITY  OF  ILLIN013 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  March.  iS6i.  Mr.  Shockey  was  mar- 
ried at  Lincoln.  Illinois,  to  ilary  Gehr, 
who  was  born  in  February,  1844.  in  Mary- 
land, and  was  the  daughter  of  Ulricli  and 
Sophia  (Voung)  Gehr.  natives  of  Mary- 
land. The  parents  were  married  at  Ring- 
gold. Maryland,  but  came  west  in  1856 
and  settled  in  Tazewell  county.  Illinois. 
Here  the  father  purchased  eighty  acres. 
This  lie  sold  after  a  .short  residence  in  Taze- 
well ctunity  and  came  to  Logan  county, 
where  he  rented  land  for  several  years  and 
then  he  bought  a  farm,  but  later  retired 
from  active  life,  removing  to  Elkhart.  Il- 
linois, where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  August  15,  1885,  and  his 
wife  died  January  28,  1889.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Gehr, 
as  follows :  Mary,  who  married  our  sub- 
ject :  Martin,  who  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Infantry,  and  died  at  Little  Rock.  Arkan- 
sas, of  fever  contracted  in  the  service;  and 
Amanda,  who  married  Charles  Adams  and 
resides  in  Elkhart.  Illinois. 

To  yir.  and  Mrs.  Shockey  have  been 
born  a  family  of  five  children,  as  follows : 
Amanda,  who  married  Patrick  Brennan 
and  resides  in  Hurlbut  township.  Logaji 
county :  Edward,  who  resides  with  his  par- 
ents, and  Minnie,  who  is  the  wife  of  J-  C. 
Boyd,  of  Peoria.  Illinois. 

On  August  5.  1862.  Mr.  Shockey  en- 
listed in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Lin- 
coln. Illinois.  His  command  was  ordered  to 
Jackson,  Tennessee.  Although  the  regi- 
ment was  in  several  skimishes  during  the 
three  years  it  served,  none  of  the  men  par- 
ticipated in  any  of  the  great  battles,  al- 
though they  were  often  in  the  vicinity,  do- 
ing skirmish  and  guard  duty  and  exhibit- 
ing as  much  braverv 'as  those  in  the  tliick 


of  the  fight.  On  August  12.  1865.  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Pine  Bluff, 
Arkansas,  and  honorably  discharged  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  August  3,   1865. 

After  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Shockey 
returned  to  his  home  and  family  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  renting  a  farm  the  first 
year  from  John  D.  Gillette  and  afterwards 
of  Judge  Logan.  For  twelve  years  he  rent- 
ed farms  from  several  parties,  and  then  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  Hurlbut  town- 
ship. He  is  energetic,  industrious  and  sav- 
ing and  lias  been  very  successful  and  now 
owns  three  hundred  and  nineteen  and  one- 
half  acres  of  fine  land  all  well  cultivated, 
on  which  are  good  buildings  and  a  comfort- 
able house.  This  has  all  been  accumulated 
bv  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Shockey  unaided,  and  is 
a  strong  object  lesson  to  the  younger  gen- 
erations of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
a  man  of  determined  purpose  and  ability. 

In  politics  Mr.  Shockey  is  a  Republican 
and  always  supports  the  candidates  of  his 
party.  Xaturally.  as  he  is  an  old  soldier, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all 
its  affairs.  In  this  order,  as  throughout 
the  community,  he  is  well  liked  for 
his  many  excellent  qualities  and  is  just- 
Iv  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  Li>gan  county. 


JOHN   SHERMAN  ALEX.VXDER. 

John  Sherman  Alexander,  proprietor  of 
the  liverv  staliles  and  blacksmith  shop  at 
Latham,  is  one  of  tlie  prosperous  men  of 
the  village.  He  came  here  alxiut  1887  from 
his  native  place  in  Clarke  county.  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  August  2/.  1861.  and 
reared  to  manhood.     Pie  is  the  son  of  Jesse 


5i8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


C.  and  Hannah  (Pullins)  Alexander.     The 
father  was  a  contractor  by  occupation. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  at 
Urbana.  wliere  lie  attended  the  public 
schools,  ^\'hen  he  was  se\-enteen  the  father 
died,  and  two  years  later  our  subject  went 
to  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  serving  a  two-years"  ap- 
prenticeshi])  and  receiving  sixty  dollars  a 
year  in  payment  fcr  his  services.  He  then 
went  to  Indiana  and  shod  mules  for  a  street 
car  company,  but  after  a  few  months  he 
went  to  Sprmg-held.  Illinois,  where  for  a 
few  months  he  worked  at  his  trade.  The 
next  calling  he  engaged  in  was  that  of 
farming,  and  worked  by  the  month  in  Buf- 
falo Hart,  Sangamon  county. 

In  1887  Mr.  Alexander  removed  to 
Latham  and  worked  in  the  blacksmith  shop 
of  which  he  is  now  projirietor.  In  time  b.e 
purchased  the  business  and  continued  it,  al- 
though at  first  upon  a  small  scale.  As  time 
progressed  he  steadily  added  to  his  appli- 
ances and  enlarged  his  fields  of  operations 
until  in  1894  he  became  the  owner  of  the 
adjoining  livery  stables,  and  since  then  has 
also  added  the  handling  of  farm  implements 
to  his  other  extensive  interests.  In  1901  he 
organized  the  telephone  system  in  Latham 
and  now  has  in  about  seventy  miles  of  wire 
and  about  one  hundred  telephones — it  being 
an  independent  line  that  he  owns.  It  con- 
nects with  the  Logan  county  line  and  is  de- 
veloping business  every  day.  The  success 
which  has  attended  IMr.  Alexander's  efforts 
is  wonderful  and  in  addition  to  his  resi- 
dence and  business  property  he  is  the  owner 
of  a  business  structure  in  the  center  of  the 
town  which  he  rents. 

On  March  10,  1889.  ]\Ir.  Alexander  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Blackford,  of 
Latham,  a  daughter  of  J.  C.  and  Mary 
(Howe)    Blackford.      Three  children  have 


been  born  of  this  union,  namely :     Grace, 
Ethel  and  Lena. 

'Mr.  Alexander  was  reared  a  Republican 
and  is  still  faithful  to  that  party,  and  al- 
though he  has  never  sought  office  he  has. 
served  most  accq>tably  as  alderman  several 
terms.  He  was  made  a  member  of  Latham 
Lodge,  Xo.  853,  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  of  the 
chapter  and  commandery,  K.  T.,  of  Alt. 
Pulaski.  He  was  also  made  a  member  of 
the  order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Barclay,  Illi- 
nois, Xo.  550,  and  now  holds  membership 
in  the  lodge  at  Mt.  Pulaski.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Latham  Lodge,  No.  35,  K.  P..  and 
has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  attended  the 
grand  lodge  as  representative.  Mr."  and'. 
Airs,  .\lexander  are  members  of  the  Aleth- 
odist  Episcopal  church. 

Few  men  ha\e  had  their  eft'cjrts  crowned 
with  success  as  has  he,  and  no  one  deserves- 
more  praise  for  faithful  labor  intelligently 
applied.  He  has  numberless  friends  and  his 
future  looks  \er\'  bright  and  promising. 


JOSEPH  T.  WILLBAXKS. 

One  of  the  leading  self-made  men  of  Lo- 
gan countv  is  Joseph  T.  Willbanks,  who  has 
for  a  number  of  years  been  a  leading  repre- 
sentative of  the  agricultural  interests  of" 
Hurlbut  township.  Although  he  started  out 
upon  his  business  career  withouj:  capital,  de- 
pendent entirely  upon  his  own  resources,  he- 
has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward,  brook- 
ing no  olistacles  that  could  be  overcome  by 
persistent  and  honest  purpose,  and  to-day 
he  is  the  owner  of  five  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  valuable  farming  land. 

Air.  Willbanks  w^as  born  in  Jefferson 
county.  Illinois,  February  10.  1829.  a  son  of" 
William    and   Ann    (AlcCann)    Willbanks.- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


519 


His  paternal  grandparents  were  Daniel  and 
Tane  (Thomas)  Willlianks.  who  were  mar- 
ried Tulv  31,  1794-  The  former  was  horn 
June  15.  1770,  and  the  latter  July  16.  1773. 
They  had  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
whom  the  following  record  is  preserved: 
John,  born  October  22,  1796,  was  shot  at 
Union  Court  House,  South  Carolina.  Jul\- 
28,  1835.  Thomas,  liorn  December  i  i.  179S, 
was  drowned  at  St.  Louis,  ^lissouri.  .\pril 
II.  1830.  James  was  born  March  19.  1801, 
William,  the  father  of  our  suliject.  was  the 
next  of  the  family.  David  was  born  April 
6.  1805.  Peggy,  born  October  27,  1808.  was 
married,  Augaist  18,  1824,  to  James  Black, 
and  after  his  death  was  married,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1837,  to  Uriah  Compton,  her  death  oc- 
curring in  August.  1842.  when  she  was 
thirtv-six  vears  of  age.  Judith,  born  Au- 
gust 8,  1813,  became  the  wife  of  I.  S.  Rob- 
inson, November  19.  1839,  and  died  June 
18,  1848.  Daniel,  born  May  13.  1817,  was 
married,  about  March  7,  1841,  to  Margaret 
E.  Campbell,  and  died  at  Memphis,  about 
1851.  The  father.  Daniel  Willbanks.  Sr.. 
died  August  2-.  1844.  and  his  wife.  :\Irs. 
Jane  Willbanks,  died  May  7,  1831,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years.  He  conducted 
a  tavern  and  postofifice  on  the  stage  route 
between  ]\lt.  Vernon  and  Shawneetown,  was 
also  the  magistrate  and  county  sur\eyor  and 
the  leading  man  of  that  section.  The  post- 
office  was  conducted  by  members  of  the 
Willbanks  family  until  President  LincohVs 
administration. 

\\'illiam  Willbanks,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  near  Sparksburg,  North 
Carolina.  [March  19.  1803,  and  after  arriv- 
ing at  vears  of  maturity  married  Ann  Mc- 
Cann,  in  March,  1823.  She  was  a  native  of 
Sinclair  county.  Illinois,  born  within  eleven 
miles  of  Lebanon.  For  many  years  the  fa- 
ther engaged  in  farming  in  Jefferson  coun- 


ty. Illinois,  making  his  home  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurre<l  in  1S31.  In  his  po- 
litical affiliations  he  w;is  a  stanch  Democrat. 
His  wife  survived  him  until  1873.  'fhey 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children-  M.-u'tha. 
the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years; 
Margaret  Jane  became  the  wife  of  William 
Barthcjlomew  and  lived  in  tlie  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, but  died  in  Iowa;  Joseph  is  the  next 
vounger;  Sarah  A.  became  die  wife  of  Riley 
Knowles  and  died  in  Menard  county,  and 
he  is  also  deceased ;  James  B.  is  married  and 
resides  'in  the  Indian  Territory :  Hannah 
L.  is  the  wife  of  William  Knowles.  of  Da- 
kota; Rachel,  who  died  in  Alton.  Illinois, 
was  three  times  married,  to  Martin  Hale. 
.Miraham  Deck  and  Christopher  Lehr.  suc- 
cessivelv  ;  Marian  became  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Wagoner  ami  died  -in  Petersburg.  Illinois, 
while  his  death  occurred  in  [Montgomery 
C(  unty.  this  state:  and  Judith  A.  is  the 
widow  of  William  Lehr  and  resides  near 
Seguin.  Texas. 

Joseph  T.  Willbanks  pursued  his  educa- 
tiou  in  a  little  log  schoolhouse  which  stixjd 
(Ui  the  Ixmk  of  a  tiny  stream  of  water  in  Jef- 
ferson count)-.  The  seats  were  sjjlit  logs, 
jilaced  upon  wooden  pins,  and  similar  pins 
driven  into  the  wall  served  to  uphold  a  split- 
log  which  served  as  a  writing  desk.  Later 
he  attended  school  in  a  log  house  which  was 
also  used  as  a  Pre.sbyterian  church.  Rattle- 
snakes were  quite  numerous  in  the  forests 
and  all  was  wild  and  ])rimitive.  .\t  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  put  aside  his  text-books, 
and  for  a  year  and  a  half  he  engaged  in- 
driving  a  team  for  his  uncle,  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  homestead  farm.  He  took 
up  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  lefferson  county,  and  as  a  companion  and 
helpmate  for  the  journey  of  life  chose  [Miss 
Menesa  Knowles.  whr,  was  horn  in  ( iibson 
countv.  In. liana.   March  24.   1833.  a  daugh- 


520 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ter  of  Wiley  and  Minerva  (Scott)  Knowles. 
On  the  paternal  side  her  ancestry  can  be 
traced  back  to  the  early  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  when  two  men  of  the  name 
of  Knowles.  probaljl}'  brothers,  came  fmm 
England  to  America,  settling  first  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  later  removing  to  Delaware.  One 
of  these.  Eddy  Knowles.  was  the  ancestor  of 
]Mrs.  \Mllbanks.  His  son,  Richard  Knowles. 
was  born,  lived  and  died  in  Delaware.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  union  had 
a  son  Eddy,  who  left  Delaware  in  1795  and 
settled  in  (ireene  county.  Georgia,  where  he 
reared  liis  family  of  ten  children,  including 
James  Knowles,  the  great-grandfather  of 
^Irs.  Willlianks.  He  was  born  in  Delaware 
and  was  married  there  in  1778  to  Patience 
starve].  They  afterward  removed  to  Greene 
county.  Georgia,  but  not  until  after  the  birth 
of  fi\e  >if  their  children,  the  eldest  being 
Prettyman  Knowles.  the  grandfather.  He 
married  Patsy  Greer,  who  was  brought  to 
America  from  Ireland  when  only  a  year  old. 
They  hnd  ten  children,  the  fourth  being 
^^'ilev  Knowles.  who  was  born  April  25. 
1809.  and  married  Minerva  Scott,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and 
five  daughters,  among  the  number  being  the 
wife  of  our  subject.  She  was  born  March 
24.  1833.  in  Gibson  county.  Indiana.  Her 
parents  had  been  married  in  that  state.  July 
28.  1830,  and  in  1845  they  removed  to  Jef- 
ferson county,  Illinois,  where  they  spent 
their  remaining  days,  the  father  dying 
]\rarch  4.  1893.  '11  'lis  eighty-fourth  year,  the 
mother  February  10.  1899.  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows :  \\'illiam  married  Hannah  A\'illbanks 
and  resides  in  Dakota:  Mrs.  Willbanks.  of 
this  review,  is  the  next  younger ;  Patsy  is  the 
wife  of  George  Parish,  of  Oregon;  IMar- 
tin.  of  Jefferson  county,  riiarried  Alvira 
Kirk,  and    after  her    death  wedded    Ellen 


Jones;  Asa  married  Margaret  Garner,  now 
deceased,  and  resides  in  Utah ;  Susannah 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years ;  Annanias 
married  Harriet  Smith  and  resides  in  Jeffer- 
sc:;n  county  ;  Francis,  who  is  li\-ing  on  the  old 
homestead  ten  miles  south  of  INIount  Ver- 
non, Jefferson  count}-,  married  Florence 
Smith,  and  after  her  death  wedded  Miss 
Pace :  Leander,  who  married  for  his  second 
wife  Amanda  Morgan,  also  lives  in  Jeffer- 
son county:  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Richard 
Davis,  who  is  living  near  Spring  Garden, 
Jefferson  county:  Malissa  Caroline,  now  liv- 
ing in  Wyoming,  has  lieen  married  suc- 
cessi\-el\-  to  J.  Gambrel,  James  Bascom  and 
Dr.  S.  ?*Iiller.  the  physician  of  the  state 
l>enitentiary  of  Wyoming,  having  lost  her 
first  two  husbands. 

The  marriage  of  INfr.  and  ]\Irs.  Will- 
banks,  which  occurred  February  ifi.  1851, 
has  Ijeen  blessed  with  eleven  children  :  ]\Iary 
Evaline.  born  Mav  2.  18^2.  became  the  wife 
of  James  Ash  and  died  Xivember  14.  1877. 
There  were  two  children,  the  living  one  be- 
ing Amv  'SI.,  who  resides  with  her  grand- 
parents. William  R..  born  December  11, 
1853,  died  :\Iarch  13.  1855.  John  ]\I.,  born 
December  13.  1853.  married  Grace  Ellis, 
by  whom  he  has  four  children,  and  resides 
in  S])ringheld.  Illinois.  Robert  L..  horn 
January  17.  1858,  is  with  his  parents. 
Stephen  A..  Ixirn  February  10.  i860,  re- 
sides on  a  farm  in  [Nlenard  county  and  mar- 
ried .\da  Cmmcil.  by  whom  he  has  four  chil- 
dren. Francis  A.,  born  September  6,  1862, 
is  at  home.  Charles  B.,  born  February  8, 
t86t.  married  ]\Iaggie  Hammond,  by  whom 
he  has  three  children,  and  resides  at  Lake 
Fork.  Logan  county.  Cornelia  C.  born 
Julv  8.  1867,  is  the  wife  of  JotTn  Ferguson, 
by  whom  she  has  two  children,  and  their 
home  is  .southeast  of  Elkhart.  Illinois.  Jo- 
seph H.,  born  Januar_\-  2.   1870.  and  living 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


521 


southeast  of  Mount  Pulaski,  married  Mer- 
ches  Dean  Gillespie,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children.  Wiley  T.,  born  March  2-j.  1872. 
died  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  Alexander  D.. 
born  December  27,  1873,  is  now  in  the  State 
University  (if  Wyoming.  Mr.  and  Mr.s. 
Willbanks  celebrated  their  gdklen  wedding- 
February  II).  lyoi.  at  which  was  present 
their  eight  children. 

For  five  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Willbanks  carried  on  farming  in  Jefferson 
county  and  then  removed  to  Menard  coun- 
t\-.  where  he  remained  fur  four  years,  when 
he  came  to  Hurlbut  township,  Logan  coun- 
ty. March  10,  i860.  Here  he  has  since  made 
his  heme,  his  time  and  attention  being  given 
to  farming  until  of  recent  years,  when  he 
has  turned 'over  the  operation  and  manage- 
ment of  his  farm  to  his  sons.  He  has  pros- 
pered in  his  undertakings  and  as  his  financial 
resources  ha\e  increased  he  has  added  to  his 
property  until  he  now  owns  fi\-e  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  ha- 
refused  to  hold  office,  but  is  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics  and  always  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  party.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Presl)yterian  church.  He  is 
genial,  jovial,  kind-hearted  and  liberal,  and 
has  many  warm  friends.  For  more  than  sev- 
enty years  he  has  tra\eled  life's  journey 
and  has  always  enjoyed  and  merited  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he 
is  associated,  and  can  number  his  friends  i'l 
Logan  count  v  bv  the  scores. 


JOHX  C.  THOMPSOX,  Jr. 

Prominent  among  the  successful,  pro- 
gressive and  scientific  farmers  of  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  is  John  C.  Thompson.  Jr.. 
who  resides  on  a  valu;djle  tract  of  one  hun- 


dred and  seventy-eight  acres  of  laud,  lo- 
cated on  section  15,  Elkhart  township.  His 
birth  (.■ccurred  in  Menard  county.  Illinois, 
August  13.  1855,  and  he  is  a  son  nf  John 
C.  and  Malissa  Jane  (\\'asson)  Thnm[)Scin, 
'.lie  fc  inner  nf  win  mi  was  burn  Xnxeniber  3, 
i8_'5,  in  county  .\ntrim.  Ireland,  and  the 
latter  in  (!reene  county.  Illinois,  their  mar- 
riage taking  place  in  Jacksonville,  this  state. 

The  father  attended  the  schools  in  his 
native  land,  finishing  his  education  after 
coming  to  the  L'nited  States.  In  1836  he  set 
sail  from  Li\erpii(.l  <in  a  fine  sailing  vessel 
bound  for  America,  and  was  six  weeks  on 
the  water,  encountering  severe  storms  ot 
e\ery  kind,  and  finally  landing  in  Xew  York. 
He  went  immediately  to  Bucks  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  many  of  his  country- 
men were  employed.  There  he  remained  for 
some  three  years  and  then  accompanied  his 
])arents,  George  W.  Thompson  and  wife,  to 
.Scott  count}'.  Illinois.  They  locatetl  near 
Manchester,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
farming,  but  he  survived  the  change  of  home 
but  a  short  time,  dying  in  a  few  years.  The 
mother  retained  the  farm  and  ojjcrated  it 
with  the  assistance  of  her  two  sons,  who  re- 
mained with  her  as  long  as  their  services 
were  needed.  At  the  age  of  twent_\--two 
years  Mr.  riiompson  went  to  Menard  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  during  his  residence  there 
was  married  to  Malissa  Jane  \\'asson. 

I'ollowing  his  marriage  he  continued  to 
pursue  farming  in  Menard  county,  where 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  remained  for  eight 
years,  reuKJving  then  to  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  bought  two  lunidred  and 
eiglit\-  acres,  and  about  18(17  his  wife  died 
on  this  farm,  leaving  eight  small  children. 
The  father  married  for  his  second  wife  Me- 
lissa Whitehead,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren,    lie  coutinuetl  his  farming  operations 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


until  about  ten  years  ago,  and  tlien  retired 
from  active  exertion,  making  his  home  with 
his  son.  his  namesake,  and  nnr  suliject. 

:\lr.  Thumps. ni  lias  always  sniiiinrted  the 
Republican  party  and  has  th()r..ughly  be- 
lieved in  its  principles,  but  he  has  never  been 
willing  to  hold  political  office.  His  religious 
connection  has  long  been  with  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  as  follows: 
Emma,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Whitman,  and  resided  in  Iowa;  \\'ill- 
iam,  who  married  Minnie  E.  Duncan,  and 
resides  in  Granada,  Colorado;  George,  who 
married  Fannie  Bullard,  and  resides  in  Syra- 
cuse, Hamilton  county,  Kansas;  J.  C,  of 
this  sketch ;  Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen:  Ella,  who  is  the  wife  of  David 
Havens,  and  resides  in^  Mountain  City,  Ok- 
lahoma :  Jennie,  who  married  J.  J.  Thomp- 
son, and  resides  in  Helena,  Montana;  and 
Lucinda  Belle,  who  married  William  Bus- 
ter, resides  in  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 
T(  I  the  second  union  were  born  the  following 
children :  Thomas,  who  lives  near  Mattoon, 
Illinois;  Amy  .\nn,  wife  of  Meeker  Shaw, 
of  this  county :  La  Fayette,  also  a  resident 
of  this  county ;  and  Harrison,  who  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Elkhart  tOAvnship. 

John  C.  Thompson,  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  attended  school  in  the  Rankin 
district  in  Logan  county,  and  later  em- 
braced the  educational  advantages  offered 
in  the  Central  Point  school,  in  Oran  town- 
ship, laying  aside  his  .school  books  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years.  Cntil  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  remained  on  the  hoane 
farm,  assisting  his  father,  and  was  then  em- 
ployed in  the  neighborhood  by  other  farm- 
ers who  desired  a  capable  and  willing  em- 
ploye. One  year  was  spent  on  a  rented  farm 
near  Mason  Citv,  Illinois,  and  he  then  took 


charge  of  and  for  seven  years  operated  the 
Bnardman  farm  in  Oran  township. 

On  August  13,  1882,  at  the  home  of 
|(ihn  T.  Fowler,  Mr.  Thompson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Phebe  Fowler,  who  was  born 
in  East  Lincoln  township  May  30,  1865,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  John  T.  Fowler  and  Sarah 
(Miller)  Fowler,  the  former  a  native  of 
Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  \\ho  were  married  in  Lincoln,  Illinois. 
A\'ith  the  exception  of  nine  years  passed  in 
Kansas,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fowler  spent  their 
married  lives  in  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  After  the 
death  of  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Thompson,  in 
1892,  Mr.  Fowler  was  again  married,  to 
Ruth  La)-ton,  and  they  now  reside  on  a  farm 
east  r>f  Lincoln.  In  politics  Mr.  Fowler  is 
a  Democrat  and  has  long  been  connected 
with  the  Christian  church,  and  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mrs.  Th.iniiisiiu  was  (me  in  a  family  of 
two  children,  her  ydunger  sister  being  Har- 
riet, who  married  Carl  D.  Shepler,  and  re- 
sides east  of  Lincoln.  The  following  chil- 
dren surround  the  family  hearth  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thompson,  bright,  intelligent  and  full 
of  promise:  Charles,  boi'n  June  13,  1885; 
John,  born  December  24,  1888;  Goldie,  born 
December  4,  1892  ;  Grace,  born  December  9. 
1895;  Hazel,  born  February  25,  1898;  and 
Reuben,  born  April   26,   1900. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  continued 
to  operate  the  Boardman  farm  until  the 
spring  of  1900,  wdien  he  purchased  the  line 
estate  he  noAv  occupies,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  acres  in  Elkhart 
township.  Here  he  has  demonstrated  his 
ability  as  a  good  farmer  and  successful 
raiser  of  line  stock  for  market.  He  has 
made  such  excellent  permanent  improve- 
ments in  the  wav  of  buildings,  fences,  etc.. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


523 


as  to  place  his  farm  in  the  front  rank  amon;^ 
desirable  ones  in  Logan  county. 

^Ir.  Thompson  is  an  ardent  Republican, 
is  fraternally  connected  with  tiie  Modern 
Woodmen,  and  both  he  and  family  belong 
to  the  Baptist  church.  His  standing  in  the 
community  is  high,  and  he  well  represents 
the  honest  and  capable  as  well  as  substantial 
citizens  of  Logan  county. 


TAMES  A.  GLEXX. 


One  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Logan 
county  is  James  A.  Glenn,  a  self-made  man 
who  started  out  in  life  with  little  capital  ex- 
cept health,  energ}-  and  good  habits,  and  is 
now  reckoned  among  the  substantial  and  re- 
sponsible men  of  this  great  county. 

The  birth  of  ^Ir.  Glenn  occurred  in  Mid- 
dletown,  Illinois,  July  28,  1845,  ^"^  he  is 
a  son  of  David  and  Lucy  (Church)  Glenn, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sj-lvania,  the  latter  of  ^lassachusetts,  and 
their  marriage  taking  place  in  Bureau  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  David  Glenn  lived  here  with  his 
parents,  but  later  went  to  Bureau  county  to 
work  in  a  store,  and  it  was  during  this 
period  that  he  met  the  most  estimable  woman 
who  later  became  his  wife.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  brought  his  wife  to  ^Middletown 
and  embarked  in  the  stock  and  mercantile 
business,  and  so  continued  until  a  short  time 
previous  to  his  death.  His  health  had  failed 
and  his  pliysician  ordered  a  sea  voyage,  and 
he  had  but  started  when  death,  overtook 
him.  in  1852,  at  Sliippensburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The  mother  married,  in  1863.  George 
Glenn,  who  was  a  brother  to  her  first  hus- 
band, and  they  resided  here  until  his  deatii, 
her  own  demise  occurring  in  1893.  The 
family  was  small,  consisting  of  our  subject, 
one  brother,  Charles,  who  died  in  1892,  and 


a  half-brother,  \\'infield.  who  resides  in 
Chicago. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject,  James  A. 
Glenn,  was  passed  in  attendance  at  school, 
in  Corwin  township,  where  he  remained  un- 
til he  was  fourteen  years  old,  being  then 
sent  to  Sangamon  Academy,  at  Indian 
Point,  for  a  period  of  two  years,  and  later 
to  the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Blooming- 
ton,  for  three  years. 

After  his  school  days  ended  and  he  was 
mentally  ecjuipped  for  almost  any  career, 
ilr.  Glenn  left  Middletown  and  went  to 
[Nlendota,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for 
two  years,  as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness, returning  then  to  }kliddlettnvn  and 
amid  old  surroundings  embarked  in  a  gen- 
eral merchandising.  By  the  exercise  of  his 
excellent  judgment,  by  unceasing  industry 
and  energy,  as  well  as  by  his  integrity  in 
commercial  life,  Mr.  Glenn  succeeded  and 
became  the  owner  of  the  largest  business  in 
his  line  in  the  place,  owning  also  extensive 
holdings  of  land,  notably  five  hundred  and 
ninety-five  acres  in  Corwin  township,  on  sec- 
tions 20,  21  and  28,  and  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  in  Menard  county,  seven 
residence  lots  and  two  business  lots  in  Mid- 
dletown,  besides  several  residences.  His 
own  beautiful  home,  supplied  with  all  mod- 
ern conveniences,  was  built  in  1894.  After 
being  in  business  longer  than  any  other  man 
in  the  village  he  sold  out  on  the  ist  of  Oc- 
tober, 1901,  and  is  now  practically  living  a 
retired  life,  though  he  still  looks  after  his  in- 
vestments. 

Mr.  Glenn  was  married,  Deceml)er  18, 
1873.  in  Menard  county,  to  Zebella  Robbins, 
viho  was  lx>rn  in  that  county  in  June.  1853. 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  and  .\nna 
(Redsucker)  Robbins,  the  former  a  native 
of  Holland,  and  the  latter  of  Menard  coun- 
tv.     Mr.  Robbins  was  a  large  farmer  and 


524 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stock-raiser  in  Menard  township,  owning 
eight  hundred  acres  of  land  there  at  tlie  time 
of  his  death,  in  September,  1899.  In  pol- 
itics he  was  an  active  member  of  tlie  Re- 
pubHcan  party,  and  was  connected  witli  the 
Cathohc  church.  Tlie  mother  i)f  Mrs.  Glenn 
lives  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Alenard  coun- 
ty. Her  children  are :  Susan,  who  married 
Edward  Grimes,  and  resides  in  Arkansas 
City,  Kansas;  Zebella,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Glenn;  Sarah,  who  married  John  Kayler, 
and  lives  on  the  homestead  farm ;  and 
Georgia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Spence 
and  also  resides  on  the  homestead  farm. 

The  four  children  born  ti>  Mr.  and  [Mr^;. 
Glenn  are  as  follows:  lulward,  Imrn  on 
March  8,  1875,  and  Anna,  Ijorn  on  March 
27,  1877,  reside  at  home;  Edna,  lx>rn  on 
August  17,  1880,  married  Z.  ^\'.  Graff,  of 
Middletown,  and  has  one  son, — Glenn;  and 
Paul,  born  on  April  21,   1889,  is  at  home. 

During  his  successful  career  in  Middle- 
town  yir.  Glenn  has  taken  a  leading  part  in 
public  affairs  and  has  been  called  upon  to  fill 
many  responsible  positions.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  clerk  of  Corwin  township, 
and  has  been  schcxjl  treasurer  for  twelve 
years.  In  politics  he  is  an  active  Republican. 
In  e\ery  position  in  life  he  has  acquitted  him- 
self w  ith  credit  and  no  one  in  Logan  county 
is  held  in  higher  esteem.  Air.  Glenn  was 
made  a  IMason  at  Green\-iew  Lodge,  Xo. 
653,  of  Greenview,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcoiaal 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  liberal  supporter. 


JAMES  R.  LOGUE. 

The  science  of  farming  as  understood 
and  applied  by  ]\Ir.  Logue  constitutes  a 
truly  ideal  and  satisfacttory  method  of  live- 
lihood.    Robl)ed  of  the  cruditv  and  inces- 


sant grind  of  former  days,  farming  now 
offers  as  large  a  scope  for  the  e.xercise  of 
large  ability,  financial  and  otlierwise,  as  is  to 
be  found  in  nine-tenths  of  the  occupations 
awaiting  the  enterprise  and  progress  of  lat- 
ter day  Ijrawn  and  brain.  The  fiingers  of  the 
world  ceaselessly  rest  up(jn  the  pulse  of  the 
farmer,  and  his  success  or  failure  is  felt  in 
every  corner  of  the  universe.  It  is  there- 
fore fitting  that  men  of  culture  and  under- 
standing should  apply  themselves  tci  sys- 
tematize and  simplify  methods  of  soil  culti- 
vation, and  should  appreciate  to  the  full  the 
opportunities  by  which  they  are  surround- 
ed. It  is  in  this  connection  that  Air.  Logue 
has  attained  to  special  prominence,  and  has 
tilletl  his  large  possessions  after  the  most 
approved  and  scientific  methods.  The  farm 
which  constitutes  his  home  is  on  section  17, 
Hurllnit  township,  and  contains  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  and  he  also  owns 
eighty  acres  in  Alenard  county,  and  a  half 
section  of  lantl  near  Curran.  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois.  In  addition  to  a  general 
farming  industry  he  raises  large  numliers  of 
fine  stock  for  market  purposes. 

The  family  of  which  Air.  Logue  is  a 
member  came  originally  from  Sc(jtland,  set- 
tling first  in  \'irginia  and  later  in  Tennes- 
see. He  was  liorn  in  \\'ilson  county,  Ten- 
nessee. Xovember  6,  1S56,  a  son  of  Tapley 
G.  and  "Xancy  E.  (Bass)  Logue,  natives  of 
the  same  county.  The  father  was  engaged 
in  the  tanning  business  through  his  active 
life,  although  the  last  few  years  were  spent 
on  the  farm  in  partial  retirement  in  his  na- 
tive state  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  July 
28,  1882.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  devout  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  His 
wife  died  February  12,  1890.  and  both  par- 
ents are  buried  in  Tennessee.  Eleven  chil- 
dren   were   l)orn   into   the   f'unilv :      Emma, 


J.   R.   LOGUE. 


UBRARY 

OF  THt 

UH\NtRS»TY  OF  »um0l5 


THE   BIOGRAriilCAL   RECORD. 


527 


who  is  tlie  wife  of  Samuel  Jennings,  de- 
ceased, and  who  Hves  in  Tennessee:  Ten- 
nessee, who  is  the  wife  of  J.  T.  IMay.  of 
Wicliita,  Kansas:  J.  C.  who  married  Lucy 
Carver  and  lives  in  Wilson  county.  Ten- 
nessee; Lucy  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  William 
Thompson,  of  Tennessee:  Ellen,  now  de- 
ceased, who  married  James  Omohundro.  of 
Tennessee:  T.  C...  Jr..  who  married  ^Liggie 
Davis,  and  lives  at  Waxahatchie.  Texas: 
Catherine,  who  is  married  to  Thomas 
Wright,  of  Tennessee:  Robert  H..  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Sullivan,  of  Tennessee:  Frank  L.. 
who  married  Miss  Cantrell  and  lives  in  Ten- 
nessee: Mattie.  who  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Adkerson.  of  Tennessee:  and  James  R..  our 
subject. 

Until  his  fourteenth  year  'Sir.  Logue  at- 
tended the  public  schools- of  \\'ilson  county. 
Tennessee,  after  which  he  studied  at  the 
public  schools  of  Franklin.  Tennessee,  still 
later  entering  the  Pleasant  Hill  Academy, 
.supplemented  by  a  year  at  the  Cumberland 
'University,  of  Lebanon.  Tennessee,  one  of 
the  finest  schools  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church.  Coming  to  Lincoln.  Illi- 
nois, in  December,  1S78,  and  entering  the 
university  at  that  place,  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  in  June  of  1881. 
and  following  this  returned  to  his  southern 
home  for  a  few  months,  after  which  he  per- 
manently located  in  Hurlliut  townsliip. 
Lt:)gan  county.  Illinois. 

On  December  21.  1881.  in  that  township. 
he  married  Eftie  M.  King,  who  was  born  on 
the  farm  upon  which  Mr.  Logue  is  now  liv- 
ing, March  31,  1864.  Her  father.  J.  Cix>Iey 
King,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  her  mother. 
Letitia  (Kagle)  King,  was  bom  in  Illinois. 
The  parents  were  married  in  Menard  county. 
Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming,  finally  re- 
moving to  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  their  son-in-law.  Mr.  Logue.     Mr.  King 


retired  from  active  life  in  November.  1899, 
and  locatetl  in  Springfield,  where  his  death 
occurred  ^klarch  28,  igoi.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Logue  have  been  born  three  children :  Hat- 
lie,  born  July  4,  1883:  J.  Homer,  born  De- 
ccmljer  21,  1S91:  and  Florence  M..  Ixirn 
February  22.  1895.  In  political  aftiiiation 
Mr.  Logue  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  at  present 
township  school  treasurer,  the  township  hav- 
ing a  fund  of  eighteen  thousand,  nine  hun- 
dred dollars,  the  second  largest  in  the  state. 
He  is  fraternally  associated  with  the  Elkhart 
Camp.  ;M.  W.  a.,  and  the  Elkhart  Court  of 
Honor.  He  is  an  attendant  at  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Mr.  Logue  taught  school  for  three  years 
in  his  township,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
farming  with  marked  success.  He  repre- 
sented his  township  as  supervisor  from  1897 
till  1901,  and  was  for  three  years  on  the 
judiciary  committee,  of  which  he  was  for  one 
year  chairman,  this  being  the  leading  com- 
mittee. He  was  also  chairman  of  fees  and 
salarv  committee  for  two  vears. 


AUCiUST  F.  REITERMAX. 

One  of  the  prosperous  and  influential" 
farmers  of  Lake  Fork  township  is  August 
F.  Reiterman,  who  resides  on  section  8.  He 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Waverh-.  Pike- 
county.  Ohio.  August  16,  1844,  and  is  a 
son  of  Adam  and  Barbara  (Shultz)  Reiter- 
man. The  father  later  removed  to  a  farm  in 
Pike  county  and  August's  boyhood  was  de- 
voted to  agricultural  work.  His  father  died' 
when  he  was  about  four  years  nkl  and  he 
worked  for  his  mother  until  he  was  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  At  this  time  he 
was  married,  December  7,  1865,  to  Miss 
Medora  Xewcomer,  who  was  born  in  Green- 


528 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


brier  county,  West  Virginia,  and  was  but 
three  vears  old  when  she  was  taken  by  her 
parents  to  Pike  county,  Ohio,  where  she  re- 
ceived but  a  common-school  education.  For 
a  few  years  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
:\Irs.  Reiterman  li\-ed  upon  his  mother's 
farm,  but  in  1869  they  removed  to  Logan 
countv,  Illinois,  and  for  some  time  they  lived 
near  Lincoln.  They  then  settled  upon  their 
present  farm,  where  they  have  a  very  pleas- 
ant home. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  !\Irs.  Reit- 
erman who  are  still  living  are  as  follows: 
William  H.,  who  was  in  California  when 
last  heard  from;  Oscar,  who  lives  in  Lake 
Fork  township;  Mrs.  Armina  Poe.  of  Cal- 
houn county,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Malinda  Bicknell, 
of  Lake  Fork  township ;  Carrie,  who  is  at 
home;  and  Albert,  who  was  born  August 
17,  1888. 

Mr.  Reiterman  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
been  commissioner  of  Lake  Fork  township 
three  terms,  and  while  on  the  board  a  num- 
ber of  the  excellent  bridges  and  roads  in  the 
township  were  built.  He  is  a  man  of  prom- 
inence in  the  community  and  his  influence  is 
always  exerted  towards  the  betterment  of 
the  condition  of  the  people  and  the  improve- 
ment of  the  existing  conditions. 


ALBERT  OUISEXBERRY. 

Albert  Quisenberry,  one  of  the  most 
progressive  and  industrious  farmers  of  Lo- 
gan county,  as  well  as  one  of  its  oldest  liv- 
ing pioneers,  has  made  his  home  in  this  Id- 
cality  for  two-thirds  of  a  centur}-,  and  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  its  development 
and  prosperity.  He  was  born  in  Christian 
county,  Kentucky,  on  the  2d  of  ]\me.  1828, 
a  son  of  Edward  S.  and  Xancy  (Tlmrough- 


kill)  Ouisenberry,  who  were  Virginians  by 
birth.  The  mother  died  when  our  subject 
was  only  two  years  old  and  the  father  sub- 
sequently married  again,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Lucy  Clayton.  Imme- 
diately after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he 
removed  to  Kentucky,  and  in  1835  came  to 
Illinois.  He  made  his  home  in  Tazewell 
county  for  sixteen  or  scA'enteen  years,  when 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Eminence  town- 
ship. Logan  county,  where  he  li^•ed  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1864.  He  left  a 
widow  and  seven  children  to  mourn  his  loss. 
In  early  life  he  was  a  Baptist  in  religious 
belief,  but  later  joined  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  was  an  active  mem1)er  of  the 
same  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Repuljlican. 

The  subject  of  this  review  began  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state,  but  at  the  age  of  seven  years  came 
with  his  father  to  this  state  and  settled  in 
Hittles  Grove.  The  journey  was  made  in  a 
cart,  and  during  the  entire  distance  of  four 
hundred  miles  they  saw  not  a  single  bridge, 
all  streams  being  crossed  by  ford  or  ferry. 
They  found  this  section  of  the  state  almost 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  few  settlements 
having  been  made,  and  wild  game  of  all 
kinds  was  plentiful.  Wolf  and  deer  hunt- 
ing- was  then  a  common  thing,  and  notices  of 
these  Jmnts  would  be  given  out  from  the  pul- 
pit two  months  in  advance.  They  were  well 
advertised  in  Bloomington  and  Lincoln'  as 
well  as  in  the  immediate  locality  and  were 
attended  regularly  by  two  nr  three  thousand 
people,  who  would  close  in  around  a  circle 
a  mile  in  diameter,  with  as  many  as  one  hun- 
dred hunters  chasing'  the  deer.  Often  so 
manv  deer  were  killed  it  was  hard  to  give 
awav  the  meal,  venison  being  so  very  com- 
mon at  that  time.  The-  hide  was  then  the 
only  valuable  part  of  the  animal.    It  was  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


529 


regular  custom  on  occasion  of  a  hunt  to  hoist 
a  flag  on  a  pole  to  designate  tiie  meeting 
place.  In  his  younger  days  Mr.  Quisenberry 
was  an  expert  hunter,  and  has  brought  down 
many  a  deer  with  his  trusted  rifle. 

He  completed  his  education  in  this  state, 
conning  his  lessons  in  an  old-fashioned  log 
school  house  with  its  primitive  furniture. 
On  reaching  manhood  he  was  gi\en  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  by  his  father. 
who  owned  about  two  thousand  acres'  and 
gave  to  each  of  his  children  a  quarter-section 
of  land.  In  the  family  were  nineteen  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  still  survive.  In  his 
farming  operations  Albert  Quisenberry 
steadily  prospered,  and  is  to-day  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
and  highly  productive  land  in  Eminence 
township,  his  home  being  on  section  4.  He 
is  considered  one  01  the  best  farmers,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  most  reliable  men  of  his  com- 
munity. 

On  the  2jih  of  February.  1S51.  'Sir. 
Quisenberry  was  united  in  marriage  with 
^liss  Polly  Allen,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
of  which  state  her  father,  A.  W.  Allen,  was 
also  a  native.  Of  the  five  children  born  of 
this  union,  two  died  in  infancy.  Those  liv- 
ing are  Herman  E.  and  Raymond  F.,  twins, 
and  William  S.  Raymond  F.  is  now  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  Peoples  Bank  of  Atlanta. 
The  family  hold  membership  in  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church,  and  our  subject 
atBliates  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
never  cared  for  political  office,  desiring 
rather  to  give  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  farming  interests.  In  the  summer 
of  1901  he  met  with  a  very  painful  accident, 
breaking  tfiree  ribs.  He  had  previously 
broken  his  ankle  while  in  the  woods.  As 
one  of  the  honored  pioneers  and  representa- 
tive citizens  he  is  deserving  of  prominent 
mention  in  the  history  of  his  adopted  county. 


GEORGE  T.  RAYBURX. 

Among  the  highly  esteemed  and  much 
respected  retired  farmers  of  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  is  George  T.  Rayburn,  at  present  a 
resident  of  iliddletown,  where  he  is  sur- 
rounded by  e\ery  comfort,  and  is  the  center 
of  devoted  family  affection. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Rayburn  occurred  in 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  November  21, 
1835,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Joseph  H.  and 
Rachel  (Bird)  Rayburn,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  state  of  Kentucky,  their  mar- 
riage taking  place  in  Adair  county,  that 
state,  where  Mr.  Rayburn  carried  on  agri- 
cultural operations.  Some  time  after  1820 
the  family  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on 
Baker"s  Prairie,  near  Petersburg,  where  they 
remained  for  one  year,  and  then  came  into 
Logan  county,  locating  three  miles  east  of 
INIiddletown,  changing  at  a  later  date  to  a 
farm  one  mile  south  of  the  town,  and  re- 
maining there  until  the  death  of  the  parents. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  these  most 
estimable  old  settlers  of  this  county,  some 
of  them  having  passed  away,  the  others  be- 
ing among  the  most  respected  residents  of 
their  localities.  The  family  names  and 
residences  are  as  follows:  Ann  H.,  who 
married  Henry  Snyder,  is  dead,  as  is  also 
her  husband,  and  they  were  residents  of  Lo- 
gan county;  \\'illiam  J-  married  Eliza  Jane 
Baxter,  now  deceased,  and  they  resided  in 
Oregon:  Logan  B.  married  Martha  E. 
Boyce,  both  of  whom  are  deceased,  and  they 
lived  in  Middletown:  John  M.  is  the  next 
of  the  family:  Malvina  J.  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years :  G.  T.  is  our  subject ;  and 
Margaret  S.  is  a  resident  of  Middletown. 

During  his  youth  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  our  subject  attended  the 
schools  of  his  locality,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  the  homestead    farm  until    he  was 


530 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


thirty  years  old,  at  which  time  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  February,  1864,  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Kelsey,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1836.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jonas  and 
EHzabeth  (}*Iartin)  Kelsey,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  New  York. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Sarah, 
married  Daniel  Conklin,  deceased,  the  wid- 
ow now  resides  at  Cerro  Gortlo,  Illinois: 
Daniel,  deceased,  was  married :  Jemima,  un- 
married, resides  on  the  homestead  farm; 
Ransom  D.,  who  married  Louisa  Hunt,  re- 
sides in  Sterling,  Kansas:  and  Annis.  who 
married  Philip  Carver,  resides  at  Decatur, 
Illinois. 

After  marriage  our  subject  and  wife 
settled  down  on  the  old  homestead  farm 
where  thev  lived  until  1895,  when  Mr.  Ray- 
burn  moved  into  Middletown  and  has  since 
then  resided  in  this  pleasant  little  city,  re- 
tired from  business  activity,  but  prominent 
in  social  and  religious  circles.  He  owns 
some  of  the  most  desirable  property  in 
Logan  county,  his  land  in  Corwin  township 
being  accepted  as  seme  cf  the  most  valuable 
in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  here  he  has 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres,  on  section 
19,  and  he  also  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  and  one-half  acres  in  Menard 
countv,  all  of  which  is  well  improved  and 
under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation. 

Although  Mr.  Rayburn  has  never  been 
willing  to  accept  public  office,  he  is  an  actixe 
and  ardent  Republican,  and  much  interested 
in  the  success  of  his  party.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  Myrtle  Lodge  No.  470,  I.  O. 
O.  F..  of  ;Middletown,  with  which  he  has 
been  connected  for  many  years,  while  he  has 
long  been  a  lea.ding  member  of  the  Cum- 
Ijerland  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  he  is 
a  literal  supporter. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ray- 
burn  are  among  the  most  estimable  and  re- 


spected citizens  of  Logan  county  and  all  are 
located  near  their  parents,  the  grandchildren 
growing  up  almost  under  their  eyes,  making 
pleasant  their  advancing  years.  The  chil- 
dren are  as  follows  :  Edward  F..  who  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Reub.  and  they  with  their  two 
children,  reside  on  the  old  homestead  farm; 
Deo  J.,  who  married  Ethel  Masters,  resides 
i:)n  the  old  homestead  also,  in  Menard  coun- 
ty, with  two  children;  and  Arthur  H.,  who 
married  Lizzie  Jacobs,  resides  in  Corwin 
townshp,  Logan  county,  with  two  childern. 
Mr.  Rayburn  is  well  and  favorably  known  rii 
this  \icinity  and  enjoys  the  highest  esteem 
of  the  residents  of  ]\Iiddletown. 


PROFESSOR  C.  S.  OGLEVEE. 

The  biological  department  of  Lincoln 
Cidlege  is  presided  o\-er  by  a  man  who  is 
well  prepared  for  his  work,  so  well  in  fact 
that  in  schools  cf  the  same  size  or  exen 
larger  institutions  we  seldom  find  men  bet- 
ter fitted  for  their  position  than  Professor 
C.  S.  Oglevee,  who  is  now  professor  of  nat- 
ural science  in  Lincoln  College. 

He  was  born  in>  Dickerson  Run.  Penn- 
sylvania, and  began  his  collegiate  education 
at  W'aynesbm'g  College  in  that  state.  After 
lia\ing  attended  there  for  a  short  time  he 
came  to  Lincoln  University,  now  Lincoln 
College  of  the  James  Milliken  University, 
Lincoln,  Illincis,  where  he  finished  the  scien- 
tific course  in  1894.  During  his  collegiate 
course  he  showed  a  tendency  to  make  Ijiolo- 
gy  and  botany  a  special  study,  and  as  a  re- 
ward for  efficient  work  in  this  line  he  was 
added  to  the  Lincoln  University  faculty  in 
the  fall  (^f  1894. 

During  the  following  summer  he  spenf 
some  time  taking  a  special  biological  course 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


53> 


at  \\cHxrs  Hole.  Massacluisetts.  He  also 
sijent  the  summer  ot  1896  at  the  state  bio- 
logical experiment  station  at  Havana.  Illi- 
nois, thus  letting  no  chance  of  advancement 
in  this  line  iwss.  He  is  now  after  a  few 
vears  of  experience  in  teaching  fast  becom- 
ing an  authority. 

Besides  being  efficient  in  his  special  line. 
Professor  Oglevee  is  also  a  fine  singer,  hav- 
ing a  bass  yoke  of  great  power  and  was 
for  a  time  the  director  of  the  choir  of  the 
First  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Lincoln. 

HARDY  COUXCIL. 

Among  the  farmers  of  Logan  cdunty 
^Ir.  Council  takes  high  rank,  and  is  credited 
with  conducting  his  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  after  the  most  scientific  and  ap- 
proved methods.  He  was  born  in  Sanga- 
mon county,  Illinois,  January  24,  1859.  and 
his  parents.  John  H.  and  Edna  (Lake)  Coun- 
cil, who  were  born  respectively  ^lay  19. 
1822,  and  June  9,  1831.  were  also  natives  of 
Sangamon  county.  The  parents,  who  are  the 
owniers  of  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land 
nine  miles  north  of  Springfield,  one  thou- 
sand of  which  have  Ijeen  divided  among  his 
children,  are  now  living  a  retired  life,  and 
are  enjoying  a  deserved  leisure.  To  them 
has  been  bom  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
namely  :  Hardy :  Charles,  who  married  Au- 
gusta Jones,  of  Fancy  Prairie,  Illinois,  and 
is  now  living  at  Springfield;  George,  who 
married  Mary  Carjienter,  of  Sherman, 
Sangamon  county,  and  resides  in  Hurlbut 
township,  Logan  county :  William,  the  twin 
Tjrother  of  George,  who  li\es  on  the  home- 
stead: and  Anna  Florence,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Cantrall,  and  lives  at  Athene. 
INIenard  county,  Illinois. 

Of  ambitious  nature.  Hardy  Council  ap- 


plied himself  diligently  to  acquiring  such 
knowledge  as  was  obtainable  at  the  public 
schools  of  Sangamon  county,  his  tuition  be- 
ing interspersed  with  hard  work  on  the 
heme  farm.  Two  years  after  he  quit  school 
he  came  to  Hurlbut  township  and  assumed 
charge  of  the  farm  which  he  now  owns, 
and  which  contains  two  hundred  and  sixty 
acres.  besi<les  which  he  rents  the  adjoining 
si.xty  acres  Ijelonging  to  his  father.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  his  land  is  cultivated  to  the 
highest  possible  extent.  He  has  a  fine  rural 
liome.  good  barns  aud  outhouses,  and  mod- 
ern and  convenient  machinery.  The  greater 
part  of  his  land  is  devoted  to  the  stock  rais- 
ing business,  although  he  raises  grains  and 
general  farm  produce.  He  is  interested  in 
general  public  affairs,  and  anything  ad- 
vanced for  the  upbuilding  of  the  locality 
may  be  sure  of  his  ardent  support  and  co-op- 
eration. He  is  a  Republican  in  national 
politics,  is  fraternally  associated  with  the 
]^Iodern  \\'oodmen  of  America,  Camp  No. 
51,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church. 

On  December  5,  1883,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Council  and  Julia  Ann  Can- 
trall, who  was  born  near  Cantrall.  Illinois, 
April  II,  i860,  daughter  of  Joshua  L.,  son 
of  Levi,  who  was  born  July  28.  1828.  and 
Rebecca  (Hedrick)  Cantrall.  who  was 
born  October  5.  1828,  in  Kentucky.  The 
l)arents  were  married  in  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  1864  remo\ed  to  Sigourney, 
Iowa,  returning  to  Illinois  in  1866,  where 
they  purcliased  a  farm  one  and  a  half 
miles  west  <  f  Illiopolis,  and  where  the 
father  died  March  17,  1882.  He  was 
a  charter  member  of  the  Illiopolis  L(xlge, 
Xo.  521.  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  An  elder 
in  the  Christian  church  f<.r  more  than  fif- 
teen  vears.   he  also  e.xerted   a   wide  moral 


532 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


influence  as  a  temperance  advocate.  His 
wife,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  liliopolis.  is 
the  mother  of  thirteen  children:  LaFay- 
ette,  born  January  i6,  1849,  married  Gus- 
sie  Chambers  July  23,  1874,  the  latter  born 
April  I,  1856,  and  they  live  near  liliopolis, 
Illinois.  Fannie  C,  born  September  9, 
1850,  married  B.  F.  Capps.  August  12, 
1869,  and  she  was  killed  by  a  horse  Octo- 
ber 8,  1869.  Carlysle,  born  [May  26,  1852, 
married  Alice  Ina  King,  October  12,  1876, 
his  wife  having  l3een  torn  December  3.  1853. 
They  have  one  child,  Macie,  born  October 

12,  1877,  a  graduate  of  the  College  of  Music 
at  Jacksonville  in  the  class  of  1896.  Charles, 
born  December  23,  1853,  died  in  infancy. 
Barton  R..  bcrn  April  26.  1856,  lives  with 
his  mother.  Parthena.  b<irn  May  30,  1858, 
died  in  infancy.  Julia,  born  April  11,  i860, 
married  Hardy  Council.  [McDonald  C, 
born  January  i,  1862,  lives  with  his  mother. 
Laura  E..  born  June  3.  1864.  married  Josiah 
Todd,  :\Iarch  22.  1883,  and  has  one  child. 
Fred,  who  was  born  [May  24,  1884.  .\fter 
her  husband's  death,  [March  10,  1884,  she 
married  Erastus  Dickerson.  January  2. 
1886,  and  they  have  two  children.  Amanda 
and  Rebecca  Blanch.  Clara  P.,  born  Sep- 
tember 8,  1866.  married  Charles  J.  Camp- 
bell, December  5.  1888,  who  was  born  [March 
29,  1859.  Their  children  are  Owen  Henry, 
who  was  born  Septemter  12,  1889,  and 
Helen,  who  was  born  September  16,  1895. 
Levi,  born  April  20,  1868,  married  Eva 
Colvin,  July  20,  1892,  his  wife  having  been 
born  March  16,  1872,  and  their  child,  Leah. 
was  born  July  16.  1893,  and  died  July  25, 

1894.  Benjamin  F.,  born  August  25,  1870, 
married  Fannie  Burch  Adams,  January  8, 

1895.  the  latter  having  been  born  January 
27,  1873.  They  have  one  child,  Grace,  who 
was  born  April  2.  1897.-     Jennie,  born  June 

13,  1872,  died  in  infancy. 


The  Cantrall  family  is  of  Welsh,  Scotch 
and  Irish  extraction,  the  first  representative 
in  America  being  Zebulon  Cantrall,  who 
emigrated  from  \\'ales  in  1700,  and,  it  is 
claimed,  built  the  first  brick  house  in  Phila- 
delphia. L.  Cantrall  was  born  in  \'ir- 
ginia,  October  i,  1787,  and  was  a  son  of 
Joshua,  who  sened  with  courage  and  dis- 
tinction in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  re- 
moved from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  about 
1789.  To  [Mr.  and  [Mrs.  Council  have  been 
born  four  children,  namely :  John  Russell, 
torn  April  2.  1885  :  Hardy  E.,  May  4,  1890; 
LaFayette  [McD..  July  27,  1892;  and  Clara 
Florence.  December,  1893.  [Mr.  Council  is 
active  in  the  Christian  church,  of  which  he 
is  a  trustee. 


WILLIAM  UHLE. 


This  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Mt.  Pulaski  was  for  many  years 
prominently  identified  with  the  argricultural 
interests  of  this  county,  Init  is  now  living  a 
retired  life,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest  and 
the  prosperity  which  should  always  attend 
honest  effort  in  the  line  of  one's  chosen  call- 
ing. A  native  of  Germany,  [Mr.  Uhle  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Ziegenrueck.  Thuering- 
en.  Prussia.  February  7,  1837,  and  is  a  son 
of  Carl  Frederick  and  Rosine  Fredericka 
Magdalene  1  X'ollrath)  Uhle.  The  father 
was  torn  in  the  same  place,  and  was  one  of 
a  family  of  seven  children,  while  the  mother 
was  the  only  child  of  her  parents.  Through- 
ouit  life  the  father  worked  at  the  black- 
smith's trade,  and  he  owned  a  nice  home 
with  nine  acres  adjoining  the  city  of  Ziegen- 
rueck. where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
death  claimed  him.  He  was  then  over  eighty 
vears  of  age.  as  were  also  both  grandfathers- 
of  our  subject  when  called  to  their  final  rest. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


533 


The  fatlier  had  three  children.  Of  these 
Carl  Fredric  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and 
was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1848.  He  came 
into  possession  of  the  old  homestead,  whicii 
since  his  death  has  become  the  property  of 
one  of  his  children.  .  Wilhelmina.  the  only 
sister  of  our  .subject,  married  Heinrich  Lind 
and  is  now  deceased. 

During  his  boylu^xl  and  youth  William 
Uhle  receive<l  a  gorxl  practical  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  with 
his  father  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  coming  to  America. 
On  the  8th  of  ^larch.  1857.  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  ]iliss  Wilhelmina  Frieder- 
icke  Xoethlich,  who  was  born  August  9. 
1836.  in  Ranes.  a  city  about  two  German 
miles  from  his  birthplace.  Being  left  an 
orphan  at  an  early  age.  she  was  reared  by 
an  uncle  until  fourteen,  and  then  supported 
herself  until  her  marriage. 

On  the  nth  of  March.  1857.  Mr.  Uhle 
and  his  bride  sailetl  for  the  new  world  on  a 
sailing  vessel,  and  landed  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  on  the  2nd  of  May.  They  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  this  section  of  Illinois. 
and  being  in  ill  health.  Mr.  Uhle  moved  to 
Mt.  Pulaski  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  There 
he  spent  fourteen  months  working  at  any- 
thing which  he  was  able  to  do,  and  enduring 
many  hardships  and  privations.  Returning 
to  Laenna  township  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
he  worked  as  a ,  farm  hand  by  the  month 
during  the  summer  season  for  two  years, 
and  at  vaj-ious  other  occupations  the  remain- 
der of  the  time.  He  next  rented  a  small 
farm,  which  he  operated  until  1863,  when  he 
purchased  si.xty  acres  of  land  for  two  thous- 
and dollars,  and  during  the  succeeding  years 
as  he  prospered  in  his  farming  operations 
he  has  added  to  his  property  from  time  to 
time  until  he  now  owns  six  hundred  and 
eightv   acres   of    valuable   land    in    Laenna 


township.  l)esides  twenty  acres  within  the 
city  limits  of  Mt.  Pulaski.  He  has  always 
given  considerable  attention  to  the  raising 
of  sttKk,  and  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mt.  Pulaski. 
He  continued  to  actively  engage  in  farming 
until  October  2.  1890,  since  which  time  he 
has  ])ractically  lived  retired  on  account  of 
partial  paralysis  of  one  foot. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Uhle  were  born 
eight  chiklren.  namely  :  Theresa  died  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  months:  Katherine  Henri- 
etta, born  May  G.  1859.  is  the  wife  of  Rev. 
F.  E.  Roth,  of  Pevely.  Mis.-;ouri:  ^lary, 
bom  Jamiary  10,  1862.  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years;  Henry  J.,  born  July  31. 
1S64,  was  educated  for  the  Lutheran  minis- 
try, served  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Pom- 
eroy,  Ohio,  nine  years,  and  is  now  holding 
a  similar  position  at  Shiloh  Hill,  Randolph 
county.  Illinois :  Nettie  Christine  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  W'ehner.  who  lives  on  our  sub- 
ject's land  in  Laenna  township:  Annie  Fred- 
ericka,  born  April  15,  1868,  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago :  Rosa  ]ilargaretta,  born  De- 
cember 17,  1870.  died  at  the  age  o{  twenty- 
six  years:  and  Frederick,  Ix^rn  ]\\nt  16, 
1874,  is  a  well  educated  yoinig  man  residing 
at  home,  antl  has  made  a  specialty  of  pen- 
manship. .Ml  of  the  chiklren  were  baptized 
in  the  First  Lutheran  church  of  ;\bnmt 
Piiiaski.  The  wife  and  mother  died  Janu- 
ar\'  29.  1 89 1,  and  Mr.  Uhle  was  again  mar- 
ried, December  26.  1899.  his  second  union 
being  with  Magdalina  Benzinger.  who  was 
born  in  Kirchberg.  Oberamt  Marbach.  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  Augiist  16.  1858.  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  July.  1889. 

On  the  1 8th  of  April.  1864.  Mr.  Uhle 
took  out  his  naturalization  papers,  which 
were  recorded  in  the  county  court  at  Lin- 
coln. He  and  his  first  wife  were  among 
the  earliest  members  of  the  Lutheran  church 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Mount  Pulaski,  and  assisted  liberally  ac- 
cording to  their  means  in  building  both  the 
first  church  and  parsonage  and  also  the  later 
structures.  Mr.  Uhle  has  served  as  elder 
of  the  church,  and  his  upright,  honoralile 
course  in  life  has  ever  commended  him  to 
the  conlklence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


T.  J.  CHESTNUT. 

T.  J.  Chestnut,  better  known  as  "Jeff" 
and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  since  1852,  is 
a  son  of  .\le.xander  and  'Slaiy  (McCollister) 
■Ciiestnut,  both  natives  of  Ross  county.  Ohio. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  of  that  locality  and 
resided  there  until  1849.  when  he  moved  to 
Christian  countw  Illinois,  and  bought  a 
farm,  living  there  until  1852.  He  then 
came  to  Logan  county  and  settled  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  I^rairie  Creek  town- 
ship and  purchased  a  farm  of  four  hundred 
and  forty-six  acres.  This  he  improved  and 
lived  upon  until  1869.  when  he  removed  to 
:\I()rgan  county.  Illinois,  and  there  engaged 
in  farming  the  l)alance  of  his  life,  dying- 
Tune  22.   1880.     His  wife  died  alsout   i8fi6. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  the  fa- 
ther married  again,  the  maiden  name  of  his 
second  wife  being  Emily  Bennett  and  she 
now  resides  in  Kansas.  There  were  sexen 
children  laorn  of  the  first  marriage,  namely : 
T.  Jeff,  born  in  1834.  our  subject;  Nelson, 
deceased:  ^latilda.  wife  of  Jeff  Donavan.  a 
retired  farmer  of  Mason  City.  Illinois:  Sam- 
uel, deceased:  Webster,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  sixteen:  Alexander,  who  lives  in  ]\Iinne- 
apolis.  ]\Iinnesota.  and  is  a  traveling  sales- 
man: :\Iarv  Ann.  wife  of  John  ^M.  Jones,  of 


St.  Louis.  Jklissouri.  All  the  children  were 
well  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  this 
county. 

Our  subject  ahvaxs  remained  on  the  old 
hoiuestead  and  engaged  in  farming.  For 
three  vears  after  his  marriage  he  resided  in 
:\Iason  county.  Illinois,  but  then  located  on 
his  present  farm,  where  he  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  fine  land,  which  he 
had  greatly  impnned  and  on  which  he  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
Understanding  thoroughly  all  the  details  of 
his  calling,  he  has  been  enabled  to  conduct 
his  farm  very  successfully  antl  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Logan 
county. 

In  i860  Mr.  Chestnut  was  married  to 
•r^Iargaret  Caldwell,  of  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois, daughter  of  Brice  Caldwell,  an  early 
settler  in  this  county,  now  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chestnut  have  had  eleven  children, 
namely:  Ella,  at  home:  Charles,  who  is 
married  and  resides  m  Nebraska:  Lincoln, 
who  is  also  married  and  is  a  resident  of 
Neliraska:  Albert  and  John  Logan,  at  home; 
Da\id.  a  hardware  merchant  of  New  Hol- 
land. Logan  county,  Illinois;  Benjamin,  of 
Cedar  Rapids.  Iowa:  Jessie  and  Jennie,  at 
iiome :  and  two.  Harry  C.  and  Mary  E..  who 
died  in  infancy.  These  children  have  all 
received  good  educational  advantages,  and 
are  young  people  of  whom  their  parents  may 
well  feel  proud. 

In  politics  Mr.  Chestnut  is  a  Republican 
and  has  been  honored  with  all  the  minor 
township  offices  and  for  fi\-e  ye?rs  was  town- 
ship supervisor.  Both  he  and  his  most  ex- 
cellent wife  are  earnest  members  of  the 
:\Iethodist  church  of  Prairie  Creek  town- 
ship, and  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  church 
as  well  as  social  circles.  :^Ir.  Chestnut  takes 
great  pride  in  the  fact  that  he  cast  his  first 
\-ote  for  Fremont. 


T    J.   CHESTNUT. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


537 


MURRY  WORTH. 

One  of  tlie  progres-^ive  and  pul)lic-si)irit- 
ed  young  farmers  of  Logan  count)-  is  Murry 
Worth,  who  is  a  native  son  of  the  county, 
his  hirtli  having-  taken  place  at  Sugar  Creek, 
luno  J.  1^74-  His  parents  were  Cliarles 
ami  fallen  (  Martin)  Worth,  the  former  ana- 
tive  of  Illinois  and  the  latter  of  Logan  coun- 
ty, their  marriage  taking  place  in  Lincoln. 
The  fatlier  is  a  farmer  of  this  county,  where 
he  first  rented  land  and  then  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  in  Corwin 
township,  lie  now  owns  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  His  ]iolitical  .sympathy  has 
always  been  with  the  Republican  party.  Both 
father  and  mother  of  our  subject  are  living, 
surrounded  with  affection  and  enjoying  the 
esteem  of  the  community. 

Murry  Worth  of  this  biography  is  one 
in  a  family  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom 
still  survive,  tliese  being:  Florence,  the  wife 
of  Wiley  Jones,  of  Broadwell  township: 
William,  single,  at  home;  Murry,  of  this 
sketch;  Lily,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Rankin, 
of  Broadwell  township:  Xellie,  who  resides 
with  her  parents;  and  I\o\-. 

The  early  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  sub- 
ject were  silent  on  the  home  farm  and  at 
.school,  the  winters  being  devoted  to  study 
of  books  and  the  summers  to  the  study  of 
land  and  its  pmper  management.  I'ntil  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years  he  remained  with 
his  father  assisting  him,  his  marriage  at  that 
age  not  interfering  with  the  course  of  his 
business  life,  for  he  remained  his  father's 
assistant  for  the  following  year.  Then  he 
rented  a  farm  in  Broadwell  t<iwns]iip  where 
he  lived  f<ir  two  years  and  then  returned 
to  the  homestead  farm,  li\  ing  there  one  year. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  be  ])assed  one  month 
in  Middletown,  but  decided  to  again  engage 
in   farming,  renting  a  tract  up<_in   which  be 


lived  for  one  year  and  then  removing  to  the 
\aluable  ;mil  desir;il)le  farm  which  he  now 
occupies.  .Mr.  Worth  has  erected  a  hand- 
some residence  and  barns  on  this  farm,  con- 
sisting of  one  hnnth'eil  and  si.xty  acres  of  line 
land,  on  sect  inn  4,  Corwin  township,  which 
he  rents  fn;m  bis  father. 

Mr.  Worth  was  married  December  23, 
iSq().  :it  Linciiln.  Illinois,  to  Miss  Anna 
Steinhauer,  who  was  born  at  Williamsvillc, 
September  8,  1S76,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Ellen  I'.  (Brust)  Steinhauer.  Her 
father  was  born  in  1S43,  in  (iermany,  and 
to  .\nierica  in  1850.  Her  mother  was  born 
in  Ohio,  where  they  were  married.  Shortly 
after  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  San- 
gamon county,  where  ^Ir.  Steinhauer  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  later  coming  to  Logan 
county.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  ninety  acres  in  Broadwell  and 
West  Lincoln  t<iwnships  and  is  considered 
one  if  the  substantial  and  reliable  men  of  the 
county.  The  motlier  of  Mrs.  W(irth  died 
September  4,  1891.  A  previous  marriage 
of  Mr.  Steinhauer  had  been  to  Miss  ^lary 
Theobald,  who  lived  but  a  short  period,  and 
then  he  married  Phebe  Ellen  Brust. 

?\Irs.  Worth  is  one  in  a  family  of  four- 
teen children,  the  survivors  being:  Lizzie,  a 
child  of  the  first  union,  married  Harvey 
Barker  and  resides  in  Menard  county;  John, 
also  of  the  first  union,  married  .\nna  Ful- 
sher  and  resides  in  West  Lincoln  township; 
:\Iolly  married  William  Aery  and  resides  in 
\\'est  Lincoln  township:  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Worth:  Muune  is  the  wife  nf  \\'illiam 
Fulsber,  who  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  in  Vv'est  Lincoln  tnwnship;  IMaggie, 
Samuel,  lantha  and  Abraham  all  live  at 
home. 

The  children  born  t..  Mr.  and  Mr<. 
\\'(irth  number  but  two  and  the  older  one, 
:\lurrv.  born  on  December  3,    18(^7.  died  in 


538 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


infancy,  while  the  other,  Phoebe  B.  C,  horn 
on  March  ic),  1899,  is  a  bright,  intelhgent 
chikh  tlie  hg-lit  of  the  household.  "Sh. 
W'drtli  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  he  is  nut  a  seeker  for  political 
preferment,  being  satisfied  as  an  excellent 
and  successful  farmer  and  respected  citizen. 


ALBERT  S.  CORTHOX. 

Albert  S.  Cortlion,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Logan  ciiuntv.  Illinois.  Moving  there  at  an 
early  day  when  the  facilities  of  railroad  trav- 
eling were  unk-udwn,  he  with  his  family  and 
that  of  his  father-in-law  made  the  journey 
from  Ohio  by  wagon. 

His  parents,  John  P.  and  Elizalietli 
Corthon.  were  inhabitants  of  X'irginia  at  the 
time  (if  his  birth,  Oct(jber  14,  18-7.  Slmrt- 
Iv  after  thev  moved  to  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
where  the  father  died  when  our  subject  was 
but  five  years  cM.  The  home  was  not  brok- 
en u])  until  se\'en  )'ears  after,  when  he  and 
his  mother  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  J. 
W.  Carter,  and  William  R.  Hamilton  was 
then  appointed  his  guardian.  When  a  boy 
of  sixteen  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  from  then  on  he  took  a  man's  place  in 
life. 

On  Xovem1)er  14,  1850,  3>lr.  Corthon 
was  united  in  marriage  with  }iliss  Mary  R. 
■W'illmurth,  who  is  also  deceased,  her  death 
having  occurred  July  2,  1901.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Nancy  \Vinmurth. 
Five  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Corthon 
moved  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Atlanta,  Logan 
county,  where  he  hillowed  his  trade  of  a  car- 
penter for  three  years.  In  1858,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  .\ndrew  Downey  and 
engaged  in  stock  raismg  for  ten  years.     He 


subsequently  formed  a  partnership  with 
Alexander  Downey,  with  whom  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising  for  several 
years. 

In  1873,  he  removed  to  the  place  which 
was  known  as  his  home  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  placed  the  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  by  economy  he  was 
able  to  leave  his  family  a  comfortable  com- 
jietence.  He  departed  this  life  May  2,  1901, 
and  his  death  A\as  a  loss  not  onlv  to  his 
immediate  family,  but  to  the  entire  com- 
munity. Six  children  mourn  the  loss  of 
their  parents,  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 

A  life  long  resident  of  L(jgan  county, 
the  news  of  his  death  was  a  shock  to  the  en- 
tire conununity  in  which  he  had  so  long 
made  his  home.  He  made  a  success  of  his 
life  an'd  when  he  was  called  to  the  great 
be}-onil  he  left  a  name  that  will  long  be 
honored  by  not  only  those  with  whom  he 
was  accpiainted,  ])Ut  by  future  generations, 
for  it  is  such  men  that  ha\'e  made  this  great 
west  what  it  is  toda)- — the  greatest  country 
on  the  face  of  the  globe. 

Mr.  Corthon  was  an  active  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  I*".,  and  from  the  organization 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  .Vtlanta  he  was 
one  of  its  most  active  members,  serving  as- 
trustee  and  Stewart  for  many  years.  In  poli- 
tics he  supported  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Democratic  party,  but  could  never  be 
])revailed  upon  to  accept  office,  preferring  to 
gi\-e  his  undivided  attentions  to  his  own  in- 
terests. 


JOHN   ATGGINTON. 

Among  the  ])rominent  early  settlers  of 
Logan  count_\-  is  J(_ihn  ^^'igginton,  whose 
name  is  held  in  honor  through  the  county, 
and  who  has  been  identified  with  nuich  of  its- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


539 


progress  and  development.  A  man  of  large 
landed  interests,  connected  with  public  af- 
fairs in  many  capacities,  he  most  worthily 
rqjresents  a  very  highly  esteemed  ancestry. 
The  birth  of  Mr.  \\'igginton  occurred 
August  23,  1827.  and  he  is  a  son  of  Peter 
and  ^Marguerite  (Trumbo)  A\'igginton,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Loudoun 
county.  Virginia,  and  the  latter  in  Kentucky, 
where  they  resided  for  ten  years  after  their 
marriage.  The  father  engaged  in  fanning 
in  Bourbon  county,  where  our  subject  was 
born.  In  the  year  of  his  birth  they  removed 
to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Sherman.  Sanga- 
mon county,  where  the  family  remained  un- 
til the  death  of  the  parents.  Twelve  cliil- 
dren  were  born  to  them,  namely :  William, 
deceased,  married  Cordelia  Hill,  of  Wiscon- 
sin, and  the  widow  now  resides  in  Lincoln, 
Illinois:  Samuel  died  unmarried,  in  Galena, 
Illinois:  Dortha,  who  married  Stq)hen 
Clarno.  died  in  Farmer  City.  Illinois:  INIar- 
tha  married  Wesley  Council,  and  they  re- 
sided at  Williamsville,  Illinois,  but  both  are 
now  deceased;  Andrew,  deceased,  married 
Samantha  Boyd,  and  they  reside  in  Iowa: 
John,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  next  of  the  fam- 
ily; Mary  married  Stephen  Beck,  and  they 
resided  in  Logan  county,  but  both  are 
now  deceased:  James,  deceased,  married 
Mrs.  Catherine  ^Mead,  who  resides  in  Wis- 
consin :  Elizabeth,  married  John  Martina, 
deceased,  and  the  widow  resides  in  Lincoln : 
XcUie  married  William  Council,  and  lived  in 
Sangamon  county,  but  Ijoth  are  now  de- 
ceased: and  Rachel  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Wigginton  of  this  sketch,  who  is  a  man  of 
superb  physical  development,  weighing  some 
two  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  has  outlived 
almost  all  of  his  family,  althmigh  his  life  has 
been  one  of  almost  ceaseless  activity,  both 
bodily  and  mentally,  his  large  business  inter- 
ests requiring  a  clear  head  and  pmper  mental 


adjustment  to  conduct  to  the  successful 
finish  which  has  attended  his  efforts. 

When  our  subject  was  a  lad  it  was  al- 
most as  difficult  in  his  l<icality  to  olitain 
educational  advantages  as  it  miw  is  to  evade 
them,  and  he  was  given  the  best  schooling 
obtainable.  His  father  needed  his  assist- 
ance on  the  farm  and  it  was  freely  given 
until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he 
took  a  trip  to  Mississippi,  in  order  to  see 
something  of  the  world.  Upon  his  return 
he  engaged  in  work  in  Sangamon  county 
for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  and  later 
took  a  contract  for  the  grading  of  this  road 
four  miles  north  of  Williamsville,  later  tak- 
ing a  contract  for  four  miles  of  grading  for 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  north  of  Pana. 
Having  successfully  carried  out  these  con- 
tracts he  then  undertook  to  build  four  miles 
of  road  north  of  Bushnell  on  the  Chicago. 
Burlington  &  Ouincy  Railroad,  returning  to 
Logan  county  after  the  completion  of  this 
contract. 

:\Ir.  ^\■igginton  then  rented  the  farm 
u])on  which  he  now  resides  and  bought  the 
same  some  five  years  later.  He  is  one  of 
the  largest  landowners  in  the  county,  pos- 
sessing sixteen  hundred  acres  in  West  Lin- 
coln, Sheridan  and  Corwin  townships,  his 
residence  being  in  West  Lincoln,  on  section 
6.  Mr.  Wigginton  has  had  many  wonder- 
ful and  interesting  experiences,  coming  to 
this  county  when  game  was  still  abundant 
and  wild  Ijeasts  still  roamed  in  the  forests. 
Perhaps  some  of  his  most  interesting  rem- 
iniscences are  connected  witli  the  lamented 
President  Lincoln,  who  was  his  warm  per- 
sonal friend.  His  trading  was  done  at 
Springfield,  at  a  time  when  he  says  he  could 
have  loaded  all  the  dry  goods  of  the  town  on 
his  wagon,  and  he  recalls  that  the  only  law 
suit  he  e\-er  had  was  conducted  in  that  city, 
when   Mr.   Lincoln  was  the  lawver  on  the 


^540 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


other  side,  but  whose  eloquence  did  not 
cJ-jange  the  right  of  the  case,  our  subject 
coming  off  winner.  At  that  time  Lincohi, 
JIHnois,  the  flourishing  and  beautiful  city  of 
to-ciay,  was  not  in  existence.  Postville  being 
the  irading  point  in  that  direction. 

^Iv.  Wigginton  is  the  owner  of  the 
original  Lincoln  pear  tree,  the  seed  of  which 
was  planted  by  Mrs.  IMaria  Fleming,  who 
brought  it  from  Urbana,  Ohio.  The  fruit 
of  this  tree  has  l^een  sent  to  other  countries, 
its  perfect  adaptability  to  almost  all  climates 
making-  it  a  ver_\-  \-aluable  species. 

In  1855  ]\Ir.  Wigginton  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Augusta  Tipton,  a  nati\e  of 
Tennessee,  wlio  died  shortl)-  afterward, 
leaving  no  children.  For  his  second  wife 
he  married  Dicy  Ann  Fleming,  a  native  of 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children :  Wesley,  a  farmer  of  Corwin 
to\\nship.  who  married  Elizabeth  Richards 
and  has  three  daughters;  and  Peter,  who 
died  in  childhood.  Mr.  Wigginton's  third 
unicn  was  with  Catherine  Lucas,  who  was 
Ixirn  in  Corwin  township.  September  12. 
184J.  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabetli 
(Pence)  Lucas,  natives  of  Greene  and 
Champaign  counties,  Ohio,  respectively.  Her 
parents  were  married,  howe\er,  in  Logan 
county.  Illinois,  where  they  located  at  an 
earlv  dav.  and  they  made  their  In  .me  in  Cor- 
win tiiwnship  until  the  death  of  the  father, 
which  occurred  July  19,  1S95.  ^he  mother 
now  makes  her  hdme  with  our  subject  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years.  By  his  last  marriage 
Mr.  Wigginton  has  four  children :  John, 
who  married  Mamie  Hender  and  resides  on 
a  farm  which  adjoins  that  of  our  subject; 
Calvin,  who  married  Sadie  Squires,  and  re- 
sides with  our  subject,  assisting  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  farm;  Belle,  who  married 
Owen  Beaver,  and  resides  in  West  Lincoln 


township ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  One 
Beaver,  and  resides  in  Sheridan  township. 

Mr.  Wigginton  has  been  one  of  the  prom- 
inent men  of  West  Lincoln  township,  and 
lias  served  in  turn  as  school  dire\;tor,  trustee, 
road  commissioner,  in  fact  has  served  his 
township  and  county  in  almost  every  capac- 
ity, always  with  efficiency  and  with  an  eye 
single  to  its  benefit.  In  politics  he  is  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  in  religious  faith  is 
a  Methodist.  He  was  made  a  Mason  at 
Petersburg,  Menard  county,  fifty-four  years 
ago.  and  took  an  active  part  in  forming  the 
hxlge  at  Williamsville.  but  later  dimittted  to 
Lincoln  Lodge.  In  earl\-  life  he  followed 
carpentering  to  some  extent  and  assisted  in 
Ijuilding  the  old  state  house  at  Springfield. 
He  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  in  this  coun- 
ty where  he  is  widely  known  and  univer- 
sally respected. 


JACOB  BOST. 

Jacob  Bost.  a  ])rosperous  farmer  residing 
on  secti(,n  19,  Laenna  township,  was  born 
in  Pickawav  county,  Ohio,  February  15. 
1843.  His  father,  John  G.  Bost.  was  a  na- 
tive of  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a 
voung  man  when  he  removed  to  Pickaway 
count V,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Kurtz,  who  was  probably  a  native  of 
that  county.  Both  were  of  German  lineage. 
Leaving  his  old  home  in  the  Buckeye  state, 
the  father  came  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  first 
located  in  Edgar  county,  near  Paris,  where 
lie  followed  his  chosen  occcupation,  that 
of  farming,  until  1S61,  when  he  remov- 
ed to  Laenna  township,  Logan  county,  set- 
tling upon  a  farm  about  a  mile  east  of  the 
present  home  of  our  subject.  There  he  died 
about    1868.     His  first  wife,  who  was  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mother  of  our  subject,  had  died  in  Ohio, 
and  he  subsequently  married  Sopliia  Fell. 
who  died  alx)ut  1866. 

Our  subject  was  only  eight  years  of  age 
when  the  family  migrated  to  Illinois,  but  he 
remembers  the  trip  distinctly,  and  although 
he  walked  the  greater  part  of  the  way  he 
had  an  enjoyable  time.  In  this  state  he 
grew  to  manhood,  and  when  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  in  1862  in  Company 
D,  One  Hundred  and  Si.xth  Illinois  \olun- 
teer  Infantry,  under  Captain  David  \'an 
Hise.  He  was  in  camp  at  Lincoln  a  couple 
of  months  and  then  the  regiment  was  sent 
to  Jackson.  Tennessee.  His  experience  in 
battle  was  on  the  river  a  little  below  Little 
Rock,  and  many  times  afterwards  was  under 
lire,  but  never  in  pitched  battle.  He  was  in 
the  hospital  at  Helena.  Arkansas,  for  about 
three  weeks,  and  after  a  service  of  three 
years  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield.  Illi- 
nois. His  war  record  is  one  of  which  he 
ma\'  well  l>e  proud. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Bost  returned  to  his 
home  and  resumed  work  on  the  farm,  \\ith 
his  savings  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land. 
which  now  forms  part  of  his  home  farm. 
As  there  was  no  house  upon  his  land  he  pur- 
chased an  old  school  house,  which  he  fixed 
up  as  a  residence,  but  since  then  has  built  a 
comfortable  house,  barn  and  all  necessary 
outbuildings  and  added  to  his  acreage  until 
his  farm  is  a  most  e.xcellent  one  of  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres.  u\xm  which  he  has 
made  all  of  the  improvements,  it  being  wild 
prairie  land  when  it  came  into  his  posses- 
sion. He  sold  a  portion  of  his  property  to 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company, 
which  there  established  Xarita  station, 
formerly  St.  John's  on  the  Peoria.  Decatur 
&  Evansville  Railroad,  and  it  makes  a  con- 
venient shipping  point  for  him,  being  only 
fiftv  rods  from  his  home. 


On  the  24th  of  June.  1879.  Mr.  Bost 
married  Miss  Catharine  Sims,  a  native  of 
Laenna  township,  this  county,  and  a  daught- 
er of  David  and  Elizal)eth  Sims.  Three 
children  have  been  born  of  thi.-;  marriage, 
namely:  Sarah  Etta  is  now  the  wife  of 
Edward  Diggins  and  lives  in  Iowa:  Ed- 
ward, who  lives  near  his  father,  married 
Etta  Stinnet,  of  Laenna  township,  and  they 
have  one  child.  David  E. :  Oscar  D..  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  is  at  home. 

Mr.  Bost  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but 
not  an  office  seeker.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Mt.  Pulaski  and 
is  a  Chapter  ;Mason  and  a  member  of  the 
Commandery  of  Mt.  Pulaski.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Samuel  Walker  Post.  G.  A.  R., 
Xo.  8/.  of  ;\It.  Pulaski,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  memljers  of  the  Eastern  Star.  They 
are  very  pleasant,  hospitable  people  and  en- 
joy the  highest  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  them. 


CHARLES  W.  LEE. 

Among  the  progressive  farmers  and  esti- 
mable citizens  of  Logan  county,  is  Charles 
A\'.  Lee.  who  was  born  in  Menard  county, 
Illinois.  December  4.  1871,  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Mary  (Centers)  Lee.  the  former 
a  native  of  County  Wexford.  Ireland,  and 
the  latter  of  Cass  county,  Illinois.  The 
marriage  of  the  parents  of  our  subject  was 
celebrated  at  Petersburg.  Illinois,  in  the 
Catholic  church.  February  4.  1871.  The 
father  lived  in  that  locality  until  in  the 
spring  of  1890.  when  he  moved  to  Logan 
county,  and  located  in  Elkhart  township, 
where  he  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens.  :i 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Elkhart 
and  a  stanch  DemtKrat  in  his  political  con- 
victions, but  no  politician. 


542 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Charles  \V.  Lee,  our  suljject,  was  the 
eldest  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  the 
others  being  as  follows:  John,  who  mar- 
ried Anna  Sturgedn,  and  resides  nn  a  farm 
in  Elkhart  township;  Alar\',  the  wife  ni 
Thomas  Brennan,  who  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Hurlbut  township;  Hugh,  unmarried,  who 
lives  in  Wisconsin ;  Daniel,  who  conducts  a 
Yi\er\  business  in  Elkhart;  Peter,  unmar- 
ried, who  is  a  partner  with  his  brother,  in 
the  ]i\-erv  business,  in  Elkhart;  James  and 
Jennie,  at  Ik  .me;  Edward,  wlm  died  at  the 
age  of  two  and  one-half  years;  \\'aUer  and 
Lauretta,  at  home. 

.  Charles  W.  Lee  attended  school  in  the 
district  in  which  he  was  reared,  in  Menard 
county,  remaining  under  instruction  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  from  that  time 
until  he  was  twenty-one  assisting  his  father 
on  the  home  farm.  He  then  rented  land  for 
himself  and  started  out  as  an  agriculturist, 
immediately  putting  into  ])ractice  the  pro- 
gressive ideas  which  since  then  have  mater- 
iallv  assisted  in  making  his  operatiijns  so 
successful. 

On  October  4,  1900,  at  Elkhart,  Illinois, 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Kennedy,  in  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  church,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  G.  Brennan,  who  was  born  at 
Elkhart,  July  3.  1877,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Brennan.  more  extended  mention 
of  the  faj:iily  being  made  on  another  page 
of  this  volume. 

After  marriage  rmr  subject  located  on 
the  farm  which  he  has  since  occupied.  For 
the  past  five  years  he  has  operated  the  tine 
tract  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on 
section  4,  in  Elkhart  township,  and  is  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
successful  among  the  young  farmers  of  this 
neighborhood.  He  adopts  modern  methods 
and  machinery  and  breeds  high-grade  stock 
entireh'. 


In  politics  "Sir.  Lee  is  a  Democrat  and  he 
is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  St.  Pat- 
rick's Catholic  church.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  carries  life  insurance  in  two 
excellent  companies,  the  New  York  Mutual 
Life,  and  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Company.  Mr.  Lee  has  improved  his  farm 
since  locating  upon  it  and  his  comfortable 
residence,  good  barns  and  attractive  sur- 
roundings give  an  idea  of  thrift  which 
speaks  volumes  in  favor  of  his  excellent 
methods  as  a  farmer.  He  is  highly  respect- 
ed in  the  communit}-.  and  in  e\-er)'  way  is  an 
excellent  citizen. 


WILLIAAI  II.  KIRBY,  M.  D. 

\Villiam  H.  Kirby,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  successful  members  of 
the  medical  profcssiMn  m  (/licsluut,  was  born 
in  Farmer  City,  DeWilt  county,  Illinois, 
November  22,  1851.  His  parents,  Jacob 
and  T-:iizabeth  (Page)  Kirby,  were  natives 
of  New  jersev,  and  were  married  in  Farmer 
City,  Illinois,  in  ]cS5o,  whither  the  elder 
Kirby  had  remo\-ed  ^\■ith  his  parents  when 
a  voung  man,  and  where  his  death  occurred 
in  1857.  The  mother  also  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phineas 
Page,  in  1840,  and  is  one  in  a  family  of 
eight  children,  who  were  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey, Ohio,  and  Illinois.  Jacob  Kirby  had 
nine  brothers  and  sisters,  wno  are  now  scat- 
tered over  different  parts  of  the  LTnited 
States. 

Dr.  Kirbv  received  his  education  in  the 
pulilic  schools  of  DeWitt  county,  and  his 
medical  training  was  accjuired  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  Northwestern  University, 
where  he  spent  three  years,  and  graduated 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


543 


with  honors  in  tlie  class  of  1877.  For  the 
following  eleven  years  he  practiced  medicine 
in  De\\"itt  county,  and  gained  an  enviable 
rqnitation  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  his 
services  being  in  demand  from  one  end  of 
the  county  to  the  other.  While  living  here 
he  married  Sarah  P.  Howard,  and  of  this 
union  there  have  been  born  three  children, 
of  whom  two  survive,  Alfred  D.  and  May 
K.  The  children  have  been  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  the  son  is  now  in  the 
high-school  of  Mount  Pulaski,  an  unusually 
bright  and  intelligent  youth,  who,  for  the 
past  three  years  has  had  a  standing  in 
school  of  ninety-five.  Mrs.  Kirby  is  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Howard,  and  was 
born  in  DeW'itt  county,  Illinois,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools. 

Dr.  Kirb\-  is  not  only  a  broad  minded 
exponent  of  medical  science,  and  one  who 
keeps  in  touch  with  its  progress  all  o\er 
the  world,  but  he  is  also  a  man  of  broad 
and  liberal  general  ideas,  and  practically  ap- 
plies them  to  the  good  of  the  community. 
He  has  witnessed  many  changes  during  his 
long  residence  here,  and  he  has  himself  con- 
tributed in  no  small  degree  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  past  and  present.  As  a  politician  he 
upholds  the  traditions  and  issues  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
numerous  county  and  state  conventions. 
Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the  Ma- 
sons, at  Mount  Pulaski,  being  a  Knight 
Templar,  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  which  latter  organization  he  has 
been  a  member  for  the  past  twenty-fi\e 
years.  His  family  and  himself  have  for 
many  years  been  memljers  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  trustee. 

In  connection  with  his  practice.  Dr.  Kir- 
by has  also  been  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness at  Chestnut  for  the  past  fifteai  years, 
and  carries  a  fine  line  of  drugs,  as  well  as 


the  usual  sundries  found  in  a  first-class 
drug  store.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  educational  affairs  and  has  acted  as  school 
trustee  and  treasurer  for  several  terms.  The 
Doctor  was  apixiinted  postmaster  under 
President  McKinley's  first  administration 
and  has  filled  the  office  nearly  four  years 
quite  acceptably  to  the  people  and  wilii 
credit  to  himself.  The  Doctor  is  a  member 
of  the  Brainard  District  Medical  Society, 
of  which  he  is  the  present  president,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  State  ]^Iedical  Society 
and  the  Xational  Medical  Association. 


ANDREW  J.   BRAMMAX. 

One  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  Broadwell  is  Andrew  J.  Bramman, 
who  has  been  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  this  locality  ever  since  the  open- 
ing of  his  career.  The  birth  of  Mr.  Bram- 
man occurred  in  Mt.  Pulaski  township, 
Sq>t ember  5,  1866,  and  he  is  the  son  of  two 
most  highly  respected  old  citizens,  Patrick 
and  Louisa  A.  (Cartmel)  Bramman. 

Patrick  Bramman  was  burn  in  County 
Longford,  Ireland,  near  the  city  of  Dublin, 
in  1842,  and  was  seven  years  of  age  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Sangamon 
county,  and  later  to  Logan  county.  His  avo- 
cation has  been  farming,  but  he  is  now  liv- 
ing retired,  in  Broadwell,  where  he  owns 
valuable  property.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Logan  county.  January 
28,  1844,  and  here  she  was  educated,  and 
met  and  married  Mr.  Bramman.  Both  ]jar- 
ents  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  physicial  and 
mental  health,  and  are  surrounded  by  many 
of  their  children,  in  homes  oi  their  own. 
Twelve  children  were  born  to  iheni,  i>ne  of 
these  dving  in  infancv.     Terrv  M.,  whose 


544 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


death  occurred  in  Broadwell,  in  1894,  was 
the  second  of  the  family  to  pass  away.  He 
Avas  well  and  widel}-  known,  far  beyond  the 
limits  of  this  locality.  He  was  in  many  lines 
a  genius,  and  was  a  gifted  musician.  He 
was  the  inventor  of  the  original  model  of 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Janney  coupler, 
M.  C.  B.  and  Goul  pocket  hand  couplers, 
now  in  use  on  almost  all  railroads  in 
the  United  States,  although  he  never  real- 
ized any  material  benefits  from  it.  In  1892 
a  tramp  machinist  was  kindly  received  at 
the  Bramman  home,  and  Terr}-,  with  the 
kindness  which  ever  intluenced  him,  Ijelieved 
his  story  of  bad  luck,  gave  him  fund  and 
shelter,  and  unwisely  exhibited  to  him  liis 
invention.  The  glib  tongue  of  the  trami)  in- 
duced him  to  part  with  the  model,  and  this 
was  exhibited  at  the  \\'orld's  Fair,  in  Chi- 
cago, under  the  name  of  the  Janney  coupler, 
the  tramp  claiming  it  as  his  own.  Other 
valuable  inventions  from  which  he  never 
realized  anything  were :  a  folding  windmill ; 
a  patent  float  to  regulate  the  height  of  water 
in  a  tank ;  and  a  hog  trough.  His  trade  was 
that  of  a  barber,  and  he  was  also  a  painter, 
a  musical  performer  and  a  critic  of  no 
mean  (irder.  He  left  one  daughter.  Essie 
V.  The  other  members  of  the  Bramman 
family  are:  William,  who  lives  in  Broad- 
well;  Andrew  J.,  our  suljject;  ^Minnie  L., 
who  resides  at  home:  Edwin  F.,  who  lives 
in  Broadwell;  Rosa,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Buckles,  and  lives  near  Mt.  Pulaski; 
Patrick  T.,  who  is  a  barber  by  trade,  and 
lives  at  home:  James  L..  who  is  a  graduate 
in  the  violin,  under  Prof.  H.  O.  Merry,  and 
resides  at  home:  and  I\Iamie  15.,  Charles 
and  Kitt\-,  all  at  home. 

Andrew  J.  Bramman  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  later  took 
a  business  course  in  stenography,  by  mail, 
from  the  Potter  Business  College,  of  W'il- 


liamsport,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  an  am- 
bitious student  and  in  his  youth  he  cheer- 
fully walked  the  necessary  two  and  one-half 
miles  to  and  from  school.  For  the  past  six- 
teen years  he  has  been  engaged  in  clerical 
work,  in  the  grain  business,  coming  into  the 
present  office  when  it  was  managed  by  Ran- 
dolph, Read  &  Company,  and  has  remained 
under  the  present  management  of  Spellman 
tS:  Spitly.  He  has  been  active  in  political 
work  and  since  1896  has  been  town  treas- 
urer and  is  township  clerk  of  Broadwell. 
His  residence  has  always  been  under  the 
parental  roof,  the  family  being  a  happy  and 
united  one. 

Fraternally  ;Mr.  Bramman  belongs  to 
Kenwood  Lodge,  K.  P..  Xo.  405,  of  Elk- 
hart, Illinois:  and  is  an  associate  member  of 
M.  W.  A.  Cam])  Xo.  5750,  Broadwell.  He 
has  been  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  of- 
ficials of  the  town.  ;nid  in  his  private  busi- 
ness enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


THO:\IAS  F.  HOLLIES. 

One  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Lincoln, 
Illinois,  who  is  prominently  identitled  with 
the  city's  most  important  industrial  enter- 
prises, is  Thomas  F.  Holmes,  the  efficient 
superintendent  of  the  Citizens'  Coal  Com- 
pany. The  birth  of  ^Nlr.  Holmes  occurred 
in  Brooklyn,  Xew  York,  February  16,  1861. 
and  he  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Ellen 
(  Reardon )  Holmes,  both  of  whom  were 
l)orn  in  Ireland.  The  former  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  he  was  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
two  vears  and  during  his  life,  prior  to  lo- 
cating in  Illinois,  was  connected  with  street 
car  lines,  but  later  became  a  farmer  and  the 
owner  of  property  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  where 


T.   F.   HOLMES. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


547 


his  death  occurred  t>n  July  9.  1901.  Tlie 
mother  of  our  suhject  was  Ixjrn  in  1841  and 
died  iu  Lincoln,  Illinois,  in  1S78.  having 
l)een  a  most  devoted  mother,  excellent  wife 
and  consistent  Christian.  From  their  earli- 
est years  lK)th  parents  had  lieen  connected 
with  the  Catholic  church.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children  and  five  members  still 
survive,  these  being :  Thomas  F..  who  is  tlie 
subject  of  this  review:  William  H..  who  is 
a  Iwokkeejier  in  Lincoln ;  Ellen,  who  is  the 
wife  of  J.  Malone>-,  of  Xincoln:  John  R., 
who  is  a  resident  of  Chicago:  and  Stephen, 
who  has  his  residence  in  Lincoln. 

L'ntil  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  Thom- 
as F.  Holmes  attended  the  common  schools 
and  he  later  supplemented  the  education  thus 
acquired  by  a  period  at  night  school.  He  re- 
mained on  his  father's  farm  until  1880.  com- 
ing then  to  Lincoln,  where  he  soon  became 
connected  with  coal  interests.  Energetic  and 
capable,  he  filled  various  positions  in  the  dif- 
ferent departments  connected  with  the  De- 
catur Coal  Compau}-,  in  Macon  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  for  some  time,  re- 
turning to  Lincoln  to  become  superintend- 
ent of  the  Citizens'  Coal  Company,  in  1889. 
Mr.  Holmes  has  charge  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men  and  possesses  that  excellent 
judgment  antl  executive  ability  which  en- 
ables him  to  deal  justly  by  them,  while  still 
furthering  his  employers'  interests. 

In  1885,  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  Mr.  Holmes 
was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  F.  McCann.  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  received  her 
education  in  Lincoln.  To  this  marriage  six 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Robert 
E.,  Edgar  F..  Walter  R..  Agnes.  Ellen  and 
Mildred,  all  of  wIkjui  are  attending  school 
in  Lincoln. 

ilr.  Holmes  has  long  been  an  active  Re- 
publican and  has  been  ever  read_\-  to  bear 
his  part  in  public  affairs  for  the  benefit  of 


his  community,  but  he  has  never  sought  of- 
fice. Stx'ially  he  is  connected  with  the  order 
of  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  past 
chancellor,  and  also  that  of  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men,  and  has  held  c*ficial  positions 
in  both  organizations. 

Mr.  Holmes  is  a  self-educated  and  self- 
made  man,  who  has  successfully  made  his 
way  to  the  front  rank  in  business  life  by 
the  application  of  energy,  honesty  and  in- 
dustry to  all  his  efiforts.  The  world  has  need 
of  such  men  and  a  close  examination  into  the 
ranks  of  those  who  have  become  prominent 
in  any  line  will  almost  always  result  in  the 
discovery  of  just  those  elements  which  have 
contributed  to  the  ad\ancement  of  Thomas 
F.  Holmes. 


PETER  LEE. 

A  prominent  and  successful  farmer .  of 
Logan  count}-  is  Peter  Lee,  who  was  born 
in  County  \\'exford,  Ireland,  April  25,  1847, 
and  is  a  son  of  Hugh  and  Margaret  (Col- 
lins) Lee,  natives  of  the  same  county,  where 
the  father  died  some  nineteen  years  ago,  tlie 
mother  surviving  but  two  years.  Both  were 
devoted  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Six  children  were  born  to  them  as  follows: 
John,  who  married  Eliza  Cavanaugh,  since 
deceased,  and  lives  near  La  Junta,  Colorado; 
Patrick,  who  married  ^lary  O'Hara.  and 
lives  in  Logan  county,  west  of  Elkhart: 
Peter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  :  James,  who 
married  Johanna  Cody,  and  resides  in  Coun- 
t\-  Carlow,  Ireland ;  and  two  babes  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Peter  Lee,  of  this  biography,  attended 
school  in  Ireland  until  he  was  fifteen  years 
of  age  and  then  for  three  years  worked  for 
his  father  on  the  farm.  In  1865  he  decided 
to  find  a  new  home  for  himself  in  America 


548 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  with  this  end  in  view  took  passage 
from  Oueenstown,  Ireland,  on  the  good  ship 
St.  Bernard,  and  after  eight  days  landed  in 
Castle  Garden,  New  York.  He  went  imme- 
diately to  Springtield.  Illinois,  and  soon 
found  plenty  of  employment  on  the  farms  in 
that  locality,  and  remained  there  for  four 
vears  and  seven  months,  later  renting  a  farm 
for  himself  in  INIenard  connty. 

]\Ir.  Lee  was  married  February  4,  1871, 
at  Petersburg,  Illinois,  by  Rev.  Father 
Cluce,  at  St.  Peter's  church,  to  ]\Iiss  Mary 
Centers,  who  was  born  in  Cass  county.  .Vpril 
5,  185J.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Levi  Cen- 
ters, who  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  her  mother 
l)eing  Frances  (May)  Centers,  a  native  of 
Kentuckv.  They  were  married  in  Mason 
county,  where  the  father  was  a  farm- 
er and  where  the  mother  still  lives, 
the  father  having  died  in  January. 
1898.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Centers  were  as  follows :  [Nlary,  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  Jane,  who  married  Thomas 
Gleason,  and  resides  in  ^liddletown,  Illi- 
nois; James,  who  married  and  remo\ed  to 
Kansas  City,  Missouri;  Daniel,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Peoria,  Illinois ;  Josephine, 
who  married  Edward  Oars  and  resides  in 
.^lason  City,  Illinois. 

The  children  born  to  yiv.  and  :Mrs. 
Lte  were:  Charles,  who  married  ilary  G. 
,.Brennan ;  John,  who  married  Anna  Stur- 
g'eon  and  resides  on  a  farm  near  Elkhart ; 
]Marv,  who  married  Thomas  Brennan,  and 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Hurlbut  township: 
Hugh,  unmarried,  who  resides  in  Wiscon- 
sin :  Daniel,  who  is  in  the  livery  business  in 
Elkhart ;  Peter,  unmarried,  who  is  a  partner 
Avith  his  brother  in  the  livery  business,  in 
Elkhart;  James,  single,  at  home:  Jennie, 
also  at  home;  Edward,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  two  and  one-half  years;  and  ^^'aller  and 
Lauretta,  at  home. 


Shortlv  after  his  marriage,  I\Ir.  Lee  set- 
tled in  ^lenard  county,  where  he  lived  in 
different  places  until  he  decided  to  move 
to  Logan  C(junty,  where  many  friends 
and  accjuaintances  were  already  lo- 
cated. On  February  24,  1890,  he  located 
on  a  tine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  valuable  land,  on  section  5,  Elk- 
hart township,  Logan  county,  and  since  that 
time  he  lias  been  actively  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  locality,  and 
he  has  also  Ijeen  successful  in  the  raising  of 
line  stock. 

:Many  political  otfices  have  been  offered 
to  Mr.  Lee  and  he  has  been  urged  to  be- 
come a  candidate  on  many  occasions,  but  he 
has  invariably  refused,  although  he  has  been 
active  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party, 
supporting  its  men  and  measures.  He 
came  to  America  with  limited  means,  but 
bv  the  exercise  of  economy,  honesty  and 
energv,  he  has  attained  a  most  honorable 
position  in  the  county,  and  has  reared  a 
family  w  hich  in  every  way  does  him  credit. 
Both  he  and  family  belong  to  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  church. 


JACOB  STARR. 


Jacob  Starr,  now  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  prosperous  farmers  of  Mount  Pulaski 
township,  who  came  from  Germany  to  the 
new  world  to  try  his  fortune  and  found  here 
the  op])ortunity  he  sought.  His  unremit- 
ting labor  and  capable  management  enabled 
him  to  oxercome  obstacles  and  to  achieve  a 
fair  measure  of  prosperity. 

!Mr.  Starr  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germanv,  April  9,  18x3,  and  died  ]\Iarch  3, 
.18.S-I,  when  alxiut  sixtv-nine  vears  of  age. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


549 


His  cliildh(x)d  and  youth  were  spent  in  the 
fatherland  and  his  education  there  gained. 
It  was  in  1844  that  he  crossed  the  Atlantic 
lo  the  new  world,  landing-  in  Ualtiniort-, 
^Maryland,  whence  he  made  his  way  h>  \':,u- 
dalia,  Illinois,  coming  thence  to  Logan  coun- 
ty in  1846.  He  enlisted  at  Mount  Pulaski 
and  served  through  the  Mexican  war.  Re- 
turning to  Mount  Pulaski  he  took  up  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  a  soldier's  calim. 
He  had  but  little  capital  and  went  in  del.it 
for  the  farm  implements  which  he  purchased, 
but  labor  brings  its  reward  and  his  efforts  at 
length  enabled  him  to  discharge  his  financial 
obligation  u[)on  the  place  and  also  to  ex- 
tend its  boundaries  by  additional  purchase 
until  he  was  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres, 
constituting  a  very  valuable  tract.  He 
raised  large  corn  crops  and  these  he  fed  to 
his  hogs  and  cattle  upon  which  he  realized 
a  good  profit  when  placed  upon  the  market. 
As  his  financial  resources  increased  he  in- 
vested his  money  judiciously  and  made  ex- 
cellent improvements  upon  his  farm,  erect- 
ing a  good  residence  and  substantial  barns, 
sheds  and  all  the  necessan,-  outbuildings. 
His  farm  became  one  of  the  best  impro\ed 
in  the  neighborhood.  In  all  his  business 
transactions  he  was  honest  and  thus  won  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  those  with  whiiui 
he  was  associated. 

After  his  return  from  the  r\Iexican  war. 
Mr.  Starr  married  Miss  Carolina  Erlenbosh, 
who  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
and  died  in  1853,  leaving  two  children: 
Henry,  now  a  farmer  of  Kansas:  and  Mrs. 
Katherine  \\'agner,  a  widow  living  in  Ne- 
braska. Mr.  Starr  was  again  married  Jan- 
uary 18,  1855,  iiis  second  union  being  with 
^Miss  Katherina  \\'einrich,  who  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  October  4,  1831.  In 
1854  she  came  to  the  L'nited  States,  landing 
in   Baltimore,   whence    she    came   direct   to 


Logan  county,  Illinois.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Starr  began  farming  in  Mount  Pulaski 
township.  After  some  years  he  sokl  his 
first  place  i>f  eighty  acres  and  bought  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  the  same  town- 
ship. A  few  months  previous  to  his  death 
Mr.  Starr  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  ten  acres  in  Broadwell  township,  but  this 
was  not  paid  for  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
Mrs.  Starr,  a  lady  of  most  excellent  busi- 
ness at)ility  and  executive  force  took  up  the 
task  of  not  only  caring  for  and  educating 
their  children,  but  also  of  clearing  the  new 
farm  of  the  mortgage  and  as  the  result  of 
her  capable  management  and  her  well  di- 
rected labors  the  farm  has  been  made  to  pay 
for  itself  and  is  now  free  from  all  incum- 
brance. 

Nine  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Starr,  five  daughters  and  four  sons, 
namely:  George  S..  a  farmer;  John,  a 
farmer  of  Mount  Pulaski ;  Frederick,  in 
saloon  business  in  Mount  Pulaski ;  Solomon, 
also  a  farmer;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Meister,  a  farmer;  Christena  and  Ann,  at 
home;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Gro- 
ber.  of  Mount  Pulaski ;  and  Lena,  the  wife 
of  John  Spitl_\',  a  brick  mason  of  Mount 
Pulaski. 

]\Irs.  Starr  is  an  acceptalile  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Second  Lutheran 
church.  After  paying  for  the  farm  she  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Mount  Pulaski, 
where  she  owns  and  occupies,  with  her  son 
George,  a  good  substantial  frame  residence. 
In  the  summer  of  1901  Mrs.  Starr,  with  her 
SI  11  John,  liurchased  a  fine  farm  in  Mount 
Pulaski  township  for  which  they  paid  seven- 
teen thousand  dollars.  Mrs.  Starr  super- 
intends all  the  business  interests  of  the  es- 
tate and  not  until  after  her  death  will  the 
pro])erty  be  divided,  when  it  will  go  in  e(|ual 
shares  to  the  children.        She  speaks  both 


S50 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


German  and  English  and  can  transact  busi- 
ness affairs  in  either  language.  She  is  an 
excellent  financier,  sagacious  and  farsighted, 
and  her  judgment  is  rarely  at  fault.  She 
has  accomplished  much  since  her  husband's 
death  and  Isefore  that  time  the}'  worked  to- 
gether, she  being  his  advisor  and  counselor 
in  all  things.  Like  him  she  enjoys  the 
high  regard  of  many  friends,  the  name  nf 
Starr  being  a  respected  and  honored  one  in 
Logan  county  from  the  time  Jacob  Starr 
took  up  his  abode  here  in  1846. 


CHARLES  B.  TAYLOR,  M  D. 

The  skill  of  Dr.  Charles  B.  Tayl<ir  as  a 
medical  practitioner  is  by  no  means  confined 
to  Elkhart,  but  is  recognized  and  appreci- 
ated throughout  the  whole  of  Logan  county. 
He  was  born  in  Adair  county.  Kentucky. 
October  13.  1838.  his  parents.  Dr.  J.  G.  and 
Sally  (  Elliott )  Taylor,  being  natives  of  the 
same  state  and  county.  Dr.  J.  G.  Taylor 
had  a  professional  e.\i>erience  covering  more 
than  fifty  years,  carried  on  principally  in  his 
native  state.  However,  in  1872  he  changed 
his  field  (if  eft"(M-t  t<>  Elkhart.  Illinois,  and 
after  practicing  with  much  success  for  eleven 
years,  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  .\ugust,  1889.  His  first 
wife  having  died  in  1861,  he  was  married 
in  1863  to  Carrie  Bright,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
A  Repuljlican  in  politics,  he  was  fraternally 
associated  with  the  ^lasons,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
was  a  thorough  student  of  medicine,  and 
recei\ed  a  large  patronage  wlierever  his  Ic^t 
was  cast,  and  his  many  admirable  traits  of 
character  bound  to  him  the  affection  and 
friendship  of  all  wlio  knew  him  well.  He 
was    the     father    of    five    sons,     viz :    Dr. 


George  O.,  who  married  Augusta  Harpole 
and  resides  in  Chicago,  Illinois;  J.  C,  who 
is  a  druggist  and  merchant  at  Elkhart ; 
Z.  T..  who  married  Dora  Brady  and  is  a 
meml:)er  of  the  firm  of  Z.  T.  Taylor  &  Com- 
pany, and  has  se\en  children,  one  of  whom 
is  Dr.  George  G.  Taylor,  of  Hartsburg,  Illi- 
ncis:  C.  G.,  who  married  Sally  Allen,  has 
three  children,  and  is  a  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  fixing  one-half  of  a  mile  east  of  Elk- 
hart :  and  Charles  B. 

The  education  of  Dr.  Taylor  was  ac- 
(|uired  in  a  subscription  school  conducted 
by  the  Presl)yterian  church  at  Columbia, 
Kentuck}-,  and  at  the  public  schools  in  Elk- 
hart. At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered 
Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  and  later 
graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
the  Unixersity  of  Louisville,  in  1881.  At 
the  time  be  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
])ronfising  pupils  of  the  class.  After  grad- 
uation he  came  chrect  to  Elkhart,  and  now 
has  one  of  the  largest  and  most  lucrative 
practices  of  any  of  the  physicians  in  the 
county.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Medical  Society  and  the  Capital  City  Medi- 
cal Society.  Fraternally  he  is  associated 
with  the  Royal  Court  of  Honor,  of  Elkhart, 
the  Kenwood  Lodge.  No.  545,  Knights  of 
Pvtbias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
the  R(iyal  Arch  Masons.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican. 

On  December  30.  1884.  in  Hurlbut 
township.  Dr.  Taylor  married  Katie  Hun- 
ter, who  was  tern  in  Kentucky  in  August, 
1862,  a  daughter  of  James  A.  and  Harriet 
(Peters)  Hunter,  natives  of  Kentucky. 
The  parents  came  to  Illinois  about  1835  ami 
settled  in  Hurlbut  township,  but  the  father 
(lied  in  Kentucky  in  1895.  The  mother, 
who  died  about  1879  in  Williamsville,  San- 
gamon county,   Illinois,  was  the  mother  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


55" 


five  children :  Mary,  who  was  l)efore  her 
death  the  wife  of  John  M.  Poorman.  of 
WilHamsville:  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of 
James  P.  McConnell,  of  Versailles,  Ken- 
tucky, and  has  one  child:  Katie,  who  is  now 
:\Irs.  C.  B.  Taylor:  W.  A.,  who  is  married, 
has  two  children,  and  lives  in  Leadville. 
Colorado:  Belle,  who  is  the  wife  of  James 
V.  McConnell,  has  four  children,  and  lives 
on  a  farm  in  Kentucky:  and  Harriet  P., 
who  lives  in  Kentucky.  To  Dr.  and  ]\Irs. 
Taylor  has  been  born  one  daughter.  Georgia 
Belle,  whose  natal  day  was  August  14.  1891. 
Dr.  Taylor  has  been  prominent  in  the  affairs 
■of  his  village  and  township,  has  done  active 
work  on  the  board  of  health  and  was  elected 
supervisor  of  Elkhart  township  in  1893.  and, 
while  it  was  a  Democratic  board,  served  on 
the  leading  committees. 


WILLIAAI   W.   WKiGIXTOX. 

.\  prominent  farmer  and  stiDck  raiser  of 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  is  William  W.  W  ig- 
ginton,  who  resides  on  a  large  farm  in  Cor- 
win  township,  where  he  has  gained  a  repu- 
tation for  his  high-grade  cattle.  He  was 
born  in  this  county,  June  i,  1859,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  Wigginton,  of  whom  a  sketch 
is  given  in  another  part  of  this  volume. 
During  his  boyhood  he  attended  school  in 
Fairland  district,  later  in  Mill  Grove  dis- 
trict and  still  later  at  the  Rabbit  Flat  school, 
remaining  at  schotil  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  during  the  winters,  but  work- 
ing on  the  farm  in  the  summers.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  for  still  another  year,  but 
January  25,  1883,  he  was  married  in  Cor- 
win  township  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Richards, 
^vho  was  born  Octol>er  8.  1862,  in  this  town- 
ship.    She  was  a  daughter  of  A.  V.  Rich- 


ards, a  native  of  Ohio,  and  his  wife,  Mary 
J.  Hoffman,  an  native  of  \'irginia. 

In  i860  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richards  were 
married,  in  Illinois,  and  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing here  until  his  death,  .\ugust  18,  1898, 
being  Ituried  in  Lucas  cemetery.  The 
motlier  if  Mrs.  Wigginton  still  resides  on 
the  old  homestead  farm.  In  politics  Mr. 
Richards  was  a  Republican,  and  a  leading 
member  of  the  Methodist  church.  In  their 
family  were  four  daughters  and  three  sonc, 
namely:  Clarissa,  who  married  O.  P. 
Smith,  of  Corwin  township,  and  died  July 
31.  1901:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject :  Louise,  single,  residing  with  her 
mother :  John,  who  married  Lizzie  Stultz 
and  resides  in  Corwin  township :  William, 
who  married  Zella  Beaver  and  resides  in 
Corwin  township ;  Delia,  who  resides  with 
her  mother:  and  Albert,  who  married  Lilly 
Ogilby  and  resides  in  Corwin  township. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wig- 
ginton numljered  three."  and  are  as  follows : 
Floy,  born  August  8.  1884;  Ruth,  born  Oc- 
tober 9,  1888;  and  Gladys,  born  December 
14,  1895.  After  marriage  our  subject  an<l 
wife  settled  down  on  the  farm  on  section  i, 
Corwin  township,  which  he  still  occupies, 
where  he  farms  some  two  hundred  acres  and 
raises  some  of  the  finest  stock  shipped  from 
this  neighborhood.  Mr.  Wigginton  is  a 
progressive,  up-to-date  farmer,  thoroughly 
understanding  agricultural  matters,  using 
modern  machinery  and  keeping  posted  on 
all  matters  pertaining  to  stock. 

In  iwlitics  he  follows  the  example  of  his 
father,  and  votes  and  works  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  while  he  and  his  family  are 
meml)ers  of  the  Methodist  church,  to  which 
he  is  a  liberal  contributor.  Mr.  Wigginton 
is  held  in  high  esteem  in  Logan  county,  of 
which  he  is  a  most  estimable  ami  valued 
citizen. 


552 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


HEXRY   BECKERS. 

Henry  Beckers,  one  of  the  leading-  farm- 
ers of  Logan  coinity,  was  born  in  the  Rhine 
Province  of  Germany,  January  2,  1844,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Marguerite  (  Freesen) 
Beckers.  In  1853  they  emigrated  to  this 
country,  landing  in  Xew  York,  after  a 
stormy  voyage  of  forty-four  days.  They 
at  once  came  west  and  located  in  Cass  coun- 
ty, this  state,  taking  up  their  residence  in 
Beardstown.  where  the  father  went  to  work 
at  whatever  he  could  tind  to  do.  He  pros- 
pered in  his  undertakings,  later  buying  a 
small  farm  near  Beardstown.  on  which  he 
lived  until  two  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  his  farm  in  ^Nlt.  Pulaski  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  May  4.  1870. 

Henry  Beckers  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  and  received  a  good  common 
school  education,  which  was  mos.th'  in  Ger- 
man. He  engaged  in  whatever  he  could 
find  to  do  and  remained  with  his  people  until 
a  man  grown.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  "he  decideil  to  strike  out  in  the  world 
for  himself.  Having  saved  a  portion  of  his 
wages,  he  went  to  Davis  county,  Iowa,  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
After  residing  there  one  year  he  was  mar- 
ried, September  22,  1875,  to  Miss  jMaria 
Oppers,  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  ^nd  con- 
tinued his  residence  in  Iowa  until  1880. 
when  he  sold  his  property  there  and  re- 
turned to  :Mt.  Pulaski,  Illinois.  Here  he 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in 
his  father's  farm,  consisting  of  eighty  acres, 
and  upon  the  place  he  built  a  good  house  and 
barn  and  made  many  other  improvements. 
He  has  added  to  this  property  until  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
on  section  9,  ^It.  Pulaski  township,  all  of 
which  is  well  improved. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beckers 


has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living.  In  order  of  birth 
their  record  is  as  follows :  Maguerite,  who 
is  the  wife  of  John  Ophardt ;  John,  who  has 
taken  up  the  study  of  law  and  is  now  a  stu- 
dent of  one  of  the  leading  law  schools  of 
Chicago:  and  \Mlliam.  who  is  at  home. 

In  politics  our  subject  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  tif  the  Democratic 
jiarty,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
public  favors,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire 
time  to  his  business  interests.  In  religion 
he  was  reared  in  the  German  Reformed 
church,  but  is  now  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  church. 

Mr.  Becker  deserves  a  great  deal  of 
credit  for  the  success  that  he  has  attained,  as 
he  started  r.ut  in  life  with  m^thing  but  a 
tirm  determination  to  succeed,  having  never 
had  the  help  of  friends  or  inheritance. 
What  he  has  made  has,  therefore,  been  ac- 
r.uired  bv  his  own  honestv  and  industrv. 


JOHX  C.   THOMAS. 

Among  the  progressive  farmers  and 
stock  raisers  of  Hurlbut  township,  Logan 
countv,  Illinois,  who  ha\-e  been  largely  in- 
strumental in  the  development  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  is  John  C.  Thomas, 
who  was  liorn  in  Germany.  January  2j, 
1856.  and  is  a  son  of  Christopher  and  Anna 
(Jonas)  Thomas,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
ti\es  of  Germany.  The  parents  were  mar- 
ried in  Germany,  and  there  the  father  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1889.  and  his  wife  died  in  1873. 
Thev  never  left  their  native  land. 

John  C.  Thomas  was  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  namely :  Frederick,  who> 
married  Miss  Bumgort  and  resides  in  Ger- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


55J 


manv:  Susannaji,  who  married  Frederick 
Jilgar  and  resides  in  Germany;  Anna,  who 
is  married  and  resides  in  Germany ;  Anne- 
stena,  who  married  Max  Schirschin  in  Ger- 
many but  came  to  America  in  1 895  and  now 
resides  in  Elkhart  township,  Logan  county. 
llHnois.     The  others  died  in  cliildhood. 

Our  subject  attended  tlie  excellent 
schools  of  Germany  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  when  he  assisted  his  father 
upon  the  farm  for  about  three  years.  He 
then  worked  for  other  parties  as  a  mechanic 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years. 
At  this  time  he  served  for  two  years  in  the 
German  army,  and  after  his  return  home 
worked  for  himself  for  several  years.  About 
this  time  he  decided  that  there  were  more 
opportunities  for  a  young  man  in  .\merica 
than  in  his  native  country,  and  in  1S79  he 
crossed  the  ocean  and  located  at  Lincoln. 
Illinois,  for  the  winter.  In  the  spring  he 
went  to  New  Holland.  Logan  county,  where 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  year.  His 
next  employer  was  Henry  Buck,  who  re- 
siiled  near  Atlanta,  and  our  subject  re- 
mained with  this  man  fur  two  years,  when 
he  married. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Thomas  took 
charge  of  the  farm  owned  by  his  wife,  con- 
sisting of  eighty  acres,  and  siirce  then  has 
made  it  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Logan 
county.  It  is  situated  on  section  13.  Hurl- 
but  townshij).  All  of  tlie  buildings  are  in 
excellent  condition,  the  barn  is  large  and  the 
house  comfortable  and  fitted  with  modern 
conveniences.  The  fences  are  well  kept  up 
and  the  entire  place  shows  that  the  man  at 
the  head  is  a  thorough  farmer,  who  under- 
stands all  the  details  of  his  occupation.  Mr. 
Thomas  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  high- 
grade  cattle  for  the  market,  and  his  product 
finds  a  ready  sale. 

Mr.    Thomas    was    married    March    2, 


1886,  in  Logan  county,  to  !Mary  K.  Kastens, 
who  was  born  in  Germany,  Sq>tember  29, 
1853,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna 
K.  (Smell)  Schneider,  also  natives  of  Ger- 
many, where  they  were  married  and  where 
the  father  followed  the  calling  of  a  fanner. 
They  came  to  America  in  1883  on  a  steam 
vessel  and  landed  in  Xew  York.  From  that 
city  they  went  to  ^Menard  countw  Illinois, 
where  they  settled  on  a  rented  farm.  There 
they  resided,  engaged  in  farming,  until  the 
death  of  the  father,  which  occurred  May  6. 
1894.  He  is  buried  in  Logan  county,  and 
his  widow  now  resides  with  ^Irs.  Thomas. 

Mrs.  Thomas  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Ja- 
cob, who  is  married  and  is  now  residing  in 
Germany;  Peter,  who  is  married  and  lives 
in  Germany;  Minnie,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Christian  Riebel  and  resides  in  Chalfont, 
Pennsylvania ;  William,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seven  years:  Julius,  who  resides  in  Lin- 
coln, Illinois;  Caroline,  who  married  Will- 
iam Hanner  and  resides  in  Climbing  Hill, 
Iowa ;  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years:  Lewis,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven :  Adolph.  who  married  Isa- 
bella Davis  and  resides  on  the  farm  at 
Lawndale.  Logan  county.  Illinois.  Marv 
K.  Schneider  first  married  Frederick  Kas- 
tens, also  a  native  of  Germany,  at  the  Lu- 
theran church,  Lincoln,  Illinois.  February 
26.  1874.  They  located  on  a  farm  in  Hurl- 
but  township  and  later  moved  to  Menard 
county,  where  ^Ir.  Kastens  died  in  1884, 
leaving  one  child,  of  four  born,  George,  who 
is  still  at  home.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Kastens  his  widow  bought  the  farm  of 
eighty  acres  where  she  still  lives. 

To  Ma  and  Mrs.  Thomas  were  born  the 
following  children :  John  Frederick.  Ixsrn 
on  December  20.  1886:  and  Anna  Maria, 
born  on  June  29.   1889 — two    bright    little 


554 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ones,  the  pride  of  their  parents"  hearts. 
They  ah'eady  give  promise  of  Ijecuniing  ex- 
ceptionally fine  children. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  independent  in  politics, 
believing  it  the  l>est  policy  to  vote  for  the 
best  man  and  for  the  principles  l)est  suited 
to  th*  needs  of  the  people  rather  than  to  con- 
fine his  intluence  to^  any  particular  party. 
The  family  all  attend  the  German  Lutheran 
church  in  Lincdln,  and  are  \-ery  active  in  all 
good  works.  Mr.  Thomas  is  very  popular 
throughout  the  tnwnship,  and  his  pleasant 
home  is  often  a  gathering  place  fur  the 
neighbors  wlm  enjoy  the  hearty  Imspitality 
extended  them  bv  the  host  and  hostess. 


EDWARD  GIBSOX. 

One  of  the  most  responsible  p..sit-ions 
connected  with  the  great  buildings  of  mod- 
ern (lavs  is  that  of  the  engineer,  the  com- 
])licated  macbiner}-  which  n(.w  brings  com- 
fort, combined  with  safety,  requiring  the 
services  of  those  who  have  been  carefully 
trained  in  this  line  of  work.  Particularly  is 
this  the  case  in  the  Home  for  Feelile-iNlinded 
Children,  which  is  located  in  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois, where  are  sheltered  hundreds  of  these 
helpless  wards  of  the  state.  The  capable  in- 
cumbent of  that  office  is  Edward  Gibson, 
who  is  the  subject  of  this  biography,  and 
who  was  appointed  to  this  position  of  re- 
sponsibilitv  bv  the  late  Governor  Tanner, 
and  whose  efficiency  has  been  recognized  by 
a  reappointment  by  the  present  executive. 

The  b.irth  of  :\lr.  Gibson  occurred  in 
Tuscarawas  county.  Ohio,  T>>bruary  5, 
1842,  and  he  is  a  >.on  of  Robcrl  and  Isa- 
bella (Cunningham)  (iibs.m.botb  of  wh..ni 
were  natives  of  Ireland.  Robert  Gil)- 
son  came  of  a  familv  of  influence  and  mean;. 


in  Ireland,  and  was  taught  the  profession  of 
music,  teaching  prior  to  liis  marriage  in  his 
own  country,  and  after  locating  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsyhania.  in  1835,  still  suc- 
cessfully continuing  it.  Later  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1843. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  181 3.  and  came  with  her  husband 
to  America,  in  1835.  .\fter  the  death  of  Mr. 
Gibson  she  married  William  Stewart,  who 
is  a  resident  of  Emporia,  Kansas.  The  two 
^■iiidren  of  her  first  marriage  were:  Mar- 
garet, who  is  the  wife  of  William  Pollock, 
a  farmer  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Emporia, 
Kansas,  and  Edward,  who  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  By  her  second  marriage  she  be- 
came the  mother  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  reside  either  in  Iowa 
or  in  Kansas.  The  death  of  the  mother  oc- 
cnrretl  in  Logan  connt\-,   Illinois,  in   1869. 

Edward  Gibson,  our  subject,  acquired 
his  education  in  Illinois,  coming  to  the  state 
and  locating  in  Pike  count)',  in  1848.  The 
trip  was  made  overland  and  but  one  railroad 
was  crossed  during  the  long  journey  from 
Ohio.  That  was  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  for 
at  that  time  no  improvement  of  this  nature 
bail  reached  Pike  count)-.  There  our  sub- 
ject remained  until  the  outlireak  of  the  Civil 
war.  Until  he  was  fifteen  vears  old  he  lived 
with  his  step-father,  but  after  that  he  man- 
aged his  own  career. 

As  a  farmer  bo)-,  accustomed  only  to  the 
most  peaceful  of  jjiu-suits,  our  subject  en- 
listed as  a  soldier,  in  July,  1861,  entering 
Company  D,  Seventh  Illinois  \'olunteer  In- 
fantry, but  one  year  later  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  This  did  not 
dampen  his  youthful  ardor  or  loyalty  and  in 
lulv,  i8f)2.  he  re-enlisted,  entering  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  Infantry  and 
served  faithfully  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
recei\ing  his  honoral)le  discharge  August  i, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


557 


1S65.  Mr.  Gibson  proved  his  valor  at  Bel- 
mont. Missouri;  Fort  Henry.  Kentucky; 
Fort  Donelson,  Tennessee:  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing and  Shiloh.  After  re-enlisting  he  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  Clarendon. 
Arkansas ;  and  Little  Rock ;  and  did  his  full 
share  in  guard  duty  and  in  the  frequent  and 
often  dangerous  skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 

Returning  from  the  war  safe  and  vic- 
torious, Mr.  Gibson  found  his  first  opening 
for  future  usefulness  in  farming,  although 
his  natural  inclinations  led  him  in  another 
direction.  The  opportunit)-  had  not  yet  come 
for  perfecting  his  knowledge  in  engineering, 
toward  which  his  tastes  h?.d  always  in- 
clined him.  In  1879  he  went  to  Kansas, 
selling  his  farms  in  Oran  and  Aetna  town- 
ships, consisting  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  had  passed 
fourteen  years,  but  the  following  year  he 
secured  a  position  near  Lincoln.  Illinois, 
where  he  ran  a  stationary  engine  until  1892. 
Then  he  accepted  the  position  of  engineer 
and  foreman  of  the  Lincoln  Excelsior  Fac- 
tory, efficiently  performing  the  duties  there 
for  tive  years.  In  1897  he  was  selected  by 
the  late  Governor  Tanner  as  chief  engineer 
for  the  Asylum  for  Feeble-Minded  Chil- 
dren, at  Lincoln,  and  on  June  3,  1901,  he 
\\as  re-appointed  by  Governor  Yates.  This 
is  considered  the  most  responsible  p<:)sition, 
with  one  exception,  in  the  institution. 

Mr.  Gibson  has  been  so  careful  and  at- 
tentive to  his  duties  that  during  his  man- 
agement no  serious  accident  has  ever  oc- 
curred, and  he  keeps  in  his  employ  two 
experienced  assistants  and  a  steamfitter. 

Mr.  Gibs(jn  was  married  in  October, 
1863,  in  Logan  county,  to  Miss  Mary  Fraz- 
ier  Ferguson,  who  was  born  in  Gibson  coun- 
ty. Indiana,  in  August,  1845.  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Emily  O.  ( Knowles ) 
Ferguson,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  the 


same  year  Mrs.  Gibson  was  lx)rn.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  Mrs.  Ferguson  was  to 
Thomas  Perry,  the  child  of  the  first  mar- 
riage lieing  Mrs.  Giljson,  while  two  daugh- 
ters and  four  sons  were  born  to  the  second 
union.  Elizabeth  married  Samuel  Holmes, 
who  lives  at  Beason,  on  a  farm,  and  there 
the  mother  died  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  The  rest  of  the  family  have 
homes  in  Indiana  and  Oklahoma. 

The  education  of  Mrs.  Gibson  was  pur- 
sued in  the  common  schools  of  Indiana  and 
Illinois,  coming  to  the  latter  state  in  i860. 
She  has  long  been  connected  with  the  Meth- 
odist church,  to  which  Mr.  Gibson  gives  a 
liberal  support.  The  family  bom  to  ^Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Gibson  numbered  eight  children,  three 
of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the  survivors  be- 
ing as  follows :  Clarence  R..  who  lives  in 
Lincoln,  engaged  in  farming,  married  Eliza- 
beth Willmert,  who  died  in  1900;  Florence 
E.,  who  married  Herljert  Rockwell,  lives  in 
Lincoln,  with  one  daughter, — Ruth;  Ly- 
man E.  is  a  steamfitter  in  Colorado  Springs, 
Colorado,  and  is  single ;  and  Amy  and  Alma 
reside  at  home.  All  these  children  have 
creditably  passed  through  the  common 
schools  at  Lincoln  and  are  useful  members 
of  society. 

In  his  political  life  Mr.  Gibson  has  al- 
ways upheld  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party  and  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  public  affairs.  He  has  served  a  number  of 
times  as  school  director,  township  clerk  and 
township  collector,  and  in  1890  he  was  ap- 
pointed census  enumerator  of  Sheridan 
township.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  J.  M. 
Scott,  for  judge  of  the  supreme  court,  and 
in  national  affairs  he  voted  for  President 
Lincoln,  in  1864. 

Socially  our  subject  meets  old  comrades 
in  the  Leo  W.  .Myers  Post,  Xo.  182,  G.  A. 
R. :    is   a   member   of   the   Union    \'eterans 


558 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Union,  and  is  also  connected  with  tlie  camp 
of  M.  \V.  A.,  No.  109,  and  has  passed  all 
of  the  chairs.  Mr.  Gibson  has  shown  him- 
self to  be  a  man  of  sterling  business  quali- 
ties, has  filled  public  offices  with  efficiaicy 
and  has  won  the  confidence  of  the  public  in 
such  a  way  that  it  feels  satisfied  that  one  of 
the  greatest  charities  of  the  commonwealth 
will  never  be  neglected  in  his  special  line 
while  he  holds  his  present  position. 


HOX.  JAMES  C.   TAYLOR. 

The  substantial  career  <>f  James  C.  Tay- 
lor, president  of  the  Bank  uf  Elkhart,  has 
lent  solidity  and  strength  to  the  political  and 
commercial  growtli  of  Elkhart,  and  has 
jjlaced  him  among  the  popular  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  the  town.  A  southerner  by 
l:)irth  and  training,  he  was  born  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  May  26,  1850,  and  is  a 
son  of  Dr.  James  G.  and  Sally  (Elliott) 
Taylor,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
ty. For  over  half  a  century  his  father  was 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, most  of  that  time  being  spent  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  in  1872  he  came  to  Illinois,  and 
followed  his  profession  in  Elkhart  for  eleven 
vears.  He  then  returned  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  died  in  August,  1889.  He  was  a 
thorough  student  of  medicine,  and  enjoyed 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice  in  the  com- 
munities where  he  resided.  Politically  he 
was  a  Republican,  and  socially  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order.  He  was  also  a 
consistent  member  of  the  [Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  was  held  in  the  highest  re- 
gard by  all  who  knew  him.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1861,  and  two  years  later  he  wed- 
ded Carrie  Bright,  a  native  of  Ohio.  In 
his  familv    were    five    sons,    namelv;     Dr. 


George  O.,  who  married  Augusta  Harpole 
and  resides  in  Chicago;  James  C,  our  sub- 
ject; Z.  T.,  who  married  Dora  Brady  and  is 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Z.  T.  Taylor  & 
Company,  of  Elkhart;  C.  G..  who  married 
Sallv  Allen  and  is  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
living  a  half  mile  east  of  Elkhart;  and 
Charles  B..  a  physician  of  Elkhart,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. 

Mr.  Taylor,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
in  Kentucky,  and  his  preliminary  education 
was  acquireil  in  the  early  subscription 
schools,  held  in  a  little  log  school-house. 
Between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen  he- 
also  attended  the  high  school  of  Columbia,. 
Kentucky,  and  later  worked  on  a  farm  for 
a  couple  of  years.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he 
came  to  Elkhart,  Illinois,  and  entered  tlie 
employ  of  his  brother,  George  O.  Taylor, 
then  a  druggist  of  that  place.  Two  years- 
later  he  became  a  memlier  of  the  firm,  which 
then  assumed  the  name  of  Taylor  Brothers. 
Subsequently,  when  Z.  T.  was  admitted  to- 
a  partnership  in  the  business,  the  firm  name 
was  changed  to  Z.  T.  Taylor -&  Company,. 
as  it  now  stands.  The  firm  is  now  engaged 
in  general  merchandising,  carrying  a  large 
and  well-selected  stock,  and  in  another  store- 
room deals  in  drugs  and  druggists'  sundries. 
Besides  his  interest  in  this  business  our  sub- 
ject also  owns  some  valuable  farm  land  in 
Elkhart  and  Hurlbut  townships. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  a  Repiiblican  in  national 
politics,  and  bis  influence  is  ever  exerted  for 
the  best  interests  of  his  party.  As  a  poli- 
tician he  is  held  in  high  esteem,  and  his  in- 
tegrity is  never  questioned.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  central  commit- 
tee, school  treasurer,  president  of  the  village 
l.joard  and  super\-isor  of  his  township.  Al- 
though the  county  board  was  Democratic  at 
that  time,  he  was  appointed  on  several  im- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


559' 


portant  committees.  In  1900  his  ability  to 
deal  with  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day 
receivetl  recognition  from  his  fellow  citizens, 
who  elected  him  to  the  state  legislature  from 
the  thirty-second  district,  and  while  a  mem- 
ber of  that  august  body  he  served  on  the  fol- 
lowing committees:  Finance,  pulilic  chari- 
ties, penal  and  reformatory  institutions, 
parks  and  boulevards,  retrenchment,  county 
and  township  organization,  soldiers"  home, 
sanitary  affairs  and  senatorial  apportion- 
ment. He  tcxik  gin  active  part  in  the  sena- 
torial redistricting  or  re-apportinnment. 
using  his  influence  especially  to  have  Lugan 
county  assigned  to  a  Republican  district,  as 
it  had  previously  been  a  Democratic  dis- 
trict for  ten  years,  aiid  his  efforts  met  with 
success.  His  various  oi^cial  duties  have 
l)een  discharged  with  a  promptness  and 
fidelity  w<irthy  uf  the  highest  commenda- 
tion. Mr.  Taylor  is  emphatically  a  man  of 
enterprise,  positive  character,  indomitable 
energy  and  liberal  views,  and  is  thoroughly 
identified  in  feeling  with  the  growth  anil 
prosiierity  of  his  county  and  state.  He  at- 
tends and  supports  the  ^Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Court  of 
Honor  and  Elkhart  Lodge,  Xo.  307,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  of  which  he  is  past  grand. 


PAULUS  HORX. 


Logan  county  is  the  home  of  a  great 
many  prosperous  farmers  who  started  in 
life  with  nothing  but  a  firm  determination 
to  succeed.  To  this  class  belongs  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  heads  this  review.  He 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  on  a  sailing  vessel, 
May  23,  1844,  when  his  people  were  emi- 
grating to  this  country.  He  is  a  son  of 
Henrv  and  T-llizabetli  (  Krausc )  Horn.     On 


reaching  the  shores  of  America  they  landed 
at  Xew  Orleans,  aiul  from  there  came  ui) 
the  Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis,  where 
they  resided  for  about  one  year.  .\t  the  end 
of  that  period  they  came  to  .Mt.  Pula.ski,  Lo- 
gan county,  and  after  a'  short  residence  in 
this  place  the  father  went  to  California  dur- 
ing the  early  days  of  the  gold  excitement 
and  he  engaged  in  mining,  the  family  re- 
maining in  Mt.  Pulaski.  He  also  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  brick  to  quite  an  ex- 
tent in  California,  which  trade  he  had  fol- 
li.wed  most  of  the  time  since  landing  in  this 
country,  although  Ijy  trade  he  was  a  weaver. 
After  some  time  spent  in  the  west  he  re- 
turned to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  buying  land  in  Mt. 
Pulaski  township,  where  he  owned  three 
hundred  and  eighty  acres.  In  his  family 
were  eight  children,  all  of  whom  li\ed  to 
reach  mature  years.  He  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  18S3.  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
_\ears,  and  his  remains  are  interred  in  the 
cemetery  at  Mt.  Pulaski.  His  wife  is  still 
livin.o-  and  makes  her  heme  with  her  daugh- 
ter. Mrs.  Lizzie  Mason. 

Paulus  Horn  received  a  good  cummon 
school  educati(Mi  and  remained  with  his  fa- 
ther until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  when 
lie  enlisted,  in  1S62.  in  Company  B.  One 
Hundred  and  .Sixth  lllincis  X'olunteer  In- 
fantry. .\fter  about  three  mrnths  whicli 
was  spent  in  camp  at  Lincoln,  this  county, 
his  regiment  was  ordered  south  to  Jackson, 
Tennessee.  While  en  route  down  the  Mis- 
sissippi ri\er  they  were  fired  on  by  the  rebels 
and  one  of  their  number  killed.  Several 
times  the  regiment  was  under  hea\v  firing, 
but  was  never  engaged  in  a  ])itche(l  l)attle. 
Mr.  Horn  was  in  the  service  of  his  country 
for  three  years,  and  during  this  time  was 
never  an  inmate  of  a  hospital,  but  contracted 
diarrhea,  fnni  which  he  has  ne\-er  fullv  re- 


•560 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


covered.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  serv- 
ice in  August.  1865,  and  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas. 

After  his  return  from  the  war  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine 
]\Iaus.  a  daughter -of  Conrad  ^Nlaus.  the  cere- 
mony taking  place  in  February.  1866.  She 
was  a  natixe  of  Germany,  and  came  to  this 
country  with  her  parents  when  a  child  and 
was  reared  to  womanhood  in  Logan  count}-. 
Xine  children  blessed  this  union  :  Mary,  who 
Avas  born  August  25.  1867,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  Paulus  Pfau;  John,  born  June  2j. 
1 871:  Lizzie,  born  August  2j.  1873:  Em- 
ma, whi)  was  torn  December  15,  1875.  anil 
married  George  Romer;  Tillie,  who  was 
born  ]\Iarch  i.  1878,  and  is  the  wife  of  John 
England:  Frederic,  born  January  31,  1880; 
Frank,  born  April  13.  1884:  \\'illiam.  born 
Mav  II.  1880;  and  Louis,  born  August  2^. 
1888. 

The  succeeding  three  years  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Horn  engaged  in  farming  on 
liis  father's  farm,  and  the  next  three  years 
were  sjient  on  a  farm  belonging  to  his  father- 
in-law.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  which  is  his  present  home.  To  this 
he  has  added  untd  he  now  has  a  well-im- 
proved and  highly  cultivated  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres,  which  is  located  on  sections 
18  and  19.  Laenna  township.  He  has  made 
all  the  impnn-ements.  including  the  erection 
of  the  buildings,  etc.  The  farm  is  all  well 
tiled,  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township 
Avhere  he  has  so  long  made  his  home. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Horn 
lias  been  a  strong  believer  in  the  Democracy 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  public 
■affairs  of  his  township  and  county.  .\t  the 
present  time  he  is  serving  as  highway  com- 
missioner, which  position  he  held  continu- 
ouslv  for  nine  vears.      He  was  then  out  two 


years  and  then  re-elected,  and  has  continued 
in  the  office  ever  since,  his  last  election  being 
tlie  sixth  time  he  has  been  elected  to  that 
office,  or  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years. 
During  this  time  there  ha\e  been  great  im- 
prtwements  made  and  twehe  new  iron 
jjridges  have  been  erected  m  his  township, 
to  which  he  has  given  his  personal  attention. 
Mr.  Horn  has  made  a  success  of  life,  and 
this  success  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts. 
He  is  in  every  respect  a  self-made  man.  He 
and  his  wife  stand  high  in  the  esteem  of 
their  neighbors,  are  people  of  importance  in 
their  community,  and  no  review  of  the  lives 
of  the  prominent  men  of  the  county  would 
be  complete  without  mention  of  Paulus 
Horn.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  First  Lutheran  church  of  ]Mt.  Pulaski. 


THO^IAS  FEXTOX. 

.\lthough  by  no  means  a  resident  of  long 
standing  in  Xew  Holland,  ^Iv.  Fenton  has 
made  many  warm  friends  in  the  city  of  his 
adoption,  and  occupies  a  prominent  place 
among  the  successful  and  conservative  busi- 
ness men  of  the  place.  While  conducting 
a  large  harness,  saddlery,  buggy  and  car- 
riage enterprise,  he  has  gained  not  only  a 
large  patronage  but  also  the  confidence  of 
the  community  in  general,  who  are  glad  to 
lirofit  by  his  up-to-date  and  irreproachable 
commercial  methods.  A  part  of  the  present 
business  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Fenton  in 
1895  from  yir.  Lenville  for  a  little  over  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  he  has  since  made 
manv  additions  to  his  stock,  and  is  able  to 
supply  all  reasonal)le  demands  in  his  line. 

A  native  of  Shelbyville.  Illinois.  Mr. 
Fenton  was  born  ]\Iay  4,  1865,  and  received 
his  early  training  and  education  in  the  vicin- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


56r 


ity  of  his  birtliplace.  His  father.  Patrick 
J-'ent<in,  was  Ix.rn  in  Ireland,  and  cmit^raled 
ti>  the  L'niteil  States  in  iSdi,  settlini;-  in 
Shelhyville.  lllin.ns.  where  he  fcillcweil  his 
trade  'if  Imildint;'  and  cuntractins',  ennduel- 
ing-  liis  liusiness  do  a  large  scale.  The 
mother  died  April  28.  1900. 

.\s  a  means  df  future  livelilmcd  Thcimas 
Eent.m  turned  his  ynuthful  atlcntidu  to  a 
mastery  df  the  trade  of  jeweler,  and  liecame 
an  expert  in  his  line.  Of  an  active  tempera- 
ment, the  CdHlinement  incident  tn  the  manii)- 
ulation  of  his  trade  soon  began  to  tell  on 
him,  and  he  was  forced  to  abandon  his 
a.spirations  in  that  Hue.  In  18S5  he  l^egau 
to  learn  the  trade  of  harness  maker,  and  has 
since  applied  iiis  knowledge  of  the  same 
with  credit  to  himself  and  with  UK.ist  sub- 
stantial   i)ecuniary    results. 

The  marriage  of  Air.  Fenton  and  Emma 
White,  daughter  of  Jonas  White,  one  of 
New  Holland's  representative  citizens,  was 
solemnized  February  11,  1897.  Mrs.  Fen- 
ton is  a  member  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  contributes  generously  towards 
the  maintenance  of  the  same.  Mr.  Fenton 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  he  is  not  ac- 
tive in  political  matters.  He  is  a  man  df 
pleasing  address,  tact  and  particular  kind- 
ness of  intention,  and  is  esteemed  by  all  whu 
are  privileged  to  know 'him. 


JOHN  C.  WIGGIXTOX,  Jr. 

One  of  the  most  progressive  young 
farmers  of  West  Lincoln  township,  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  is  John  C.  ^\'igginton,  Jr., 
who  was  born  in  this  county,  December  14. 
1865.  His  father  was  John  Wigginton,  a 
sketch  of  whose  life  appears  upon  another 
page  of  this  volume.     During  his  lioyhood 


oiu'  subject  attended  the  common  sciiools  of 
his  district,  and  in  the  fall  of  18S1  entered 
the  uni\ersity  at  Linculn,  but  his  health,  par- 
ticular! \-  his  eyes,  l)ecoming  weak,  he  was 
fdrced  to  give  up  the  close  application  of  the 
schddlr(Kim,  and  returned  tO'  the  homestead 
farm  in  1883,  and  there  remained  until  1887. 
Then  he  acce])ted  a  position  in  a  stdre  Id- 
eated at  lielltldwer.  Illinois,  remaining  there 
for  three  months,  and  during  this  time  he- 
came  acquainted  with  the  lady  who  later 
consented  to  become  Mrs.   Wigginton. 

Mr.  Wigginton  then  embarked  in  busi- 
ness at  P.urtonview,  under  the  firm,  name  of 
J.  C.  Wigginton  &  Company,  and  he  was- 
alsd  appointed  postmaster,  but  he  remained 
there  l)ut  three  months  and  then  sold  to  his 
])ai-tner  and  returned  to  the  homestead  farm, 
where  he   remained   until  January  3,    1889. 

On  January  3,  1889,  ^Ir,  Wigginton 
was  married  to  Miss  Mamie  Hender,  who 
was  born  in  Galesburg,  November  17,  1867,. 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Frank  Hender,  who 
was  born  in  England,  on  St,  Valentine's 
Day.  in  1831.  Mr.  Hender  was  a  sailor  by 
jirofession,  and  after  coming  to  America,  in 
1850,  he  occupied  various  positions  on  the 
water,  both  in  Xew  York  and  on  the  ]\Iis- 
sissippi  river.  As  he  was  skilled  in  the  culi- 
nary art,  he  was  generally  engaged  as  a  cook 
during  these  early  days,  and  for  a  time  acted 
in  that  capacity  on  the  Iron  Mountain  Rail- 
road. Going  then  to  Quincy,  he  worked  in 
the  hardware  business  for  the  lirni  of  Corn- 
stock  Hardware  Company,  and  when  the 
hrm  purchased  a  store  in  (ialeshurg  he 
was  sent  to  take  charge  of  it,  under  the 
name  of  the  I'.ahcock  Hardware  Company. 
Later  Mr.  Hender  bought  this  firm  out  and 
business  was  carried  on  imder  the  firm  name 
of  Hender,  Andrew  &  Comp.any.  The 
business  prospered  under  the  new  manage- 
ment   until   a   fire  destroved    building    ami 


562 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


stock,  and  after  erecting  a  new  building  and 
stocking  it  Mr.  Hender  had  tlie  misfortune 
to  sutYer  from  fire  a  second  time.  Later  he 
traded  what  was  saved  from  the  fires  to  a 
merchant  in  BeHfiower,  ^McLean  county,  for 
a  farm  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  later  adding  to  it  until  he  owned  three 
hundred  acres.  Upon  this  land  he  lived  un- 
til the  time  of  his  death,  December  17,  1895. 
In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  was  devoted  in  his 
adherence  to  the  Episcopal  church.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Wigginton  still  survives,  and 
lives  with  her  two  sons  on  the  old  homestead 
farm. 

Mrs.  ^^"igginton  was  one  in  a  family  of 
five  children  born  to  her  parents,  these  being 
as  follows:  Frank,  who  married  Sarah 
""A'arren  and  resides  on  the  homestead  farm ; 
Albert  I\I.,  single,  who  resides  with  his 
mother  and  is  engaged  in  extensive  farming, 
the  firm  being  known  as  the  Hender 
Brothers;  Lula,  who  is  the  wife  of  George 
Howe,  a  farmer  in  Mansfield,  Piatt  county : 
]\Iamie,  who  is  the  \\-ife  of  onr  subject ;  and 
Rose  Gertrude,  who  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Howe,  who  resides  in  Piatt  county,  near 
^lansfield.  The  children  born  to  Air.  and 
l\Irs.  \\'igginton  number  three,  and  are  as 
follows:  Mable,  born  March  i,  1890;  Al- 
bert IL,  born  March  23,  1892;  and  Irene, 
born  October  7,  1896,  all  bright,  intelligent 
and  attractive  children. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  ]Mr. 
AMggintcn  settled  in  Sheridan  township,  on 
a  part  of  the  old  iKmiestead  farm,  and  for 
twelve  years  that  was  the  pleasant  family 
home,  but  at  that  time  he  had  an  opportunity 
to  secure  his  present  most  desirable  and  val- 
uable farm,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  acres  in  West  Lincoln  town- 
ship. His  beautiful  residence  is  located  on 
a  high  knoll,   overlooking -the  surrounding 


country,  and  all  of  his  buildings  are  in  the 
state  of  improvement  which  tells  that  the 
owner  takes  a  personal  pride  in  his  sur- 
roundings. Here  Mr.  Wigginton  raises 
great  numbers  of  high-grade  stock  for  mar- 
ket purposes,  and  has  established  a  reputa- 
tion in  this  line.  In  politics  he  has  been 
an  active  Republican,  was  census  enumera- 
tor for  1900  and  for  a  number  of  years  has 
been  a  school  director.  He  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  Lucas  cemeterj^,  one  of  the 
oldest  and  largest  in  the  county,  and  since 
its  incorporation  has  been  its  secretary. 


TOHX  BREST. 


Though  at  present  living  a  retired  life  in 
Elkhart.  Illinois,  ]\[r.  Brest  has  contributed 
his  share  toward  de\eloping  the  agricultural 
resources  of  Illinois,  and  he  is  entitled  to 
the  competence  which  has  followed  in  the 
wake  of  his  labors  and  to  the  sincere  respect 
which  his  life  inspires  in  the  hearts  of  all 
who  are  fortunate  enough  to  know  him.  Of 
German  ancestry,  he  was  born  on  the  his- 
toric Rhine,  December  19,  1819,  and  was 
educated  and  reared  in  his  native  land.  His 
parents.  John  and  Christine  (Runk)  Brest, 
were  also  natives  of  Germany,  where  they 
were  married  and  where  seven  of  their  chil- 
dren were  born.  On  May  10,  1834,  the 
father  and  two  sons  embarked  at  Havre  on 
a  sailing  vessel,  and  after  thirty-five  days 
landed  in  Xew  York  City,  the  mother  and 
five  children  coming  to  America  the  follow- 
ing year.  The  father  located  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  for  three  }-ears  was  engaged  at 
various  occupations,  afterward  removing  to 
Pike  county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming,  owning  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land.     His  first  wife  died  in  1843, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


563 


and  in  1847  he  married  Lizzie  Sides,  who 
hved  until  1871.  lier  husliand  liaving-  pre- 
deceased her  in  i8()6.  Jc.hn  I'.rest.  Sr..  was 
an  industrious,  liard-working  man,  and  was 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
In  early  life  he  affiliated  with  the  Lutheran 
church,  but  later  became  associated  with 
that  of  the  United  Brethren.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat.  The  children  born  of  his 
first  marriage  were :  Lawrence,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Stover,  and  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased, lived  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  and 
reared  a  family  of  six  children ;  John  is  the 
next  of  the  family ;  Lena,  who,  with  her  hus- 
band, John  Ropes,  is  also  deceased,  lived  in 
Ohio  and  had  four  children ;  Henry  lives  in 
Ohio;  Phoebe  is  also  deceased,  as  is  her  hus- 
band, George  Geese;  ^Mary  is  the  widow  of 
FredCottonbroak  and  lives  in  Ohio:  Chris- 
topher, who  married  Miss  Teavault,  now 
deceased,  is  now  living  with  his  third  wife 
in  Pike  county,  Ohio ;  and  two  children  died 
in  infancy.  Through  his  second  marriage 
John  Brest,  Sr.,  became  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  Conrad  married  ^Mary 
Frv,  and  later  Minerva  Birdick,  and  lives  in 
Logan  county;  Peter  lives  in  Nebraska  and 
is  married  to  Mary  Douce :  Jacob,  who  lived 
in  Ohio,  was  married,  and  is  mnv  deceased; 
Phoebe;  and  a  babe  died  in  chiklhood. 

John  Brest  came  to  America  with  his 
mother  in  1835,  at  which  time  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age.  In  his  native  land  he  had 
acquired  a  fair  common  school  education, 
but,  of  course,  knew  nothing  about  the  En- 
glish language,  and  had  to  pick  it  up  as  best 
he  could  while  working  for  his  daily  bread. 
He  was  at  first  employed  at  digging  canals 
for  about  a  year,  and  then  went  to  work  on 
a  farm  for  thirteen  dollars  a  month.  At  the 
end  of  four  years  he  returned  to  the  public 
employment  on  the  canals,  and  after  two 
vears  of  this  returned    to    his    home    and 


worked  on  a  farm  for  about  fi\e  years,  dur- 
ing thai  time  being  emploNCil  by  one  man. 
On  April  1.  1843.  he  married,  in  Pike 
count}'.  Ohio.  Lucy  Marshall,  who  was  Ixjrn 
in  Ohio.  March  19,  iSjd,  a  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Sarah  Ann  Marshall,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  was  a  native  of  England. 
The  parents  were  married  in  Meigs  county, 
Ohio,  and  later  removed  to  Jackson  county, 
where  the  father,  who  was  a  minister  of 
the  Universalist  church,  died.  To  himself 
and  wife  were  burn  the  following  children: 
Elizabedi,  the  widow  of  Jacob  Hoover,  has 
three  children  and  lives  in  W'atseka,  Illinois; 
Joshua,  deceased,  married  Lucinda  Throat- 
martin,  now  living  in  Ross  county  with  her 
four  children;  Lucy  was  the  wife  of  John 
Brest :  John  lived  in  Ohio  and  is  now  de- 
ceased;  Richard,  with  his  wife,  Lucinda 
Throatmartin,  is  deceased;  Sarah  married 
C.  S.  Stratton  and  lived  in  Salem,  Illinois, 
and  both  are  dead ;  Lizzie  is  deceased ;  and 
two  infants  are  dead. 

After  his  marriage  ;Mr.  Brest  engaged  in 
farming  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1855 
came  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and 
benight  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  upon  which 
he  lived  for  fifteen  years.  Eventually  he 
sold  this  property  and  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six  acres  of  land  in  Elkhart 
township,  which  he  improved,  and  built  a 
residence  and  barns  and  fitted  up  with  all 
modern  conveniences.  In  1883  his  life  was 
saddened  by  the  loss  of  his  wife,  July  i<),  and 
two  years  later  he  retired  from  active  life 
and  bought  a  comfortable  home  in  Elkhart. 
This  lunue  is  cared  for  by  his  adopted 
daughter,  Grace  Plummer.  Mr.  Brest  has 
been  prominent  in  Republican  political  mat- 
ters, and  has  served  as  school  director  and 
highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  meml)er  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brest  were  born  ten  children :    George,  born 


564 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


January  i,  1846,  died  Jannan-  17,  1846; 
Christine,  born  April  21.  1847.  married 
Peter  Reimers.  has  nine  children  and  li\-es 
at  Lake  Park,  Dickinson  county,  Iowa;  an 
infant,  born  December  9,  1847.  <Ji^"J  ^'""^ 
next  day:  Phoebe,  born  July  3.  1852,  mar- 
ried Julius  Schueler,  had  five  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living,  and  lives  at  Elkhart, 
Illinois;  Lucy,  born  March  15,  1854,  died 
February  7,  1872;  Jerusha,  born  June  17, 
1856,  married  Louis  Plunil)er.  had  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  lixing,  and  died  at 
her  home  in  Elkhart,  Illinois,  February  24, 
1891;  Mary,  born  October  7,  1858,  died 
January  21,  i860;  an  infant  son,  born  De- 
cember 18,  i860,  died  the  following  day; 
Henry  F.,  born  August  20,  1862,  married 
Hettie  Burdick,  has  three  living  children 
and  lives  at  Elkhart:  and  John  J.,  born 
March  28,  1869,  married  Susie  Simons,  has 
two  children  and  lives  on  a  farm  near  Elk- 
hart. 


THOMAS  L.  SXOOK. 

This  well-to-do  and  successful  agricult- 
urist of  Atlanta  township,  was  born  in 
I,ogan  county,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1867, 
and  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  thirteen 
children,  whose  parents  were  John  A.  and 
Allsha  (Hendrickson)  Snook.  The  father 
was  torn  in  Maryland,  March  11,  1820,  and 
as  his  parents  died  when  he  \\as  a  mere  bo}-, 
he  was  reared  by  strangers  until  old  enough 
to  follow  the  plow,  when  he  commenced 
earning  his  own  livelihood  as  a  farm  hand. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  distilling  busi- 
ness, but  devoted  his  attention  mainly  to 
farming,  becoming  cjuite  an  extensive  and 
successful  agriculturist.  He  was  purely  a 
self-made  man  and  the  prosperity  that  at- 
tended his  effort  was  certainlv  well  deserved. 


Coming  to  Illinois  in  1864.  he  settled  in  JMc- 
Lean  county,  hut  s|)ent  his  last  years  in 
Logan  count}-,  where  he  died  July  20,  1906, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife  passed  away  August  7,  1890.  In 
their  family  were  the  following-  children: 
Henry,  who  was  born  July  lO,  1841,  and 
died  January  14,  1842  ;  George  W.,  who  was 
born  October  21,  1843,  ^"^^  ^^^^  September 
16,  1890:  ?\Iary  E.,  born  March  12,  1845; 
Hulda.  who  was  born  August  16.  1846,  and 
died  September  16,  1847;  ^ancy  J.,  born 
Sejjtember  8.  1848;  Esther  V.,  born  ]\Iarch 
31.  185 1 ;  Sarepta  A.,  born  April  4,  1853, 
and  died  April  21,  1854;  Maranda  V.,  born 
July  9.  1855;  Joseph  A.,  born  August  16, 
1857;  Phebe  A.,  born  January  31,  1859; 
Ida  B.  L.  V.  \'..  who  was  born  July  i,  1863, 
and  dietl  Xo\ember  15.  1881,  and  Thomas 
L.,  born  October  8,  1867. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Thomas 
L.  Snook  pursued  his  studies  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  aided  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  which  con- 
sists of  two  hundred  acres  of  choice  land. 
There  is  a  nice  mmlern  residence  upon  the 
]ilace,  and  it  is  up-to-date  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments, being  «.)ne  of  the  model  farms  of  the 
community.  Having  received  a  good  prac- 
tical education  our  subject  commenced  life 
for  himself  as  a  farmer,  and  has  since  en- 
gaged in  that  occupation  with  most  gratify- 
ing results. 

I\Ir.  Snook  was  married.  February  12, 
1893,  to  }*liss  :\Iary  A.  }^Iurphy.  Her  fa- 
ther. Daniel  Murphy,  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  was  a  young  man  when  he  came 
to  the  Ignited  States.  He  landed  in  New 
York,  and  from  there  came  to  Illinois,  final- 
ly locating  in  Atlanta,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1888.  In  religion  he  was  a  devout  Catholic 
and  reared  his   familv  in  that   faith.     His 


LIBRARV 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITV  OF  ILLINOIS 


JOHN  A.   SNOOK. 


MRS.  JOHN  A.   SNOOK. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINO! 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


569 


wife,  wild  l)ore  tlie  maiden  name  of  Rosa 
iMtzgerald.  is  spemlins^-  lier  declining  days 
in  Atlanta.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Snook  have  fonr 
children,  wiiose  names  and  dales  of  birth 
are  as  follows:  Rose  A.,  December  25, 
1893:  William  T..  .\pril  4.  1896;  Mary  .\.. 
jannary  19.  1898:  and  Elizabeth  L.,  July 
-'4.   1899. 

In  his  political  views  unr  subject  is  a 
stalwart  Democrat.  He  is  identified  with 
the  Indejjendent  Order  of  Odd  Eellow  s  and 
the  ^lutual  Aid  Society.  His  farm,  which 
is  located  on  section  24  and  2-,.  Atlanta 
township,  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  places 
of  the  locality,  and  its  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance testifies  to  the  careful  snpervision 
of  the  owner,  who  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  thorough  and  skillful  farmers  of  his 
conimimity. 

WILLIAM   R.   LEACH. 

William  R.  Leach,  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Elkhart  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  Illinois,  resides  on  sec- 
tion 31.  He  was  born  in  this  county,  July 
3,  1866,  and  is  the  son  of  Adiniram  and 
Mary  E.  (Ross)  Leach.  The  father  was 
born  in  New  York  state  and  his  wife  in 
Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Sangamon 
county.  Illinois,  and  there  the  father  en- 
gaged in  school  teaching.  He  purchased 
four  hundred  and  se\enty-eight  acres  of 
land  in  Logan  county,  where  he  was  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  sheep  raising  up 
the  time  of  his  death,  wliich  occurred  in 
1866.  The  mother  is  still  living,  making 
her  home  with  our  subject.  Two  children 
were  Iwrn  to  these  parents,  as  follows: 
]\liles  A.,  who  married  ]\Iiss  Mollie  Hack- 
ett,  of  Kentucky,  and  now  resides  in  Corn- 
land,  Illinois,  where  he  is  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness: and  William  R.,  our  subject. 


William  R.  Leach  attended  first  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Logan  county  until  he  was 
twelve  years  of  age  anil  then  the  Lincoln 
liigh  school  and  later  went  to  the  Lincoln 
L'niversity,  finisliing  his  education,  how- 
ever, at  the  Illinois  State  L'niversity  at 
Champaign,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  hav- 
ing taken  the  short  agricultural  course  to 
))repare  himself  for  farming. 

Returning  home,  Mr.  Leach  began  busi- 
ness life  by  engaging  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  and  after  his  marriage  he  took 
up  his  residence  uix>n  the  farm  he  now  occu- 
l)ies  on  section  30,  Elkhart  township,  al- 
though he  also  owns  considerable  projierty 
in  other  portions  of  the  country :  in  all,  own- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Logan 
comity  in  addition  to  his  share  of  his  fa- 
ther's estate  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
acres,  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  in  Kan- 
sas, and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Da- 
kota. On  his  home  farm  he  has  a  large,, 
modern  residence  and  a  fine  training  barn, 
and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  training  high- 
grade  harness  and  saddle  horses,  for  which 
he  has  natural  ability.  In  order  to  carry 
out  his  ideas  with  regard  to  such  matters, 
Mr.  Leach  has  a  well-equipped  barn  and  ex- 
cellent track,  and  also  breeds  standard-bred 
liorses  and  high-grade  shorthorn  cattle, 
and  he  also  feeds  a  great  many  cattle.  His 
harness  horse  "John  Hackett"  took  a  goh\ 
medal  at  the  state  fair,  and  his  horse  "King- 
Rex"  has  taken  a  great  many  premiums. 
11  Me  had  a  three-year-old  record  of  2:2c)'/.. 
liis  horse  "Ulake."  2:13 '4.  is  n<;\v  being 
trained  for  the  track,  and  is  one  of  the  high- 
est bred  hor.ses  in  the  state.  Mr.  Leach  is 
also  the  owner  of  other  good  stock  besides 
those  enumerated. 

On  January  14,  1891,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Minnie  1'..  McClelland,  a  daughter  of 
Robert    and    .\nnie    (Groves)    McClelland. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  ceremony  being  performed  at  tlie  resi- 
dence of  the  bride  in  Sangamon  cmmty,  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  IMcClelland  and  liis  wife  were 
both  natives  of  that  county,  were  married 
there  and  lived  in  that  locality  for  a  number 
(if  years.  They  then  removed  tn  Chicagn, 
but  after  three  years  came  to  Lincoln,  where 
they  now  reside.  'Mr.  ^McClelland  is  also 
engaged  in  horse  training.  He  and  his  wife 
have  two  children,  as  follows  :  Minnie,  wife 
of  our  subject;  and  Jacob,  who  resides  in 
Chicago  and  is  a  bookkeeper  for  the  Armour 
Packing  Company. 

Mrs.  Leach  was  born  in  Sangamon 
county,  September  15,  187-',  and  by  her 
marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  four 
children,  namely:  IMabel,  born  on  March 
6.  i8q3;  Annie,  born  on  July  2,  1894;  Nor- 
\al,  born  on  May  3,  1896;  and  }^Iinnie.  born 
on  November  16,  1898.  Mi:  Leach  is  a  Re- 
])nl)lican  in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  Elk- 
luirt  Camp  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. He  attends  the  Cumberland  Pre.sby- 
lerian  church,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  very 
highlv  respected  in  the  locality  where  they 
make  their  home. 


HEXRV  GOBLL^I.W. 

This  well-known  and  prominent  Inisiness 
man  of  Chestnut  was  born  in  Jackson  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  on  the  20th  ol  March,  1853.  Hi-; 
father,  Valentine  Gobelman,  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1812,  and  in  that  country  grew 
to  manhood  and  married  ^liss  ]'.;irliara 
Spohn.  also  a  native  of  the  fatherland.  In 
their  family  were  the  following  children: 
Barbara,  wife  of  Louis  Ropp.  of  Jackson 
ccjuntv,  Ohio;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Levi 
Scherenlierger.  of  Pike  county,  Ohiti:  Kath- 
erine.  who  is  li^•ing  at  the  old  home  in  Jacl-:- 


son  county,  that  state;  Phoebe,  widow  of 
John  Wambaugh,  who  died  in  that  county  in 
1870:  Valentine,  also  a  resident  of  Jackson 
ci>untv,  ()hi(  :  Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Frick, 
of  Pike  county,  Ohio;  and  I'hilip,  who  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead. 

The  early  life  of  Henry  Gobelman  was 
like  that  of  the  average  farmer  boy  reared 
in  Ohi(X  He  attended  the  district  schools 
as  opportunity  permitted  and  early  became 
familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits.  Leav- 
ing home  in  March,  1877.  he  came  to  Chest- 
nut. Illinois,  where  he  was  variously  em- 
ployetl  for  some  time.  At  first  he  engaged 
in  farming  upon  rented  land  and  then  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  eight  acres,  which 
he  improved  and  tilled  to  excellent  advan- 
tage, but  he  has  fonnd  mercantile  pursuiis 
more  to  his  liking,  and  judging  from  his 
success  it  is  the  occupation  for  which  he  is 
best  littetl.  In  1887  he  embarked  in  general 
merchandising  in  partnership  with  \\'illiam 
McMahon,  who  ten  months  later  sold  out  to 
our  sul>jecfs  present  partner,  William 
Bapst,  and  the  business  has  since  been  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  name  of  Gobelman  & 
Bapst.  They  have  a  good  store  which  is 
well  stocked  with  hardware  and  general 
merchandise,  and  the  patrons  of  this  well 
kept  establishment  receive  the  most  court- 
eous and  kindly  attention.  Besides  his 
liusiness  property  and  a  good  residence  in 
Chestnut  Mr.  Gobelman  still  owns  the  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  eight  acres  which  he 
purchased  some  years  ago. 

In  ii^JJ  ^Ir.  Gobelman  wedded  ]\Iiss 
^larv  Bapst,  who  was  born  in  Pike  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  educated  in  its  public  schools. 
She  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  six  children. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gobelman  have  eight  children, 
three  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely :  Liz- 
zie, now  the  wife  of  Nute  Lakin.  of  Logan 
countv :   lunma.   Lulu,   William  W.,   Frank 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


571 


L.,  Pansy  and  Tracy,  all  at  home.  The 
family  attend  and  sii])i)on  the  Alethodi-Jt 
Episcopal  church. 

During  President  Cleveland's  tirst  ad- 
ministration Mr.  Gobelman  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Chestnut,  and  on  the  expira- 
tion of  the  term  his  partner  was  given  the 
same  oflSce.  while  our  subject  became  assist- 
ant postmaster,  serving  as  such  during  Pres- 
ident Harrison's  administration.  During 
the  latter  part  of  President  Cleveland's  sec- 
ond term  ^Ir.  Gobelman  was  reappointed 
postmaster  to  fill  an  unexpired  term  of 
eighteen  months  caused  by  the  defalcation 
of  the  former  postmaster.  He  proved  a 
very  competent  and  trustworthy  otificer.  and 
has  always  had  the  entire  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


ASA  R.  ATCHISOX. 

This  energetic  and  progressive  young 
farmer,  whose  home  is  on  the  line  dividing 
Logan  and  McLean  counties,  was  born  in 
the  former  county  on  the  26th  of  June, 
1868,  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one 
of  her  highly  respected  families,  being  a  son 
of  George  W.  and  Mary  A.  (Reece)  Atchi- 
son, whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  He  received  a  good  prac- 
tical education  in  the  country  schools  near 
his  boyhood  home  and  by  assisting  in  the 
operation  of  the  farm  gained  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits,  which 
he  decided  to  make  his  life  work.  He  has 
given  his  attention  exclusively  to  farming 
on  his  own  account,  and  has  met  with  good 
success,  now  operating  a  well  im])ro\ed  and 
highly  cultivated  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  McLean  county  belonging  t(j 
his  father-in-law,  Guv  H.  Tuttle. 


On  the  1 8th  of  February,  1897,  Mr. 
Atchison  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hattie  May  Tuttle,  the  accomplished  daugh- 
ter of  Guy  H.  Tuttle,  who  is  one  of  At- 
lanta township's  most  prosperous  farmers 
and  distinguished  citizens.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child,  Guy.  In  his  po- 
litical affiliations  Mr.  Atchison  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


GEORGE  \V.  ATCHISOX. 

George  W.  Atchison,  deceased,  was  not 
only  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Oran 
township,  l)ut  was  also  a  gallant  defender 
of  the  L'nion  during  the  dark  days  of  die 
Civil  war.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky.  June 
4.  1834,  and  was  a  son  of  Isham  S.  and 
Mary  C.  (Crawford)  Atchison,  who  were 
also  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  state.  His 
paternal  grandparents  came  to  this  country 
from  Scotland  and  first  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Isham  S.  Atchison  was  born  Decem- 
ber 12,  1804,  and  received  a  good  country 
school  education.  As  soon  as  old  enough 
to  handle  a  plow  he  commenced  work  in  the 
fields  and  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  becoming  a  very  successful  and  ex- 
tensive farmer.  He  was  a  capable  financier 
and  a  man  of  excellent  business  and  exec- 
uti\e  ability,  and  through  his  own  well  di- 
rected efforts  became  the  owner  of  o\er  one 
thousand  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  He 
was  noted  for  his  hospitality,  and  at  his 
death  left  a  host  of  friends  as  well  as  rel- 
atives to  mourn  his  loss.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Logan  county.  ha\ing  acc(jm- 
])anied  his  jjarents  on  their  removal  to  this 
liicality  in  1834  and  settled  near  the  city  of 
.\tlanta.  In  early  life  he  wedded  Miss  Mary 
C.  Crawford,  whose  parents.  William  and 
Margaret   Crawford,   were  originallv   from 


572 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Kentuck\-.  Slie  was  born  February  12, 
1805,  and  is  now  deceased.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  namely :  Pauline 
E.,  now  Mrs.  A.  Eskew,  who  resides  in 
Peoria,  Illinois:  John  T.,  David  W.  and 
Charles  \\'.,  all  residents  of  Atlanta  town- 
ship, this  county:  and  George  \\\,  of  this 
review. 

It  was  during-  the  infancy  of  our  sub- 
ject that  the  family  settled  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, and  amid  pioneer  scenes  he  grew  to  man- 
hood upon  his  father's  farm,  receiving  an 
exceptionally  good  education  in  the  country 
schools  of  those  early  days.  He  was  fond  of 
literature  and  was  a  well  read  man.  After 
his  marriage,  at  the  age  df  twenty-three 
years,  he  was  given  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  by  his  father,  who  presented  each  of  his 
children  with  a  farm,  and  to  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  that  place  he  devoted 
his  time  and  energies  until  a  year  prior  to 
his  death,  which  occurred  April  i,  1891. 
He  left  a  nice  estate,  including  ]iroperty  in 
Atlanta,  besides  the  old  homesteatl  in  Oran 
township,  where  his  widow  and  daughter 
still  reside. 

Mr.  .\tchison  was  married,  .\pril  u, 
1837,  ti  Miss  Mary  A.  Reece,  who  was  liorn 
on  a  farm  near  Springfield,  Ohio.  June  jo, 
1 8,^57.  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1840  with  her 
parents,  Sampson  and  Sarah  (Pole}-) 
Reece.  Her  father,  who  was  an  extensive 
farmer  of  the  Buckeye  state,  died  in  1859, 
and  her  mother  departed  this  life  in  1882. 
Unto  ;\lr.  and  iVIrs.  Atchison  were  born  the 
following  children:  Pauline  Ethleen,  the 
oldest,  resides  with  her  mother  in  .At- 
lanta: Winiheld  Scott,  b.orn  November 
30,  185.),  died  Mardi  14,  i88n:  Charles 
Henrw  born  h'eb>ruar\'  21,  1862,  is  li\-ing  on 
the  heme  place  in  Oran  township:  Nellie 
Howe,  born  April  24,  uSfiq,  is  the  wife  of 
G.  W".  Paullin,  of  Atlanta:  Frank  Ross,  born 


June  26,  1868,  died  August  8,  1900;  Asa 
R.,  twin  brother  of  Frank  R.,  is  represented 
on  another  page  of  this  volume :  and  Teedie 
T.,  l:)orn  Februar_\-  3,  1872.  died  August  16, 
1874:  Bertha  Luella,  born  February  9,  1875, 
died  August  28,  1878:  and  Edgar  Judson, 
born  May  6,  1877. 

On  the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war 
]\lr.  Atchison  laid  aside  all  personal  inter- 
ests and  in  June,  1861,  enlisted  in  the  three- 
months'  service.  In  October,  1862,  he  re- 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and' 
Sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantrw  and  Mas 
appointed  corporal  of  the  company,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  until  honorably  dis- 
charged in  February,  1865.  Much  of  his. 
time  was  devoted  to  guard  duty,  and  he  also 
assisted  in  caring  for  the  wounded  soldiers 
as  a  nurse  in  the  hospital.  Later  he  was  an 
honored  member  of  the  Cirantl  Army  of  the- 
Republic,  as  well  as  the  Independent  Order' 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  \\as  a  sincere  and  earn- 
est Christian,  hcvlding  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church.  He  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  best  and  most  influential  citizens  of 
his  community,  and  he  commanded  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact  either  in  business  or  social 
life. 


WILLIAM  BAPST. 

The  substantial  traits  of  character  in- 
herited from  his  (ierman  ancestry  have  been 
(.f  invaluable  benefit  to  Mr.  Bapst  in  the 
prc.secution  of  bis  farming  and  mercantile 
interests.  .\t  present  a  merchant  at  Chest- 
nut, he  has  ;i  fine  business,  and  has  w(jn  the 
C(;nhdcnce  of  the  community  by  his  sterling 
integrity  and  exident  desire  to  please. 

The  _\'onth  of  Mr.  Bapst  was  spent  in 
Pike  countw  ()hio,  from  which  countx'  have 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


573 


come  so  many  good  citizens  of  Illinois. 
His  father.  Louis  Bapst.  was  Ixirn  in  Ger- 
many, near  the  Rliine.  in  Wurtemberg.  and 
came  to  .\merica  in  1S46.  settling  in  Ohio, 
where  he  farmed  and  raised  stock  until  his 
<Ieath.  He  married  Elizabeth  Brust.  who 
was  also  born  in  Germany,  and  came  lo 
America  with  her  parents  when  but  ten  years 
of  age.  Mrs.  Bapst  is  still  living,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four  is  a  bright  and  inter- 
esting lady,  and  devoted  to  her  children. 
She  is  making  her  home  with  her  son  in 
Chillicothe.  Ohio.  Of  the  seven  children 
born  to  her.  all  are  now  living:  Mary,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Gobelman.  of  Chest- 
nut: William:  Lena,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Peter  Lowry.  of  Chillicothe.  Ohio:  Mar- 
garet, who  is  the  wife  of  Phillip  Rothmyer. 
who  lives  near  Bainbridge.  Ross  county. 
Ohio:  Frank  B..  who  lives  in  Chillicothe. 
Ohio:  Lucy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Christ  Rapp. 
of  Pike  county.  Ohio:  and  Adam,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Chillicothe.  Ohio. 

William  Bapst  passed  an  uneventful 
youth  in  Pike  county.  Ohio,  and  attended 
the  public  schools.  He  remained  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  until  1882.  after  which  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  worked  on  a  farm  in  Logan 
county  for  four  years.  Subsequently,  in 
1887.  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness with  his  brother-in-law.  Henry  Gobel- 
man. at  Chestnut,  the  partnership  continu- 
ing till  the  present  time. 

In  the  village  of  Chestnut,  in  7892.  Mr. 
Bapst  married  Magdalen  Richner.  who  was 
lx)rn  in  Lcgan  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Christine  Richner,  and  one  of  three  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Bapst  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Logan  county,  whither  her  father 
had  removed  from  Germany,  as  did  also  his 
wife,  who  is  still  living  in  Logan  county. 
Mr.  Richner  died  near  Chestnut.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bapst  have  been  born  four  chil- 


dren, two  of  whom  are  living,  Omar  L.  and 
Ray  M..  while  Fonda  and  Leah  are  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Bapst  is  the  i>ossessor  of  a 
house  and  six  lots  in  Chestnut,  and  the  firm 
owns  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  .\etna 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  while  his  wife  affiliates  with  the  Lu- 
theran church.  He  is  a  Republican  in  pol- 
itics, and  was  postmaster  during  the  admin- 
istration of  President  Harrison.  A  public- 
spirited  citizen,  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  town,  and  numbers  many 
friends  among  the  residents  of  Chestnut. 


WILLIAM  FULSHER. 

A  very  prominent  and  successful  farmer 
of  Logan  county  is  William  Fulsher.  a  Ger- 
man by  birth,  but  now  an  American  citizen. 
He  was  born  June  21.  1844,  and  is  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Hannah  ( Strobach )  Fulsher, 
both  of  them  being  natives  of  Germany, 
where  they  were  married,  not  coming  to 
America  until  1854.  Locating  in  Ohio,  the 
father  engaged  in  carpentering  and  contract- 
ing, and  there  he  died  in  1890.  after  eighty- 
six  years  of  usefulness.  The  mother  is  still 
living  in  Waverly,  Pike  county,  Ohio. 

A  family  of  seven  children  was  born  to 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  he  being  the  third 
in  order  of  birth,  the  others  being  as  fol- 
lows :  Harmon  married  Louisa  C<x)naugh, 
and  resides  in  Petersburg.  Indiana.  Charles, 
a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  enlisted  in  the 
Seventy-third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
serving  through  four  years.  He  was 
wounded  in  fi\e  places  and  died  from  the 
effects  of  the  same  in  1867.  He  married 
Hattie  .-\rnhoIdt.  who  resides  in  Waverly, 
Ohio,  with  one  child.  Ferdinand  married 
Mary  Rhody  first,  and  second  Mary  Baker, 
and   now   lives   in   Corwin   township  on   a 


574 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


farm,  and  has  seven  children.  August  mar- 
ried Mary  Fenster  and  resides  at  \\'a\erly. 
Sophia  married  Levi  Rhody  iirst,  and  sec- 
ond Louis  Anilmldt.  wlio  resides  at  Emden, 
IlHnois.  Annie  is  married  and  resides  in 
Wa\-erly.  Ohio. 

Prior  to  coming-  to  the  United  States  Mr. 
Fulslier  attended  tlie  l3est  of  tiie  common 
schools  in  liis  native  land,  but  he  was  only 
ten  years  of  age,  in  1854.  when  his  fatlier  lo- 
cated in  Ohio.  There  his  hoyhood  and 
young  manhoofl  were  spent,  attending  school 
and  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old.  In  1865  he  came  to  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Middletown,  where  he 
followed  agricidtural  jiursuits. 

Mr.  Fulslier  was  married,  November 
28,  1868,  at  Mil!  Grove,  to  Miss  Basheba 
Bauglian,  who  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  March  13,  1845.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Bearman  and  Basheba  Baughan,  and 
after  the  death  of  the  latter  the  father  mar- 
ried Clara  Baughman.  and  after  her  .death 
he  married  Jane  Vinyard.  By  the  hrst 
union  there  were  born  these  children  :  Les- 
ter, who  married  Jane  Martin,  and  resides 
in  Corwin  township:  Abraham,  who  mar- 
ried Helen  Martin  first,  and  second  h]tta 
Morris  and  resides  in  Lincoln,  Illinois: 
Mercy,  \\-ho  married  Button  Marley,  boih 
now  deceased,  and  li\-ed  in  Logan  count}- : 
Peggy,  who  married  Washington  Grebes, 
both  now  deceased,  and  h\-ed  in  Kansas. 
The  children  of  the  second  marriage  were: 
Louisa  A.,  who  married  Irvine  Bell,  and  re- 
sides in  Aliddletown;  Sarah,  who  married 
Sherman  Pearce,  and  resides  in  Marion 
county,  Kansas;  Basheba,  who  is  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  Solomon,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  si.xteen  years.  Three  children  were 
born  to  the  third  marriage,  as  follows : 
Bodavina,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Robert 


Gallegher,  and  resides  in  Nebraska;  Laur- 
ette,  who  marricil  I'riah  Wendel,  and  re- 
sides in  Corwin  tdwnship;  and  Lizzie,  who 
marrie<l  .Moiizr-  Morris,  and  resides  in  York 
ciiunt)-,  Xeliraska. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fulslier  were:  Emma,  born  h'ebruary  26, 
1 87 1,  married  Herman  Brail,  resides  near 
Mount  Pulaski,  and  has  three  children: 
Elizabeth,  born  October  23,  1872,  married 
George  Beaver,  resides  in  Burt  county,. 
Nebraska,  and  has  six  sons;  William  H., 
born  Februar)'  i,  1874,  married  Minnie 
Steinhour,  resides  in  West  Lincoln  town- 
ship, and  has  one  daughter:  Charles,  born 
Xo\ember  28,  1876,  married  Lauretta 
Booth,  and  resides  in  Burt  county,  Nebras- 
ka;  Lewis,  born  April  27,  1882,  assists  his 
fnther  on  the  farm;  Etfie,  born  November 
18,  1885;  and  Clarence  L.,  born  May  13, 
1888,  are  both  at  home. 

After  his  marn.igc  Mr.  Fulslier  moved 
to  Sheridan  township,  Imt  later  went  to.  what 
is  known  as  Scully's  Prairie,  Ijetween  Harts- 
burg  and  Emden,  Illinois,  and  for  seveu 
years  was  one  of  the  industrious  citizens  of 
thit  locality.  Then  he  moved  into  Corwin 
township,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty-si.x  acres  of  land  in  section  10,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  been  one  of  the  most 
energetic  and  successful  farmers  of  the 
tdwnshi]),  his  comfortable  surroundings  and 
well  cultivated  fields  testifying  to  his  effi- 
ciency as  a  farmer.  When  Mr.  Fulsher 
liought  his  farm  it  was  all  timber  and  was- 
far  removed  from  neighhors.  All  his  trad- 
ing was  done  in  Lincoln.  During  the  inter- 
vening years  he  has  l)een  an  industrious  and 
frugal  man,  has  cleared  the  land  and  put 
it  into  a  fine  state  of  productiveness  and 
richly  deserves  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  neighbors. 

\h\   Fulsher  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  has  been  active  in  party  work,  althougli 
he  has  never  consented  to  hold  any  office 
except  that  of  sdiool  director.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  family  attend  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Lincoln. 


ALBERT  AH  REX  S. 

The  grcKery  and  general  merchandise 
store  conducted  by  Mr.  Ahrens  in  Chestinn 
is  a  distinct  success,  and  has  prDved  a 
source  of  satisfaction  and  revenue  to  its  en- 
terprising manager  and  uwner.  In  catering 
to  the  public  he  uses  discretion  and  good 
judgment,  qualities  appreciated  in  all  de- 
partments of  business  life.  An  Illinoisan 
in  every  sense  of  the  word,  Mr.  Ahrens  was 
born  in  Logan  county  Xovemlier  25.  1869. 
and  is  a  son  of  John  Ahrens,  who  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  the  early  ^^os.  After  set- 
tling in  Logan  county  he  ff>r  a  time  worked 
on  a  farm,  eventually  locating  in  Lincoh.i. 
where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  where  he  still  lives,  now  retired.  He 
married  Dora  Awe.  and  nf  this  union  there 
were  seven  children,  of  whom  onl\-  two  arc 
still  living,  our  subject,  and  William,  now 
a  resident  of  Lincoln.  The  mother  emi- 
grated to  America  from  Germany  about 
i860,  and  of  her  nine  brothers  and  sisters 
all  are  living  in  Logan  county,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  John  Awe.  who  died  in  1901.  in 
Lincoln,  Illinois. 

Albert  Ahrens  was  educated  in  the 
graded  schools  (  f  Lincoln,  and  during  his 
younger  years  also  assisted  his  father  in  iiis 
work  on  the  farm.  When  twenty-six  years 
of  age  he  left  home  and  started  his  present 
business  in  the  village  of  Chestnut  in   De- 


cember, 1896,  having  bought  the  building 
he  now  occupies,  and  here  carries  on  a  suc- 
cessful business.  He  has  seen  considerable 
of  tlu>  world,  having  taken  a  trip  to  Cah- 
fornia  in  1S91,  thinking  that  jxissibly  he 
might  in  the  future  make  that  his  lii>mo. 
However,  he  found  no  inducements  su- 
])erior  to  those  (ffered  in  the  st;ile  of  his 
birth. 

After  returning  to  Illinois  he  married, 
Ik^cember  jg.  189J.  Carrie  Schaffenacker, 
daughter  of  ( ieorge  and  Katherine  Schaf- 
fenacker and  a  sister  of  Louis  Schaffenack- 
er. whose  l>iograpliy  appears  in  this  work. 
She  was  horn  in  Chestnut  in  i8(>8.  and  Is 
line  in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  To  yir. 
and  Mrs.  Ahrens  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, OJga,  who  was  bo.rn  Xovembei"  ('). 
1895,  and  Annie,  who  was  born  October  8. 
1897.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church  at  Chestnut,  of  which  Mr. 
.\hrens  is  the  treasurer. 


EDWIX  C.  PERKIXS. 

Among  the  leading  and  proniincnt  at- 
torneys of  Lincoln  is  Edwin  C.  Perkins,  who 
is  now  serving  as  master  in  chancery.  He 
was  born  in  Braxton  county.  West  Vir- 
ginia. Mav  I.  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  Enoch 
and  Eliza  (Salisbury)  Perkins,  also  natives 
of  that  county.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  .\ndrew  Perkins,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia of  Scotch  descent,  and  his  maternal 
grandfather  was  Thomas  Salisbury,  wh.o 
was  of  German  lineage.  The  latter  was 
connected  with  the  Strong  family,  which 
was  of  Puritan  stock  and  was  represented 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  1865,  at  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war.  Enoch  Perkins  left 
his  old  home  in  West  X'irginia  and  came  to 


576 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Lincoln.  Illinois,  where  he  spent  scane  years, 
but  is  now  li\ino-  a  retired  lite  in  Wymore, 
Nebraska.  His  wife  is  also  living.  By  oc- 
cupation he  w.is  ioimerly  a  farmer. 

yyr.  l\'rkiii>.  of  this  review,  was  only  a 
small  child  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
this  county,  and  in  its  district  schools  he 
acquired  his  primary  education.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  un- 
til eighteen  years  of  age.  in  iSS,:;  he  began 
teaching  school  in  this  county.  an<l  for  si.K 
years  devoted  his  attention  to  that  pursuit 
llirough  the  winter  months,  while  during 
the  summer  season  he  continued  to  engage 
in  farming.  The  following  year  he  took  a 
teacher's  coiu'se  at  the  Indiana  X^irmal 
School.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law 
in  1885,  and  was  admitted  to  the  liar  X.j- 
vember  22.  1889,  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Illinois. 
In  the  s]M-ing  of  the  following  year  he  lo- 
cated in  Lincoln,  and  has  since  successfully 
engaged  in  ])ractice  at  this  place.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
and  ably  filled  that  oitice  for  eight  years.  In 
1 89 1  he  was  elected  city  attorney,  in  which 
capacity  he  ser\ed  two  years,  and  has  been 
master  in  chancery  since  1897. 

On  the  _'8th  of  January,  1891.  My.  Le'-- 
kins  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Josephine  Xiebauhr,  of  Emden,  Logan  coun- 
ty, a  daughter  of  Simon  and  Franciscn 
(Xecum)  Xiebauhr,  and  by  this  union  were 
born  f.iur  children;  :\Iarguerite,  Rollo  R., 
Lionel  S.  and  Helen. 

In  his  iiolitical  \  lews  JMr.  Perkins  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  in  1896  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  central  committee.  He  is 
a  member  of  Lodge  Xo.  J 10.  V.  Sz  .\.  M.: 
Chapter  Xo.  147,  R.  A.  M.:  Constantine 
Commandery,  Xo.  31,  K.  T. :  and  th.e 
Temple  of  the  jMystic  Shrine.  .\s  an  at- 
tornev  he  ranks  among  the  foremost  law- 
Acrs  of  Logan  county,  and  as  a  citizen  he  i.- 


progre.ssive  and  public-spirited,  giving  his 
support  to  all  enterprises  calculated  to  ad- 
\ance  the  general  welfare. 


WILLIAM   XVCUM. 

For  many  years  William  Xycum  was 
acti\-ely  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  Lincoln,  and  Ijy  his  untiring  industry  and 
sound  juilgment  has  won  a  merited  success, 
which  now  enables  him  to  lay  aside  all  busi- 
ness cares  and  spend  his  declining  years  in 
ease  and  retirement.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
upon  a  farm  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, .\pril  _'_',  1825.  His  falher,  John 
Xycum,  was  born  in  the  same  state,  and  was 
a  son  of  Leonard  Xycum,  who  was  of  Ger- 
man descent.  Throughout  life  the  father 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Gains,  who  was  born 
near  the  .Vntietam  river,  in  Maryland,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Charles  Gains. 

During  his  boyhoixl  William  Xycum 
was  only  able  to  attend  school  for  three 
months  during  the  winter  season.  At  an 
early  age  he  commenced  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  continued  to  follow  that 
pursuit'  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his 
active  business  life.  In  1855  he  came  to 
Logan  county.  Illinois,  and  made  his  home 
near  hdkbart,  working  at  his  trade  for  some 
fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Xycum  was  married  in  October, 
\H(<i.  to  Miss  Anna  J.  Stollard,  who  was 
horn  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to 
L.igan  county,  Illinois,  in  1833.  They  have 
one  daughter  living,  the  youngest  of  .'^ix 
children  born  to  them:  Sally  E.,  at  home. 
.\fter  his  marriage  Mr,  Xycum  removed  to 
Lincoln,  in  1862,  where  he  engaged  in  car- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


pentering  and  house  moving,  devoting  liis 
attention  to  tlie  latter  business  iov  about  ten 
years.  He  lias  met  with  excellent  success  in 
all  his  undertakings,  and  is  to-day  the  owner 
of  some  valuable  real  estate,  having  two 
gcKxl  farms  in  Corwin  townshii).  one  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  the  other  of  tw<i 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  also  owns  a 
half  interest  in  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
twentv  acres  in  this  county,  and  has  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Saline  and 
Phelps  counties.  Nebraska,  all  of  which  is 
Avell  improved  and  is  now  rented.  Besides 
this  property  Mr.  Xycum  owns  sixteen  acres 
of  land  subdivided  into  town  lots  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  Lincoln.  Coming  to  tiie 
west  as  he  did.  a  young  man  without  cap- 
ital, he  deserves  great  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess in  life.  He  has  made  the  most  of  his 
opportunities,  and  by  straightforward,  hon- 
orable dealing  has  accumulated  a  handsome 
property.  His  life  illustrates  what  can  be 
accomplished  through  industry,  perse\er- 
ance.  good  management  and  a  determination 
to  succeed.  Although  now  seventy-six  years 
of  age,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty  and  is  able 
to  look  after  Jiis  business  affairs. 


THOMAS  R.  PATTISOX. 

Thomas  R.  Pattison,  who  has  devoted 
his  entire  life  to  the  trade  of  carpentering 
and  is  a  venerable  and  honored  citizen  of 
Chestnut,  was  born  in  Indiana  !March  1 1 , 
1827,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Pattison,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1770,  and  of  Han- 
nah ( Isgrigg)  Pattison,  also  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  1778.  The  parents  were 
married  in  the  Blue  Grass  state  and  lived 
there  until  their  removal  to  Indiana  in  prac- 
tically the  dawn  of  the  nineteenth  century. 


They  reared  to  usefulness  a  family  of  nine 
children,  namely :  Fletcher,  who  died  in 
Mi.ssouri  at  the  age  of  seventy-six;  Daniel, 
who  died  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  at  the 
age  of  si.xty :  \\  illiam,  who  resided  in  Staik 
county,  Illinois,  and  died  when  sixty  years 
of  age;  John,  who  lived  to  be  twenty-six 
years  of  age:  Michael,  who  died  in  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  at  the  age  of  si.xty ;  Mar- 
garet J.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Sample  Lofton, 
and  lives  in  Indianapolis:  Thomas  R. ; 
George,  who  died  in  185 1:  and  Caliph  M., 
who  is  twin  to  George,  and  lives  at  Hil- 
dreth.  Edgar  county.  Illinois. 

Thomas  Pattison  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  Indiana,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  On  July 
10.  1852,  he  took  a  life  partner  in  Lodviska 
Clark,  and  to  them  has  been  born  one  child, 
Alice  C.  who  is  tlie  widow  of  Sylvester 
Myrick.  Mrs.  Myrick  is  the  mother  of  five 
children :  Cora,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Jolin  Downing:  Ezra,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Chestnut :  Bertram,  who  lives  with  his 
mother;  Lucretia.  deceased;  Dane  and  Dean, 
at  home.  Though  seventy-four  years  of  age 
Mr.  Pattison  is  hale  and  hearty,  and  capable 
of  turning  out  a  satisfactory  day's  work. 
He  is  a  conscientious  and  painstaking  me- 
chanic, and  gives  satisfaction  wherever  em- 
ploved.  Many  of  the  early  buildings  in 
Chestnut   and   vicinity   were  built   by   him 

An  additional  credit  to  his  otherwise 
useful  life  is  his  service  during  the  Civil  war, 
he  having  enlisted  first,  in  1861,  in  Company 
H.  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
after  three  months'  service  returned  home 
and  enlisted  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Illinois  \olunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  during  his  first  enlistment  under  Col- 
onel Cook,  of  Springfield,  and  later  under  R. 
B.  Latham.  During  the  march  of  Sherman 
to  the  sea  he  was  in  Arkansas  and  Texas, 


58o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  during  his  entire  service  saw  very  little 
serious  fighting.  In  tlie  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  ]\Ir.  Pattison  went  out  as  a  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  went  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas, 
and  later  was  at  Shrevesport,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Little  Rock.  He  was  with  his 
regiment  in  front  of  Vicksburg  all  through 
that  siege,  after  which  he  was  promoted  to 
first  lieutenant,  and  served  as  such  through 
Arkansas  and  Texas  until,  on  account  of  ill 
liealth.  he  was  forced  to  resign  in  1864. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  Illinois,  where 
he  has  since  lived,  surrdunded  by  many 
friends,  and  the  good  will  of  the  entire  com- 
munitv.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Charles 
^kloore  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Chestnut. 


\\ILLL-\M  RniER^IAX. 

One  of  the  leading  farmers  and  success- 
ful men  of  West  Lincoln  township,  Logan 
county,  is  William  Rimerman.  who  resides 
on  section  29.  He  was  l)orn  in  Llrunswick, 
Germany,  in  1829,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  country.  In  1845 
his  father,  Frederick  Rimerman.  brought  the 
family,  consisting  of  himself,  five  brothers 
and  sisters  and  mother,  to  America. 

Upon  reaching  this  country  the  family 
landed  in  Xew  Orleans,  whence  they  went  lo 
St.  Louis  and  a  few  days  later  to  Mason 
county,  Illinois,  where  they  resided  for  about 
twenty  years.  They  then  removed  to  Logan 
county,  where  the  father  died  in  1880,  aged 
eighty-eight  years.  His  wife  died  about 
twenty-three  years  ago.  At  the  time  of  the 
death  of  the  father  five  of  his  six  children 
were  alive,  but  now  only  \\'i]liam  and 
Adijlph  survi\'e. 

^\'illiam  Rimerman  located  in  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  in  1865,  and  purchased  one 


hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  for  which 
he  paid  twenty-hve  dollars  an  acre.  There 
was  a  house  ujjon  the  farm,  and  he  has  since 
greatly  impro\-ed  the  property  until  nr)w  he 
has  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  West  Lin- 
coln township.  He  has  added  to  it  froni 
time  to  time  and  now  owns  about  fourteen 
hundred  acres. 

In  185 1  Air.  Rimerman  was  married  to 
Miss  "Mary  De\erman  and  they  have  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  name- 
ly :  Frank :  ,\nnie,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Adolph  Schrader,  of  West  Lincoln  town- 
shii):  Herman;  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Kiest,  of  West  Lincoln  township. 
Mr.  Rimerman  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never 
taken  an  acli\e  i>art  in  politics,  although  he 
ser\-e<l  \er\  accc]itably  as  road  commissioner 
for  eighteen  years  and  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  twenty  years.  He  and  his 
familv  are  consistent  members  of  the  St. 
John's  Evangelical  church  of  Lincoln,  and 
always  give  a  liberal  support  to  every  worthy 
enterprise.  Mr.  Rimerman  is  nearly  seventy- 
t\\(i  years  of  age,  and  in  the  township  where 
he  has  made  his  home  for  so  long  he  is 
highly  esteemed,  not  only  as  one  of  the  old- 
est citizens,  but  also  as  a  kind-hearted, 
genial,  hospitable  man  who- has  many  friends- 
( :n  every  side,  and  who  has  earned  his  pres- 
ent enviable  iiosition  bv  his  own  eiTorts. 


SCOTT  lanter:max. 

Scott  Lanterman,  deceased,  was  l;)orn  in 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  April  11,  1848,- 
and  was  a  son  of  Peter  and  Dolly  A. 
(Lightfoot)  Lanterman.  Peter  Lanterman 
was  born  in  Fleming  county,  Kentucky,. 
September  4,  181 7,  and  his  wife  was  born  in 
Adair  countv,  that  state,  Februarv  q,  1820.- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


581 


He  removed  to  Sangamon  county.  Illinois, 
whh  his  parents  and  tliere  he  was  married 
December  6,  1838.  He  followed  tli,e  occupa- 
tion of  farming,  and  in  i860  he  and  his  wife 
came  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  where  ho 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  and  lived  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred October  9,  1876.  His  wife  died  Jar,- 
uary  6.  1883.  To  tliem  were  born  five  chil- 
dren who  grew  to  maturity,  as  ,  follows : 
John  H.  married  Belle  Dunham,  both  now 
deceased,  and  they  resided  in  Elkhart,  Illi- 
nois; Susan  J.  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Yocum. 
and  thev  reside  in  Sangamon  county,  near 
\\'illiamsville,  on  a  farm  :  Scott  was  the  next 
of  the  family ;  Joseph  married  Lizzie  Con- 
stant, both  now  deceased,  and  they  lived  -.a 
Elkhart  township.  Logan  county ;  James  \\'. 
is  married  and  resides  in  \\'etzel,  Michigan. 
The  Lanterman  family  came  originally 
from  England  to  Kentucky,  as  did  also  the 
Lightfoot  family,  and  both  were  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  diat  state.  Captain  John 
Lightfoot,  the  brother  of  our  subject's 
mother,  tcKjk  part  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion under  General  ^^■ashing-ton. 

Scott  Lanterman  attended  the  district 
school  and  he  later  went  to  the  university  at 
Lincoln,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
twentv-ti\e.  At  this  time  he  returned  home 
and  worked  with  his  father  until  the  latter'.-, 
death.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lanterman 
removed  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his 
widow  on  section  32,  Elkhart  township 
where  he  died  on  February  12,  1895,  and 
his  remains  were  interred  in  Elkhart  cem- 
etery. He  was  one  of  those  noble-hearted 
men  who  win  friends  wherever  they  go.  and 
his  demise  was  mourned  as  a  pulilic  calam- 
ity. During  his  life  he  had  been  a  strong 
Republican,  and  was  honored  with  all  the 
local  offices,  which  he  held  to  the  entire  sat- 
isfaction   of   all    his   constituents.      Socially 


he  was  an  acti\e  member  of  tiie  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  he  attended  the  Methodist 
church  and  .always  gave  liberally  of  his 
means  to  all  worthy  enterprises.  Much  of 
the  prosperity  of  the  township  is  due  to  his 
public  spirit  and  enterprise,  and  he  will  long- 
be  remembered  as  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  Logan  county. 

On  .\ugust  18.  1882.  at  the  Leach  home- 
stead" in  Logan  ccnnity,  Scott  Lanterman 
was  married  to  Miss  Hulda  Leach,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(  Talbut  )  Leach.  Her  father  was  born  in 
New  York  March  9.  1821.  and  his  wife  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  \vere  mar- 
ried in  Xew  York  and  removed  to  Illinois 
in  1840.  They  located  nea.r  Springfield,, 
on  a  farm,  and  later  came  to  Logan  county 
and  settled  in  Elkhart  townshi]).  Here 
Daniel  Leach  accunuilated  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  which  has  become  very 
valuable.  He  held  all  of  the  local  offices, 
was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  attended 
the  Baptist  church.  His  death  occurred  on 
March  17,  1879,  and  his  wife  died  in  June, 
i86f).  To  them  were  born  fi\e  children, 
namelv  :  }\Iary,  who  married  Daniel  \\'o>.)d 
and  resides  near  Bartlett,  North  Dakota: 
Backus,  who  married  Lydia  Osljorn  and  re- 
sides in  Jackson.  :\Iinnesota:  Abliie.  who 
married  Benjamin  fiishop  and  resides  near 
Lucas.  Iowa:  and  Hulda.  who  is  Mrs. 
Lanterman. 

Mrs.  Lanterman  was  born  in  Logan 
county  Xovember  5,  1S58.  and  was  well  ed- 
ucated in  the  common  schools  of  the  district. 
She  was  a  teacher  in  this  and  S.angamon 
counties,  and  is  a  lady  of  excellent  qualities 
and  go.id  jutlgment.  Since  the  death  of  her 
hu.sband  she  has  managed  the  affairs  of  his 
estate  in  a  remarkably  satisfactory  and  suc- 
cessful manner,  and  her  children  are  grow- 
ing up  into  line  men,  showing  forth  in  their 


'582 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lives  tlie  result  of  a  good  mother's  training, 
and  example.  Among  her  neighhors  and 
friends  Mrs.  Lanterman  is  greatly  heloved 
for  her  kind,  gentle  qualities  and  charity, 
and  in  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  she  has 
been  a  memljer  since  the  age  of  sixteen,  she 
is  a  most  acti\e  anil  efficient  worker. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lan- 
terman are  as  follows :  Robert,  who  was 
born  Mav  6,  1882.  and  is  at  home  managing 
the  farm  for  his  mother:  William  E.,  born 
March  30,  1884;  Earl  L..  born  ^larch  20, 
1887:  Richard  O.,  born  September  5,  1889; 
Howard  S.,  born  August  13,  1892;  and 
Winfield  Raymond.  Ijorn  April  27.  1895. 


PHILAXDER  SIMCOE. 

Farming  in  Logan  county.  Illinois,  has 
proved  a  profitable  and  pleasant  \enture  for 
Philander  Simcoe.  who  was  born  in  Pike 
county,  this  state,  on  the  8th  of  February. 
1844.  His  father,  Larkin  B.  Simcoe.  was 
a  native  of  King  and  Queen  county.  \'ir- 
ginia.  and  in  early  manhood  married  ?\Iiss 
Martha  A.  Howey.  who  was  born  in  \\est 
Virginia  in  1820,  and  came  to  Illinois  at  an 
earlv  age  with  her  parents,  the  family  set- 
tling in  Pike  county,  where  she  was  mar- 
ried. There  Larkin  B.  Simcoe  died  prior  to 
1850.  He  had  four  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are  Catherine, 
wife  of  George  Foreman,  of  Piatt  county. 
Illinois;  Philander,  of  this  review:  and 
Jonathan,  a  resident  of  Finney  county,  Kan- 
sas. For  her  second  husband  the  mother  of 
these  children  married  Absalom  Foreman, 
and  about  1865  they  removed  to  Aetna  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  where  Mr.  Foreman 
died  the  same  year.  In  1886  she  went  to 
Finnev  cuuntv,  Kansas,  where  she  made  her 


home  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in 
April,  1897.  By  her  second  marriage  she 
also  had  four  children,  namely  :  Sarah,  now 
Mrs.  Arthur  Simes :  ^Lirtha  J.,  wife  of  John 
Splaine;  Absalom  C. ;  and  Lutilla.  wife  of 
Thomas  Cunningham. 

Into  an  otherwise  uneventful  youth  came 
the  opportunity  for  Philander  Simcoe  to 
enter  the  service  of  his  country  during  the 
dark  days  of  the  Civil  war.  At  Louisiana, 
^ilissouri,  he  enlisted  February  12,  1862,  as 
a  private  in  Company  B.  First  Infantry, 
Missouri  State  Militia,  under  Captain 
Lonergan  and  Colonel  John  B.  Gray,  and 
was  later  prcjmoted  to  corporal.  He  was  ni 
the  service  three  years,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  on  the  7th  of  April,  1865.  With 
the  return  of  peace  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Pike  county,  Illinois,  but  soon  afterward 
came  to  Logan  county,  where  for  a  time  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  as  time 
passed  he  steadily  prospered  in  his  under- 
takings and  is  to-day  one  of  the  successful 
agriculturists  of  his  community.  In  his 
home  place  he  has  one  hundred  and  five 
acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  in  Aetna  town- 
ship, and  also  owns  another  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  in  the  same 
township,  while  his  wife  has  forty  acres  in 
her  own  right  and  a  dower  right  in  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres. 

On  the  loth  of  February,  1881,  Mr. 
Simcoe  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  W.  Dawson,  a  native  of  this  coun- 
ty, and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lorinda 
(  Harcourt )  Pattison.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Kentuckv.  Init  at  an  early  age  went  to 
Indiana,  where  he  married  Miss  Harcourt. 
In  1849  thev  came  to  Logan  county.  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  in  what  is  now  .\etna  town- 
ship, where  for  many  years  Mr.  Pattison  op- 
erated the  mill  at  what  was  then  known  as 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5«J- 


Yankeetown.  He  and  his  wife  both  died 
there.  Mrs.  Simcoe  first  married  Calvin 
Dawson,  wlio  died  leaving  one  daughter. 
Eva  C.  now  the  wife  of  John  I'ortnian,  of 
Lincoln.  Illinois.  UiUo  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sim- 
coe were  born  five  children,  namely:  Her- 
man Leroy,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Spring- 
field Business  College;  Alice  and  Martha, 
who  are  now  attending  the  Lincoln  high 
school :  and  Raymond  and  Mildred,  who  are 
stutlents  in  the  home  school. 

.\s  a  stanch  Republican  Mr.  Simctje  has 
taken  a  very  active  and  influential  part  in 
the  political  affairs  of  his  township,  and  has 
been  honored  with  a  number  of  kxral  of- 
fices, including  those  of  school  director,  road 
commissioner  and  collector.  For  twehe 
years,  ending  in  1899.  he  efficientlv  served 
as  supervisor  and  was  a  member  of  va'rions 
important  committees.  In  1899  he  was 
chairman  of  the  Ixiard  and  was  alwavs  one 
of  its  most  prominent  members.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  Grand  Arm\-  of  the  Repub- 
lic, being  a  member  of  Leo  \\".  Mvers  Post. 
Xo.  i8j.  of  Lincoln. 


TAMES  BAKER. 


ty.  He  early  evinced  commendable  business 
ability,  which  found  vent  in  his  earliest 
years  in  a  gradual  acquiring  of  a  knowledge 
of  his  father's  business,  until  he  is  to-day  one 
of  the  expert  brick  men  of  the  coimt}'. 

Xot  only  is  Mr.  Baker  one  of  the  reliable 
and  progressive  business  men  of  the  place, 
but  he  is  identified  with  social  and  general 
undertakings  represented  in  Chestnut.  His 
pleasant  home  is  presided  over  by  Mrs. 
Baker,  who  was  formerly  Cordelia  Harp, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  May  9,  1853,  a 
daughter  of  Levi  and  Mary  (E\erly)  Harp, 
and  one  in  a  family  of  five  children.  The 
marriage  of  ^Ir.  Baker  and  Miss  Harp  oc- 
curred B'ebruary  25.  1869,  and  of  this  union 
there  are  the  following  children,  namely: 
W'illard  B..  Rosa,  John  F.,  Ezra  and  Xora. 
Five  children  are  deceased.  The  children 
have  Ijeen  educated  in  the  public  schools,  are 
bright  and  interesting,  and  are  a  credit  to- 
their  admirable  home  training.  Mr.  Baker 
is  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him,  and  stands 
high  in  the  community  as  a  business  man 
and  citizen.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Harp  died  in  1854,  and  in  1855  the 
mother  with  her  family  came  to  this  lo- 
cality, later  marrying  Pike  Cantrel,  and 
here  lived  till  her  death,  in  1894. 


The  name  of  Baker  will  ever  be  assf)- 
ciated  with  one  of  the  most  substantial  in- 
dustries in  Chestnut,  namely,  the  manufact- 
uring of  brick.  The  business  here  owes  its 
origin  to  that  pioneer  brick  man  and  splen- 
did citizen,  Samuel  Baker,  who  came  here 
after  a  meritorious  service  during  the  Civil 
war,  and.  beginning  on  a  small  scale,  so  con- 
ducted his  affairs  that  the  present  fine  enter- 
prise, now  managed  by  his  sons,  James  and 
Frank,  is  the  result.  James  Baker  was  born 
in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  in  1849.  a"d  ^^as 
educated  in  the  pulilic  schcwls  of  this  coun- 


SAMUEL  BAKER. 

Logan  county  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
to  Samuel  Baker,  who,  though  practically 
retired  from  active  business  life,  has  occu- 
pied an  enviable  place  in  the  commercial  and 
-social  life  of  Chestnut  since  shortly  after 
the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  At  present  sev- 
enty-rive years  of  age.  he  is  still  active  and 
in  the  full  i)ossession  of  his  splendid  facul- 
ties, a  worthy  example  of  correct  living  and 


S84 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


well  applied  industry.  The  brick  business 
with  which  his  name  will  always  be  asso- 
ciated iTas  grown  from  a  comparatively 
small  beginning  to  its  present  large  pro^xjr- 
tions,  and  although  he  has  ostensibly  stepped 
aside  and  accorded  his  place  of  manager  lo 
his  sons.  James  and  Frank,  he  is  still  a  rec- 
ognized force  in  the  conduct  of  the  business, 
and  a  wise  consellor  to  whom  it  is  pleasant 
and  profitable  to  listen. 

Ohio,  which  has  produced  so  many  ca- 
pable men,  and  sent  them  forth  on  various 
missions  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
was  alsd  the  birthplace  of  Mr.  Baker,  his 
natal  day  being  March  14,  1826.  His  fa- 
ther, Hein\v  Baker,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
^•ania  and  died  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1854.  His  wife,  Mary  Binkley, 
died  in  Allen  county  October  2,  1879,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

Samuel  Baker  was  educated  in  the  Buck- 
eye state  and  there  reared  to  manhood,  and 
in  1844  removed  to  Springfield.  Illinois, 
from  which  he  departed  after  a  year  for 
Logan  county.  He  here  ran  a  mill  for 
about  eleven  years,  and  was  afterward  en- 
gaged in  different  occupations  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  E,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  i'olunteer  In- 
fantry, and  took  part  in  the  attack  on  the 
Mississippi  river  just  below  Vicksburg,  and 
was  also  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  besides 
many  other  battles  and  skirmishes.  In  fact 
lie  saw  the  war  through  to  a  finish,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  in  1865. 

After  the  war  he  came  to  Chestnut  and 
started  the  brick  business  as  heretofore 
stated,  and  has  since  Iieen  identified  with 
the  most  substantial  and  conservative 
growth  of  his  locality.  He  is  the  possessor 
of  a  well  cultivated  farm  of  forty  acres, 
owns  a  comfortable  brick  house,  and  has  be- 


sides considerable  town  property,  A  Re- 
publican in  national  politics,  he  has  held 
\arious  responsible  politiical  positions,  in- 
cluding that  of  school  director  for  many 
years,  always  with  credit  to  himself  and  the 
community  whose  interests  he  made  his  own. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  Charles  Moore  Post,  No.  725, 
of  Chestnut,  of  which  he  has  been  surgeon 
for  many  years. 

In  1841  Mr.  Baker  married  Mary  Rip- 
ley, and  of  this  union  there  were  five  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living,  James  and 
iM-ank,  whii  are  the  present  managers  of 
their  father's  business.  Mrs.  Baker  died 
January  4,  1882,  and  in  1884  Mr.  Baker  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Gerhard,  who 
was  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  came  to  Illinois  in  1883,  To  Mr. 
and  Airs.  Baker  have  been  born  three  chil- 
dren :  Charles,  born  in  1885 ;  Edwin,  born 
in  1886;  and  Benjamin  Harrison,  born  Sep- 
tember I,  1888, 

Frank  Baker,  the  second  son  by  his  fa- 
ther's first  marriage,  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  July  15,  1858.  He  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools,  and  when  very 
Aoung  became  familiar  with  the  brick  busi- 
ness and  learned  the  same  under  his  father's 
capable  instruction.  He  assumed  his  pres- 
ent position  with  the  firm  in  1889,  and  is 
one  of  the  managers  of  the  only  brick  man- 
ufacturing concern  in  Chestnut.  The  brick 
made  is  a  hand  product,  and  its  manufact- 
urers and  the  public  in  general  claim  for  it 
many  superiorities  over  the  common  run  of 
the  ccnuuodity  as  made  elsewhere.  Mr. 
Baker  married  Minnie  Burrus,  a  daughter 
of  James  Burrus,  who  is  a  resident  of  Lin- 
coln, Logan  co'unty,  Illimiis.  This  marriage 
occurred  in  1883,  and  nf  this  union  there 
are  live  children:  Emma,  born  in  1883; 
David,  born  m  1885  ;  Richard,  born  in  1887; 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


585 


Martha,  lx)rn  in  1889;  and  Eugene,  born  'u 
1896.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Republican  in  ])ol- 
itics,  and  lias  served  for  three  years  as  a 
schciol  (lircctcr.  W'itli  his  family,  he  at- 
tends the  .Mcthddist  Episcnpal  church.  He 
is  one  of  the  forceful  and  energetic  business 
men  of  Chestnut,  and  is  making  a  tine  suc- 
cess of  his  business. 

James  Baker  married  Cordelia  Harp  and 
to  them  ha\-e  been  born  ti\e  children,  who 
are  Ii\ing:  W'ilianl.  Frank,  Rosa.  Ezra  and 
Xora. 


JOHN  J.  C0S5ITT. 

John  J.  Cossitt,  assistant  cashier  of  the 
Lincoln  National  Bank  at  Lincoln,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  that  city  on  the  23d  of  January, 
1869,  and  since  attaining  to  man's  estate  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  her  busi- 
ness interests.  His  father,  Chauncey  Mar- 
cus Cossitt,  was  iDorn  in  Clayville,  New- 
York  March  13.  1833,  a  son  of  Chauncey  P. 
and  Elizabeth  H.  Cossitt.  When  President 
Lincoln  issued  his  first  call  for  seventv-fi\e 
thousand  men  to  assist  in  putting  dinvn  the 
rebellion  Chauncey  AI.  Cossitt  enlisted,  and 
faithfully  served  liis  camtry  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  After  his  discharge  fn mi  the 
army  he  came  to  Lincoln,  and  was  success- 
fully engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  this 
place  until  his  retirement  from  active  busi- 
ness. In  early  manhood  he  married  Miss 
]\Iary  Tappan,  who  was  born  in  Manchester. 
]\Iassachusetts,  August  2.  1833,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Xancv  Tappan. 
She  is  still  living,  but  her  husband  died  in 
Lincoln  May  25,  1894. 

Mr.  Cossitt,  of  this  re\ic\v,  spent  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  \(iuth  in  the  ci'\- 
of  his  birth,  attending  the  ]iul)lic  schndls. 
and  be  completed  his  education  in  the  Lin- 


coln high  school.  He  began  his  business 
career  as  an  employe  of  the  Central  Union 
Telei)lione  Company,  and  served  them  for 
i'wQ  years  in  various  capacities  u])  to  the  ])o- 
sition  of  manager.  In  1888  he  accepted  the 
position  of  messenger  and  collector  in  the 
Lincoln  National  Bank;  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  bookkeeper;  still  later  to  teller, 
and  on  the  ist  of  January,  1901,  was  made 
assistant  cashier.  He  is  also  one  of  the 
owners  and  managers  of  the  liroadway 
theatre,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  energetic  Inisiness  men  of  Lincoln. 

On  the  lytli  of  November,  1896,  ;Mr. 
Cossitt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maude  E.  Houser,  of  Lincoln,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  W.  \\'.  and  :\Iary  (Oliver)  Houser. 
Her  father  is  one  of  the  prominent  physi- 
cians of  the  city.  Politically  Mr.  Cossitt  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  Both 
in  business  and  social  circles  he  is  quite  pop- 
ular, being  a  courteous,  genial  gentleman, 
and  he  well  deserves  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  is  held.  ]Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cossitt  are 
iiieml)ers  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  vestrymen  and  also 
treasurer  of  the  diocese  of  Springfield. 


HEXKY  \MEMER. 


Henry  W  ienier,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Prairie  Creek  township  and  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  known  as 
the  old  W'iemer  homestead,  was  Ixirn  in  this 
county  August  J(>.  1862.  and  is  a  son  of 
lienhard  and  Charlotte  (Cramer)  W'iemer. 
both  natives  of  Cicrmany.  In  that  country 
the  mother  first  married  William  Reaper, 
with  whom  she  came  to  America  in  1854, 
but  her  hu.sband  died  of  cholera  during  the 
trip   up   the     Mississippi    river     soon    after 


586 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


reaching  the  United  States.  Their  daugh- 
ter Mary  died  of  the  same  dread  disease 
while  crossing  the  ocean.  Mrs.  Reaper  was 
thus  left  alone,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land, 
with  no  one  to  aid  her.  She  was  in  delicate 
health  at  the  time,  ami  a  son.  William,  was 
Ijorn  soon  after  her  arrival  here.  He  died 
later.  She  suhsequently  married  Benhard 
\\'iemer.  who  was  horn  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  America  in  1852,  locat- 
ing first  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked 
in  the  coal  mines.  Inn  after  five  years  spent 
there  he  removed  to  Havana,  Illinois,  and 
was  emplox'ed  in  a  grain  elexator  there  for 
some  time.  Later,  embarking  in  farming 
near  Havana,  he  remained  there  until  1862, 
when  he  settled  on  the  farm  which  our  sub- 
ject now  occupies,  and  remained  here  until 
1899.  when  he  removed  to  San  Jose,  his 
present   hoiue.      The  mnther   died   in    1896. 

Fi\-e  children  were  burn  to  them,  name- 
ly: Albert,  who  is  now  li\ing  in  Prairie 
Creek  township:  Charles,  wlni  resides  in 
San  Jose  and  owns  and  operates  a  large  ele- 
vator at  Harness :  Lizzie,  wife  of  John 
Theobald,  \\ho  resides  in  ]\Iason  county, 
Illinois:  Henry,  our  subject:  and  Fred,  who 
died  young.  All  were  given  good  common- 
school  educations.  supplemented  with 
courses  at  various  colleges. 

Our  sui:)ject  remained  upon  the  old  farm, 
taking  care  of  his  parents  in  their  latter 
years  and  oi>erated  his  father's  farm.  He 
now  o\\ms  the  old  homestead  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  21,  and  also  op- 
erates another  farm  of  eighty  acres  which 
belongs  to  the  heirs  of  his  father's  estate. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  for  one 
year  held  the  position  of  township  clerk,  and 
is  now  school  director,  having  held  the  lat- 
ter office  for  four  years.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Em- 
den,  and  of  the  Modern  W'liodmen  o{  Amer- 


ica at  San  Jose,  Illinois,  He  is  a  very  in- 
telligent citizen  of  the  township,  and  is  a 
good  representative  of  the  progressive  farm- 
er of  to-da_\-,  who  keeps  well  posted  on  cur- 
rent events  and  is  well  calculated  to  lead  in 
local  politics.  Judging  his  future  by  the 
light  of  the  past,  there  are  many  honors  in 
store  for  Mr.  W'iemer,  not  only  in  the  town- 
ship, but  in  broader  fields,  where  it  is  safe 
to  predict  that  the  same  public  spirit,  clear 
judgment  and  honoralile  dealing  in  every 
particular  which  ha\e  characterized  his  ac- 
tions in  the  da\s  gone  by  \\\\\  make  him 
eipially  successful  in  carr^'ing  out  the  wishes 
of  the  people  who  place  their  trust  in  his 
integrity  and  abilit)-. 


WILLIAM  JOHNSTON. 

Prominent  among  the  wealthy  and  in- 
fiuential  farmers  of  Logan  county  is  this- 
well-known  resident  of  Aetna  township, 
who  has  done  much  toward  the  de\-elopment 
of  the  agricultural  resources  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  was  born  in  the  ntirth  of 
Ireland  about  1835.  and  received  but  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
land.  About  1850  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  near  Quebec.  Canada,  where 
for  al)out  six  years  he  worked  in  the 
pineries. 

Upon  coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1856  ]\Ir.  Johnston  lived  for  a  time  in  Pike 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
clearing  land  along  the  railroad  tracks  for 
so  much  per  acre.  He  later  engaged  in  farm 
work  by  the  month,  but  after  spending  one 
year  in  Pike  county  he  came  to  Logan  coun- 
ty and  leased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Aetna 
township,  which  he  operated  for  ab<)ut  five 
years.     [Meeting  with  success  in  his  chosen 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


occupation,  he  was  then  able  to  purcliase  a 
quarter-section  of  land  on  section  7,  tlie 
same  township,  which  he  at  once  coninienced 
to  improve  and  cultivate.  In  i860  he  also 
bought  five  acres  of  timber  land,  for  wliich 
he  paid  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  and  as 
lunil>er  was  hard  to  obtain  he  used  his  tim- 
ber to  make  rails  for  fences  and  for  the 
erection  of  his  house  and  barns.  Being  in- 
dustrious, economical  and  persevering,  he 
has  steadily  prospered  in  his  farming  opera- 
tions, and  to  his  original  purchase  he  has 
added  until  he  now  has  two  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  Logan  county,  all  of  which  is  in 
Aetna  township,  with  the  exception  of 
eighty  acres  in  Chester  and  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  East  Lincoln  township.  He  is 
the  largest  individual  land  owner  residing 
in  Aetna  township.  He  also  owns  a  section 
of  land  in  Woodbury  county,  Iowa.  Al- 
though he  is  obliged  to  employ  man\-  men  in 
carrying  on  his  farms,  he  is  still  activelv  en- 
gaged in  their  operation,  and  none  can  turn 
out  a  more  satisfactory  day's'  work. 

Mr.  Johnston  has  been  twice  married. 
his  first  wife  being  ^liss  Rosa  Armstrong, 
to  whom  he  was  married  in  1855,  and  l)v 
that  union  four  children  were  lx)rn.  but  t\\ u 
died  in  childhood,  and  all  are  now  deceased. 
The  wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  in 
1864.  On  the  19th  of  June.  1866,  :\Ir. 
Johnston  was  united  in  marriage  with  ]Vliss 
Margaret  Irvine,  of  iMontreal.  Canada,  who 
was  also  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland  and 
emigrated  to  Canada  when  fifteen  years  of 
age.  The  children  born  of  this  union  are 
Alexander:  Katherine  J.,  now  the  wife  of 
Herman  Randolph,  of:  Aetna  township: 
Thomas :  Belle,  wife  of  Thomas  M.  Harris, 
of  Lincoln.  Illincis:  George;  May:  Sue:  and 
Edna.  The  unmarried  children  are  all  liv- 
ing at  home.  Appreciating  the  value  of  a 
g(X)d  education,  Mr.  Johnston  has  given  his 


children  the  best  possible  advaniages  along 
that  line,  being  students  at  either  Lincoln 
or  \\'esleyan  Universities. 

In  his  political  views  ^Ir.  Johnston  is  a 
Republican,  and  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
fill  the  oftices  of  highway  commissioner  and 
school  director.  He  is  a  member  of  and 
active  worker  in  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Harmony,  of  which  he  is  a  trus- 
tee, and  contributes  liberally  toward  the 
maintenance  of  the  same.  In  other  matters 
also  he  may  be  depended  upon  for  liberal 
support,  as  he  never  withholds  his  aid  from 
any  enterprise  which  he  believes  calculated 
to  pro\e  of  public  "  benefit.  He  deserves 
great  credit  for  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved  in  life  and  well  merits  the  high  re- 
gard in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. His  family  is  one  of  prominence  in 
the  communit\-  where  thev  reside. 


JOHN  DEAX  GILLETTE. 

For  many  years  John  D.  Gillette  was  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  Logan  county.  The  family  to  which 
he  belonged  was  of  French  Huguenot  or- 
igin, and  was  founded  in  the  L'nited  States 
in  1 63 1,  his  ancestors  being  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Lebanon,  Connecticut.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Benoni  Gillette,  was. 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  fa- 
ther was  Eliphaz  Gillette,  who  was  born  in; 
1 79 1,  and  married  Amarilla  Sanford. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Connecticut 
April  28,  1819.  and  attended  the  Lan- 
castrean  school  at  Xcw  Haven.  After 
spending  two  years  in  the  south  he  returned 
to  Connecticut  in  1838  and  was  a  student 
at  l^earl's  Academy  in  Xew  IIa\en  for  a 
time.     In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  came  to 


588 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  after  visiting 
his  uncle  at  Bald  Knob  he  commenced  work 
at  eight  dollars  per  month.  Saving  his 
wages  for  two  years,  he  was  at  length  able 
to  enter  four  acres  of  prairie  land  at  one 
dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre,  and  on  attain- 
ing his  majority  two  years  later  increased 
his  entry  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
and  also  building  a  house  upon  his  land. 
In  1842  he  was  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  so  successful  was  he 
in  his  farming  operations  that  as  early  as 
1850  he  had  the  largest  farm  and  the  most 
cattle,  hogs  and  horses  of  any  one  in  the 
count}-.  He  seemed  to  take  the  greatest 
pride  in  his  cattle  and  frecpiently  had  as 
many  as  four  thousand  head.  All  his  sur- 
plus money  he  invested  in  cheap  land,  and 
in  1852,  in  company  with  Robert  Latham, 
entered  over  six  thousand  acres.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  August 
27,  1883,  he  owned  sixteen  thousand  five 
hundred  acres  of  land  and  vast  herds  of  cat- 
tle and  horses.  He  was  also  president  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Lincoln,  and  one  of  the 
most  successful  and  wealthy  citizens  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  In  politics  he  was  u 
strong  Republican,  and  was  a  personal 
friend  of  President  Lincoln,  but  he  always 
refused  political  honors. 


LOUIS  SCHAFFEXACKER. 

Louis  Schaffenacker.  who  has  for  many 
years  been  identified  with  the  vicir.ity  of  the 
village  of  Chestnut,  is  an  lllinoisan.  and  was 
born  in  Logan  county  December  10,  1866. 
His  father.  George  S.  Schaffenacker.  was 
born  in  Germany  in  the  early  "^os.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  fatherland,  and  emigrated  tn 
America    some    time    in    the    '^os.     Ui)<)n 


settling  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  he  en- 
gaged in  brick  making  for  some  time,  and 
then  thought  to  improve  his  pn^spects  by 
remo\  ing  to  California.  However,  he  saw 
no  adxantages  there  which  were  not  to  be 
found  in  the  middle  states,  so  returned  to 
Logan  county,  located  in  Mount  Pulaski, 
where  he  erected  a  brick  house,  and  settled 
down  to  the  life  of  an  industrious  citizen. 
In  1857  he  married  Catherine  Stoll.  and  to 
them  was  born  the  following  children : 
Anna  B..  who  is  the  wife  oi  Rev.  E.  Beil, 
rect(ir  in  the  \illage  of  Chestnut;  Cath- 
erine, who  is  the  wife  of  Adam  Feuerbach, 
i>f  Lincoln,  Illinois:  Mary,  who  is  the  wife 
<if  George  Seyfer.  of  Lincoln:  Sarali,  who 
is  married  to  E.  Buehler,  a  farmer  living 
west  of  Chestnut ;  Emma,  who  is  the  wife 
of  John  Stoll,  oi  Chester  township ;  Carrie, 
who  is  the  w ife  of  Albert  Abrams.  of  Aetna 
township;  Olga,  Frederick  G.,  Edward  and 
William,  wlm  are  all  living  on  the  home- 
stead. 

From  his  y(juth  up  Louis  Schaffenacker 
lived  on  his  father's  farm  and  contributed 
his  share  towards  the  management  and  de- 
\elopment  of  the  homestead.  He  was  an 
industrious  and  studious  lad.  and  attended 
the  district  schools  with  profitable  results. 
When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  started 
out  to  farm  on  his  own  responsibility. having 
in  the  meantime  contracted  a  marriage  with 
Katherine  (lelbach,  a  daughter  of  Jacoh 
Gelbach,  who  died  .\ugust  5,  1896.  Her 
mother,  Mrs.  Louisa  Gelbach,  died  May  9, 
1899.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  oc- 
curred September  20,  1894,  and  for  three 
years  the  couple  lived  on  the  home  place. 
Subsequently  the  husband  Ixjught  his  pres- 
ent home  in  the  village  of  Chestnut,  which 
is  one  of  the  ])leasant,  hospitable  and  com- 
f>  rtable  residences  in  the  place.  Mr.  Schaf- 
fenacker has  a  large  responsibility  in  regard 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


589 


to  the  estate  left  by  his  father,  of  which  he 
is  the  manager  and  trnstee.  ami  of  whic'i 
he  will  eventually  inherit  his  share.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  DenuKrat.  is  supervisor  of  the 
township,  and  has  in  the  j>ast  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  Ixxird. 


S.\MUEL  SPARKS. 


Among  the  men  who  have  long  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Logan  county,  Illinois,  is  Sam- 
uel Sparks,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Marv- 
in Hurd)  Sparks,  the  former  a  native  of  Xew 
Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
in  which  state  they  were  united  in  marriage. 
W  hen  fifteen  years  of  age  Samuel  Sparks, 
Sr.,  accompanied  his  father,  who  was  a 
minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  on  his  re- 
moval to  Ohio,  and  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  183 1,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Sangamon  county,  where  he  spent 
two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Logan  coun- 
ty. He  first  located  in  Corwin  township, 
but  two  years  later  settled  on  section  36, 
Sheridan  township,  where  he  bought  a  farm 
of  eight)-  acres.  He  also  owned  a  fifty-acre 
tract  of  timber  land  in  Corwin  township. 
In  p<.ilitical  faith  he  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, and  for  a  number  of  years  was  both 
:idKX<l  treasurer  and  road  commiissioner. 
His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Bap- 
tist church.  His  wife,  who  was  a  devoted 
wife  and  mother,  died  in  November.  1893. 
In  their  family  were  ten  children,  namely: 
James,  deceased,  married  Martha  Weaver, 
who  now  resides  in  West  Lincoln  township : 
Elizabeth  .\nn  married  Alexander  Morely, 
who  died  in  Iowa,  while  her  death  occurred 
in  Kansas:  Sarah  Jane  married  Pcrrv  Miller 
and  lived  in  Christian  count  v.  Illinois,  hut 


IxHh  are  now  deceased :  Susie  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years;  J.  D.  married  Jennie 
Parker,  now  deceased,  and  lives  in  Taze- 
well county :  Eveline  is  the  wife  of  E.  M. 
Douglass,  a  resident  of  Mason  county; 
Mary  is  the  widow  of  Green  Douglass  and 
resides  in  Kansas;  Samuel,  our  subject,  is 
the  ne.xt  in  order  of  birth ;  Sarah  is  the  wife 
of  Hugh  Fleming,  of  Oklahoma;  and  John 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

Mr.  Sparks,  of  this  review,  was  born  in 
Sheridan  township.  Logan  county.  October 
31,  1846,  and  began  his  education  in  a  little 
log  school  house  which  has  since  been  re- 
placed by  a  more  imix)sing  structure,  known 
as  the  Mill  Grove  school,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  into  what  was  known  as  the 
Talbert  sclux>l,  in  this  county.  He  em- 
braced every  possible  advantage  in  this  line 
up  to  his  twentieth  year,  although  the  whole 
time  did  not  aggregate  a  great  deal,  on  ac- 
count of  the  long  distance  that  he  had  to 
cover  going  and  coming  from  schLX^l. 

Having  lost  his  father  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Sparks  assisted  his  mother 
in  carrying  on  the  farm  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  and  rffter  his  marriage  purchased 
the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  old 
homestead.  On  the  21st  of  February,  1867, 
he  was  married,  in  Lincoln,  to  iliss  Mary 
Ellen  Wendell,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1849.  <i"<^l  '"  J^^^i  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents.  Thomas  and  Fanny  (^ Warren) 
Wendell.  kKating  in  Sheridan  township, 
Logan' county,  where  the  mother  died  in 
1894.  but  the  father  is  still  living.  He  owns 
some  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  that  town- 
ship, and  for  a  number  of  years  served  as 
supervisor  of  the  township.  His  political 
sympathies  are  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
In  his  family  were  ten  children,  namely: 
William  married  first  Sarah  Lucas,  and  sec- 


590 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ond  Henrietta  Richards  and  resides  in  Lin- 
coln; George,  deceased,  married  Sarah  Om- 
hart,  who  is  now  hving  in  New  Holland; 
John  H.  married  Georgia  ilyers  and  lives 
in  York  county,  Nebraska ;  :Mary  Ellen  was 
.the  wife  of  our  subject;  Uriah  married 
Lauretta  Baughn  and  lives  in  Sheridan 
township,  this  county;  James  T.  wedded 
Mary  Baughn  and  makes  his  home  in  Cor- 
win  township;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  John 
Treckle,  of  Corwin  township;  Charles  met 
death  by  accident  at  the  age  of  seven  years ; 
and  two  children  died  in  infancy. 

:\Ir.  Sparks'  first  wife  died  October  7, 
1887,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Lucas  cem- 
etery. By  that  marriage  he  had  the  follow- 
ing children :  Fannie,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  C.  X.  Beaver,  of  York  county,  Nebraska, 
and  has  three  children ;  Thomas,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  that  county,  who  wedded  Mary 
Mitchell  and  has  two  children:  Charles  P., 
of  Corwin  tmvnship.  this  county,  who  mar- 
ried Z\Iarv  Maltln-.  and  has  three  children : 
S.  T.,  of  Chester  township,  this  county,  who 
married  ^linnie  Rabber  and  has  two  chil- 
dren :  and  Marian,  who  is  at  home  with  his 
father. 

On  tlie  I  ith  of  December,  1889.  in  Sheri- 
dan township.  Mr.  Sparks  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Maltby.  wh) 
was  hi  rn  in  Lincoln  Feliruary  6.  1863.  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Preston) 
Maltby.  Her  father  was  one  of  the  brave 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  who  laid  down  his 
life  on  the  altar  of  his  country.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Si.xth  Illi- 
nois A"olunteer  Infantry,  an".'  died  from  ex- 
posure in  1862.  His  wife  subsequently  mar- 
ried James  Lee,  by  whom  she  had  one  son. 
Tames.  Jr.  She  had  three  children  l)y  her 
first  marriage,  these  being  Charles,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Denver.  Colorado: 
Chester,  who  is  also  married  and  living  in 


that  city;  and  Sarah  Jane,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. By  his  second  union  Mr.  Sparks  has 
one  daughter,  Hazel. 

In  his  farming  operations  Mr.  Sparks 
has  displayed  excellent  business  ability,  and 
has  become  one  of  the  largest  land  owners 
in  his  locality,  having  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Corwin  township,  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  in  Sheridan  township, 
two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  in  Ches- 
ter township,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Nebraska.  His  beatuiful  and  at- 
tractive residence,  fine  barns  and  all  the  nec- 
essary outbuildings  present  a  picture  of  an 
ideal  country  home,  ap„d  here  he  and  his  de- 
lightful family  dispense  a  charming  and  lib- 
eral hospitality. 


ROBERT  D.  CLARK. 

Robert  D.  Clark,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Mount  Pulaski,  is  the  possessor  of  a  hand- 
some property  which  now  enables  him  to 
spend  his  years  in  the  pleasurable  enjoy- 
ment of  his  accumulations.  In  early  life 
he  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  bent 
his  energies  to  the  honorable  acquirement 
of  a  comfortable  competence  for  himself  and 
family. 

A  native  of  L<:)gan  county.  Mr.  Clark 
was  born  on  a  farm  in  Laenna  township 
September  30,  1844.  and  on  the  paternal 
side  IS  of  English  origin.  His  grandfather, 
J<,lin  Clark,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  Jan- 
uary 17.  1779.  and  in  early  life  married 
Miss  Nancy  A.  Isgrig,  who  was  born  in 
Maryland  January  27.  1783.  They  spent 
their  last  days  in  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  the  grandfather  died  ^March  5,  1859, 
and  his  wife  December  8.  1867. 

David  W.  Clark,  our  subject's    father. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


59« 


was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  Sep- 
tember 30.  1809.  and  from  tliat  state  went 
to  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and  in  the  spring 
following  the  deep  snow  came  to  Illinois. 
On  July  7,  183 1,  in  Sangamon  county,  this 
state,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hannah  Stout,  who  was  lx>rn  in  Greene 
.county,  Pennsylvania,  December  1-.  1810. 
a  daughter  of  .Anthony  and  Sarah  (Royal) 
Stout.  She  was  left  an  orphan  when  young 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  prior  to  the 
deep  snow.  For  about  twelve  years  Daviil 
^\'.  Clark  made  his  home  in  Sangamon  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  then  came  to  Logan  countv 
abcut  1842,  locating  in  Laenna  township. 
where  he  improved  a  farm  consisting  oi 
three  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres.  lia\ing 
begim  his  farming  operations  in  this  county 
while  in  very  moderate  circumstances.  He 
erected  g(X)d  and  substantial  buildings  upon 
the  place,  and  continued  its  cultivation  un- 
til 1890,  when  he  removed  to  Mount  Pulaski 
and  lived  retired  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
<:urred  February  3.  1892.  In  politics  he  was 
an  old-line  \\'hig  and  later  a  Republican, 
and  in  religious  belief  was  a  r^Iethodist 
Protestant.  He  served  two  years  as  countv 
assessor,  being  the  last  to  fill  that  office,  and 
unaided  he  assessed  the  whole  county.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  was  the  honored  presi- 
dent of  the  Old  Settlers  Society  and  one  of 
its  active  organizers.  He  was  a  man  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him 
and  had  a  host  of  warm  friends  throughout 
the  county.  His  estimable  wife,  who  was  also 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Protest- 
ant church,  departed  this  life  December  15, 
1897.  They  were  the  parents  of  si.K  chil- 
dren, who  are  still  living,  namely  :  Thomas 
S.,  a  resident  of  the  state  of  Washington; 
Margaret  A.,  now  the  widow  of  William 
Upp,  and  a  resident  of  California;  Isaac  T., 
of  Mount  Pulaski ;  Robert  D.,  our  subject ; 


Charles  R..  of  Polk  county.  Nebraska;  and 
.Angeline  M.,  wife  of  David  B.  Wacaser,  of 
Mount   Pulaski. 

Reared  on  the  Immc  fanu,  Robert  D. 
Clark  began  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhcwd,  and  later  at- 
tended school  at  Indian  Point,  Menard  coun- 
ty, and  took  a  course  at  the  State  Normal 
Scht.'jl  at  Normal,  Illinois.  For  si.xteen 
years  he  successfully  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  and  had  charge  of  the  school  in  his 
home  district  ten  years  of  that  time.  He 
then  followed  farming,  first  operating  a 
tract  of  rented  land.  His  first  purchase  con- 
sisted of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  i>i 
Laenna  township,  which  he  imprmed,  but 
he  subsequently  sold  that  place,  having  in 
the  meantime  purchased  the  old  homestead 
in  Laenna  township,  consisting  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty-four  acres,  to  which  he  sub- 
sequently added  seventy-five  aci^es.  all  of 
which  he  still  owns.  It  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved  with 
good  buildings.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  also  engaged  in  stock-raising. 
In  1896  he  removed  to  Alount  Pulaski, 
where  he  is  the  owner  of  a  beautiful  home 
and  other  property,  and  now  gives  some  at- 
tention to  real  estate  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  A'onderleith  &:  Clark  and  to 
looking  after  his  investment. 

On  February  2,  1873,  Mr.  Clark  mar- 
ried Aliss  Catherine  Edmonds,  who  was 
born  in  Mount  Pulaski  February  13.  1853. 
Of  the  three  children  born  of  this  union  a 
son  and  daughter  died  in  infancy.  The  only 
one  now  living  is  Minnie  L.,  now  the  wife 
of  Ed.  O.  Mayer,  of  Mount  Pulaski.  So- 
cially Mr.  Clark  is  a  member  of  Mount  Pu- 
laski Lodge,  No.  •?.■;,  A.  F.  &  .\.  M.,  of 
which  he  is  the  present  master;  Mount  Pu- 
laski Chapter,  No.  121,  R.  A.  M..  and 
ilount    Pulaski    Comiuenderx-,   No.  39,  K. 


592 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


T. :  and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican partv.  While  in  Laenna  township  he 
held  the  various  oftkes  in  the  gift  of  the 
people,  including  that  of  supervisor,  to 
which  he  was  elected  in  a  Democratic  town- 
ship. He  is  one  of  the  representative  and 
prominent  citizens  of  his  native  county,  and 
5s  a  man  of  influence  in  the  community 
where  he  resides. 


XOAH   COSBY 


Prominent  among  the  energetic,  enter- 
prising and  successful  citizens  of  Broadwell 
township  is  Xoah  Cosby,  who  has  been  ac- 
tively identified  with  its  agricultural  and 
stock  raising-  interests  since  an  early  day. 
Here  his  entire  life  has  been  passed,  fur  be 
Avas  horn  upon  his  present  farm,  June  21. 
i860,  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an 
honored  pioneer  family  of  this  county. 

Nathaniel  Cosby,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  Ijorn  in  Kentucky  on  Christmas 
Day,  181 3.  and  was  a  son  of  William  and 
Frances  Cosb}-.  natives  of  England  antl 
Germany,  resijectively.  Some  of  his  rela- 
tives are  still  living  in  Kentucky.  .\.s  early 
as  1836  he  came  to  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
and  took  up  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land  at  the  government  price  of  one  dol- 
lar and  a  qxiarter  per  acre.  For  six  years 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  at  ten  dollars  per 
month,  being  in  the  employ  of  Colonel  La- 
tham at  Elkhart  Grove,  and  in  184 J  com- 
menced to  improve  his  property,  which  is 
the  present  home  of  our  suliject.  He  as- 
sisted in  laying  out  the  town  of  Broadwell. 
and  also  in  making  the  survey  of  Broadwell 
township.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in 
promoting  all  enterprises  which  he  believed 
would  prove  of  benefit  to  the  community, 


and  \\as  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valu- 
alile  and  useful  citizens  of  his  township. 
Alaout  1872  he  retired  from  active  labor, 
but  continued  to  reside  uix)n  the  old  home 
farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June 
7.  1875.  He  enjoyed  exceptionally  good 
health,  \\as  strong  and  active,  and  in  busi- 
ness afifairs  was  thoroughly  reliable  and  con- 
scientious. By  his  ballot  he  supported  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democracy,  and 
ga\e  to  the  support  of  all  church  and  philan- 
thropic work. 

In  early  life  Xatbaniel  Cusliy  married 
^liss  Eliza  Foster,  who  was  of  German  de- 
scent, and  the\-  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Those  li\-ing  are  Debljie,  wife  of  Andrew 
Eisminger,  a  grain  buyer  of  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois; Ora.  wife  of  Edward  Ballinger,  of 
Downing.  ]\Iissouri ;  Mary  \\'.,  wife  of  An- 
tlrew  Bauman.  cjf  Furnace  county,  Ne- 
braska: Noah,  the  suliject  of  this  sketch; 
John  A.,  a  traveling  salesman  living  iu 
Danville,  Illinois  :  H.  L..  a  physician,  of  Lin- 
coln ;  and  Nathan,  a  resident  of  Broadwell. 
The  mother  cf  these  children,  who  was  an 
earnest  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
died  on  the  old  home  farm  in  1898.  at  the 
age  of  sixty-nine  years. 

Noah  Cosby  is  indebted  to  the  district 
schools  of  Broadwell  township  for  his  edu- 
cational advantages.  He  attended  school 
oul\-  during  the  winter  months,  the  summer 
being  de\(;ted  to  farm  work.  He  was  only 
fourteen  years  of  age  when  his  father  died, 
and  the  responsibility  of  carrying  en  the 
htune  farm  devolved  upon  him,  though  he 
had  practically  had  charge  of  the  place  for 
two  vears  previous  to  this  time.  In  1898  he 
purchased  'the  interests  of  the  other  heirs, 
and  is  still  successfully  operating  the  old 
homestead.  Since  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  has  been  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD.  $93- 


stock,  ])riiicipallv  cattle  and  liogs,  and   for  a  citizen  lie  meets  every  reqnirement.   and 

the  past  tinn-tcen  vears  lias  acted  as  ag-ent  manifests  a  cnmniendahle  interest  in  cverv- 

fnr  the  firm   nf   Spellman   &   Sjiitley,   srain  thing-  that  is  calcuhited  to  promote  thu  \v->l- 

dealers   nf    l.inoli'i.    and    enjoys    their   cmi-  tare  df  his  n^vn  >  .,•  cnuiUy  in  any  line.      In 

t'idence     to     a     marked     degree,      lie     is     a  manner  he  is  pleasant,  genial  and  apjir.  lach- 

straightfnrward.  energetic  man.  and  is  meet-  ahle.    and    all    wlm    know    him    esteem    him 

ing  with  excellent  snccess  in  all  his  nnder-  highly  for  his  gcnnine  wnrth. 
takings. 

In    I'.rnadwell   t-wnship   Mr.   Cnshy  was  '^^ 
married,   in    iSSi.   tn   Miss   :\larv  H.   Love, 

who  was  b,.n,   in   Pike  omnty.   Ohio.  Jnly  n^W    .\lc  I )( ).\AL1)  ( iA.S.\\\•A^•. 
22.   1 838,  and   was  edncated   in  the  schools 

of  that  slate  and  Logan  cinnty.  lllinnis.  Anung  the  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Her  parents.  Sanniel  and  !■  ranees  Love,  are  M.  nnt  Pnlaski  wh..  have  laid  asi.le  all  bnsi- 
still  residents  of  Proadwell  townshij).  the  ness  cares  and  expect  to  spend  their  re- 
former being-  now  seventy  years  of  age  and  maining  years  in  ease  and  cpiiet  is  John  Mc- 
the  latter  sixty-two.  One  of  their  five  chil-  Donald  (iasawa)-,  \\h<ise  early  life  was  snc- 
dren  died  yonng",  and  the  others  are:  cessfully  de\-oted  to  farnnng.  He  was  born 
Thomas,  a  resident  of  Broadwell ;  :\Lary  IP.  npon  a  farm  in  Ross  connty,  Ohio,  Jaimary 
wife  of  our  subject:  Charles,  who  is  em-  to.  iS-'J.  and  is  a  son  of  Xscholas  and 
ploved  in  a  dry  goods  store  in  Chicago:  anil  Sophia  i  1  )cnson  )  Casaway.  the  former  of 
Mattie,  widow  of  Isaac  Lott  and  a  resident  Sc  tch  and  the  Latter  of  Welsh  desceiU.  His 
of  Chicago.  Mr.  and  :\[rs.  Cosby  have  two  granilfather,  Thomas  (iasaway.  was  a  na- 
children:  Paul  S..  born  :\ray  24.  1886:  and  tive  of  \'iriginia,  and  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Frank  C.  born  .\ngust  J  J,  1888.  They  are  Kevolutionar\  war.  He  married  Miss  Jane 
now^  attending  the  public  schools  of  Broad-  Kelly  and  they  reared  a  g-o<id  sized  family. 
well,  and  it  is  the  intention  of  their  parents  The  I'ather  of  ,,iir  subject  was  aP.,  born  in 
to  send  them  to  college.  ihe   Old    DMninio,,,    in    1 79,^    and    when    a 

One  of  the  leading  and   intluential  citi-  young  men  w  cut  to  (  )hio,  where  he  was  mar- 

zens     of    his     townshi]).     Mr.     Cosby     wa>^  ried.      Settling  in  R.  iss  countx,  he  bcame  one 

elected  supervisor  in  i88().  and  f<ir  six  years  of  the  ])ro->perous   farmers  of  that   locality, 

he  filled   that   office   with   credit   to  himself  but    deciding  to  come   farther   west,   he   re- 

and  to  the  entire  satisfaction   of  his   con-  mo\  ed    witli   his    family   to   Logan   county, 

stituents.     He   was   chairman    of   the   jioor  Illinois,  in    1855,  and  settled  in  Pake  Fork 

farm  committee  four  years,  of  the  printing  ti:wnship.  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for 

and  building  committee  tw-o  years  and  was  many  ye;n--.      lie  died  on  the  old  home  tann 

a  memljer  of  several  other  important  com-  in   \i<7^)  at  the  age  of  eighty-live,  his  wite  in 

mittees.      Mr.    Cosby     h,-is     also     served    as  i8,So.  ai  the  age  of  seventy-nine.      I'.othwere 

.school  director  twelve  vears,  and  is  a  mem-  devout    members  of  the   Methodist    church, 

her  of  the  board  at  the  present  time.      He  is  atid  were  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by 

also  a  member  of  the  xilkige  board,  was  for-  all    who  knew   them.      Of   the   ten   chililren 

mer1y  ]jresident  of  the  same,  and  is  now  ser\-  born  to  them,  eight  reached  years  of  matur- 

insj  on  the  street  and  allev  committee.      As  itv    and    came    to    Pogan    county,  namely : 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mary,  James  D.,  Jolin  M.,  Jane,  ^^'illiam  H., 
Thomas  D.,  Sophia  and  Nicholas.  Only 
three  of  this  family  still  survive. 

John  ]\I.  Gasaway  was  reared  in  mucii 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  hoys  of  his  day, 
his  time  being  divided  lietween  the  work  of 
the  home  farm  and  attendance  at  the  district 
school  of  the  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  ]\Iiss  Eliza  Poe,  of  Ross  county,  Ohii '. 
a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Mary  ( Gasa\\a\  i 
Poe.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom  fnur 
are  still  living:  :\Iary,  widuw  of  Ahram  Mc- 
Kenny  and  a  resident  of  ]\Iount  Pulaski ; 
Sophia  Horn,  deceased:  Hiram  X.,  a  con- 
stable of  Mount  Pulaski :  and  Arthilda,  wife 
of  B.  F.  Scroggin,  a  banker  df  ()ak,  Xe- 
braska. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Gasawav  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Ohio  until  1853,  when  he 
came  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Lake 
Fork  townslh]).  in  partnership  with  his  cous- 
in. I.  W.  (lasaway.  Later  he  bnught  a  farm 
of  twi)  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  the  same 
township,  which  lie  still  owns,  and  upon 
that  place  he  made  many  useful  and  valuable 
improvements,  which  still  stand  as  monu- 
ments to  liis  thrift  and  industry.  He  gaAC 
considerable  attention  to  the  rai'^ing  of  a 
good  grade  of  cattle  and  hogs,  and  fed  all  of 
the  products  of  his  farm  to  his  stock.  Rent- 
ing the  farm  in  1886,  he  remo\ed  to  [Mount 
Pulaski,  and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life, 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  former  toil.  Here 
he  has  a  good  modern  residence,  on  E^st 
Cook  street. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Gasaway  always  sup- 
ports the  men  and  measures  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  while  li\ing  on  the  farm 
took  a  i)rominent  part  in  local  politics.  He 
served  nine  }-ears  as  tinvnship  trustee,  was 
assess(u-  of  Lake  Fork  township,  and  high- 


way commissioner ;  and  for  twelve  years  was 
also  commissioner  of  the  drainage  district 
of  Lake  Fork  townsJiip.  He  and  his  wife 
are  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Christian  church  of  ]\Iount  Pulaski,  in  which 
he  has  ser\-ed  as  elder  for  se\-en  years. 
They  have  celebrated  their  fiftieth  wedding 
anniver.sary,  having  traveled  life's  journey 
together  for  over  half  a  century,  and  they 
are  among  the  most  highly  respected  and 
honored  citizens  of  their  community.  Up- 
right and  honorable  in  all  things,  Mr.  Gasa- 
way  has  gained  the  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact,  and 
well  merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
uniformh'  held. 


.VXDREW  KEYS. 


.Andrew  Kevs.  a  wealthy  retired  farmer 
of  Oran  township,  who  is  residing  on  the 
old  h(.)mestead  only  a  short  distance  from 
Beason,  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
June  J  J.  J  845,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Alary  il{\ans)  Keys.  In  the  family  were 
six  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
and  Francis,  a  brother,  died  on  a  farm  ad- 
joining our  sul)ject's.  He  was  married  and 
at  his  death  left  a  widriw  and  five  children. 
The  others  are  still  living.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Ireland,  where  his  parents  spent 
their  entire  lives,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject being  a  very  successful  farmer  of  that 
count rw  In  1833.  James  Keys  crossed  the 
Iiroad  Atlantic,  and  on  landing  in  Xew  York 
])roceeded  to  (Jhio,  where  he  spent  about 
nine  \ears.  In  184-'  he  removed  to  Brown 
Ci;uniy.  Illinois,  and  two  years  later  settled 
in  Pike  county,  this  state,  where  he  success- 
full}'  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
Ids  death,  which  occurred  in  1852.  His  wife. 


ANDREW   KEYS. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


597 


who  was  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  survived 
him  many  year.«i.and  died  in  Octoher.  1893. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Andrew 
Kevs  was  reared  and  educated,  and  in  1865 
came  to  Logan  county  with  'his  mother, 
brother  and  two  sisters.  Mrs.  Keys  first 
purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  where  our  subject  now  resides,  and 
later  added  eighty  arres  to  it.  All  of  this 
land  is  now  owned  by  our  subject  and  his 
brother's   family. 

Seven  years  later  Mr.  Keys  located  on 
his  present  farm,  having  at  that  time  eighty 
acres,  which  his  mother  gave  him.  and  in 
his  farming  operations  he  has  since  met 
with  marked  success.  As  time  passed  he 
added  to  his  landed  possessions,  and  is  today 
the  owner  of  nine  liundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  valuable  land  in  Logan  and  De\\'itt  coun- 
ties. On  the  old  homestead,  near  Beason, 
where  ^Xlrs.  Keys  settled,  he  has  built  a  fine 
residence,  and  is  now  living  a  retired  life, 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 

'Sir.  Keys  was  married,  February  15, 
1872.  to  ;Miss  Pamelia  Johnston,  who  died 
January  29.  1893.  Of  the  nine  children 
born  to  this  union,  five  are  still  living,  name- 
ly: Andrew  E.,  born  January  6,  1876: 
Francis  A..  December  3,  1877:  Hester  O.. 
June  9,  1882;  Ethel  J.,  April  15.  1886: 
Nellie  L.,  October  14,  1888;  and  James  A., 
who  was  born  December  12,  1873,  and  died 
August  24,  1875.  All  the  cliildren  live  at 
home. 

Andrew  Jolniston,  the  father  of  ^Mrs. 
Keys,  was  born  in  Ireland.  May  15,  1813, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1839.  Af- 
ter spending  three  years  in  Ohio,  he  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  for  the  past  thirty- 
six  years  has  been  a  resident  of  Logan 
county.  He  has  led  a  very  active  and  useful 
life,  his  occupation  being  that  of  farming, 
but  lias  now  laid  aside  all  business  cares,  and 


is  spending  his  declining  years  in  ease  and 
comfort  witli  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Keys  of 
this  review,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
eight.  His  father.  William  John.ston,  died 
in  July,  1S35.  and  a  year  later  his  mother 
came  to  the  new  world  to  make  her  home 
with  her  children  in  Ohio.  Her  death  oc- 
curred in  1843. 

Mr.  Kevs  aufl  his  family  are  meml)ers 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are 
quite  prominent  socially  in  the  community 
where  they  reside.  By  his  ballot  he  sup- 
ports the  Republican  party.  He  has  served 
as  school  director  for  nine  years,  and  in 
April,  1 90 1,  was  elected  supervisor  of  Oran 
township,  which  office  he  is  now  most  cred- 
itably filling.  He  is  a  man  of  exemplary 
habits,  commendable  purpose  and  unbending 
integrity,  and  in  all  lifes  relations  merits 
the  confidence  which  is  so  freely  accorded 
him.  In  business  affairs  he  has  prosi)ered 
and  his  course  has  ever  been  such  as  to  gain 
for  him  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 
all  with  whom  lie  has  been  brought  in  con- 
tact. 


THOMAS  L.   SULLI\'AX. 

One  of  the  representative  and  prominent 
farmers  of  Oran  township  is  Thomas  L. 
Sullivan,  who  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  seventy-seven  and  a 
half  acres,  pleasantly  located  three  miles 
northwest  of  Beason.  He  was  born  in  Lo- 
gan county,  Ohio,  August  7,  183 1,  and  is 
a  son  of  Lewis  and  Lucy  G.  Sullivan,  in 
whose  family  were  twelve  children,  namely : 
Henry  W"..  William  J.,  EHzalieth  J.,  Alfred 
L.,  Thomas  L.,  Angeline,  ilargaret  I., 
Mary.  David.  Lewis  W'.,  Benjamin  P.  and 
Louisa,  nf  whom  six  are  still  living.  His 
paternal  grantl father.  William  Henry  SuUi- 


598 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


van,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  in  early 
life  removed  to  Virginia.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whoan  reached 
man  and  womanhond.  The  father  of  onr 
subject  was  born  in  1797,  and  in  1857  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Alenard  county,  where 
he  followed  farming  for  many  years,  mak- 
ing it  his  life  occupation.  His  last  days, 
howexcr.  were  spent  in  ease  and  retirement 
from  labor.  He  died  November  14,  1889, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  April  29,  1864. 
She  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  n 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Lane,  who  followed 
the  shoemaker's  trade  in  early  life  and  later 
engaged  in  farming. 

Reared  n])on  a  farm.  Thmnas  L.  Sulli- 
van obtained  his  literary  education  in  the 
countrv  schools,  and  actpured  a  gncd  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits. 
On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  in  1856, 
h.e  engaged  in  farming  in  ]\Ienard  comity  for 
about  twO'  years,  anil  then  came  to  Logan 
county,  settling  on  a  farm  within  a  stone's 
throw  of  his  present  i;lace.  He  has  since 
made  his  home  in  Oran  t( jwnship.  and  in  his 
farming  operations  has  met  with  marked 
success,  becoming  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
best  improved  and  most  xalualile  farms  of 
its  size  in  the  locality. 

On  February  19,  185O.  ^Ir.  Sullivan 
married  Miss  Ellen  J.  Rhoades.  a  daughter 
of  Henr_\-  Rhoades,  of  Maryland,  who  was 
a  miller  hy  trade,  but  devoted  the  latter  part 
(jf  his  life  to  farming.  Six  children  blessed 
this  union,  namel}' :  Lewis  H..  who  mar- 
ried Essie  Seal ;  David  L..  who  married  Em- 
ma Milburn;  Minnie  A.,  wife  of  Charles 
Trigg;  Rosetta  L..  who  married  Joseph 
Montgomery,  .September  2^,  1877,  and  died 
January  3,  1879;  Thomas  Benton,  who  died 
September  26,  1862;  and  Grace  Hallie.  who 
died  January  8,  1869.  In  their  religious 
connections     this     famih'     are     Methodist-^. 


The  wife  and  mother,  who  was  a  most  es- 
timable lady,  died  on  the  31st  of  August, 
1889. 

Politicall}-  ]\Ir.  Sullivan  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  socially  affil- 
iates with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  liis  community,  and  is 
a  man  who  commands  the  respect  and  con- 
iidence  of  all  who  know  him,  for  he  is  up- 
right and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings  and 
steadfast  in  his  friendships. 


JOHN  H.  II.\MMERTON. 

John  H.  Hammerton  is  a  leading  repre- 
sentative of  the  business  interests  of  Beason, 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising as  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Hammerton  &  Parks.  Of  excellent  busi- 
ness ability  and  broad  resources,  he  has  at- 
tained a  ijrominent  place  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  his  part  of  the  county. 
He  has  won  success  by  his  well-directed, 
energetic  efforts,  and  the  prosperity  that  has 
come  to  him  is  certainly  well  deserved. 

Mr.  Hammerton  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
b<.:rn  in  Pike  county.  .\])ril  7.  1857.  His 
father.  Elias  Hammerton,  was  born  on  the 
3d  of  May.  1826,  in  England,  where  his 
parents,  Stephen  and  Fannie  Hammerton, 
spent  their  entire  li\-es  as  farming  people, 
and  where  they  died  after  their  son  reached 
manhood.  Elias  Hammerton  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land,  and  was 
there  married.  May  15,  1851,  to  Miss  Mary 
Cooling,  the  distinguished  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  ( Eithershaw)  Cool- 
ing, who  were  also  life-long  residents  of 
England.  In  1S55  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammer- 
ton sailed   for  the  United   States,    and    on 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


599- 


landing  in  Xew  York  prweedecl  at  once  to 
Pike  county,  Illinois,  where  they  spent  three 
or  four  years  in  farming.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  they  came  to  Logan  county,  where  the 
father  purchased  a  farm,  and  to  its  culti\  a- 
tiiin  he  devoted  his  energies  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  2i<.  1880.  He  was 
actively  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
county  as  mie  of  its  fcircmost  citizens,  and 
serxed  as  school  director  for  some  time.  He 
was  also  a  ])rominent  memher  and  deacou  in 
the  Cumherland  Presbyterian  church.  '  So 
successful  was  he  in  business  aflfairs  that  at 
his  death  he  left  to  his  family  considerable 
property,  and  his  widnw  still  resides  mi  the 
home  farm.  She  was  horn  .March  17.  1831. 
Of  the  six  children  burn  to  them  four  sur- 
vive the  father. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  John  H.  Ham- 
merton  acc<impanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  a  farm  one  mile  north  of  Beason, 
and  there  he  grew  to  manhood,  assisting  in 
the  labors  of  the  fields  and  attending  the 
local  scbiinls.  In  1885  he  emtarked  in  the 
butcher  and  hardware  business  in  Beason. 
which  he  carried  on  for  four  years,  and  on 
selling  out  opened  his  present  general  store, 
taking  as  a  partner  A.  B.  Den.seth.  This 
connection  continued  until  January.  1901, 
when  Mr.  Denseth  was  succeeded  by 
A.  F.  I'arks.  and  business  has  since  been 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Ham- 
merton  &  Parks.  They  carry  a  large  and 
well  selected  stock  of  gaieral  merchandise 
valued  at  live  thousand  dollars  and  liave 
built  up  an  excellent  iraile,  which  is  con- 
stantly increasing. 

On  the  17th  of  February.  1881.  was 
celebrated  liis  marriage  with  Aliss  Carrie 
A.  l--ortman.  a  daughter  of  John  d.  I'ort- 
man.  'I'hey  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  .Mr.  Ilammerton  is 
also  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythia- 


and  Masonic  fraternities.  Politically  he  is 
an  ardent  DemcK-rat,  and  as  a  public-spirited 
and  ])rogressive  citizen  he  takes  a  commend- 
able interest  in  public  affairs  and  does  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 


THOMAS   D.   HOWF.. 

Thinias  1).  llowe,  a  prosperous  fanner 
residing  on  section  10.  Lake  Fork  townshi]). 
Logan  county,  of  which  he  is  supervisor, 
was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  February 
17.  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  .\bner  and  Jane 
( (iasawav  )  Howe.  When  he  was  less  than 
two  years  old  his  parents  brought  him  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Logan  county,  where 
his  boyhood  days  were  spent.  He  received 
a  fair  common  school  education.  When  he 
was  only  eleven  years  of  age  his  father  died 
and  he  began  to  work  for  himself  by  the 
month. 

In  Octo.bcr.  1877.  he  was  married  to 
Miss  ;Missouri  C.  Jennings,  of  Cumberland' 
county,  Illinois.  He  rents  and  operates  :i 
good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eight}-  acres 
in  Lake  Fork  township,  this  county,  which 
he  has  brought  into  an  excellent  state  of  cul- 
tivation .  The  following  family  has  been 
born  to  himself  and  wife,  namely:  Emma 
Jane,  Abner,  Ira,  Bessie,  Dora,  .\nna, 
V.dnh.  Odes,  Flossie,  Thomas  and  Kenneth. 
Mr.  Howe  was  reared  a  Democrat,  but 
although  he  has  Ijeen  a  delegate  to  \arious 
conventions  he  lias  taken  but  little  interest 
in  politics.  He  served  as  collector  for  the 
townshij)  f(ir  twelve  years  and  also  as  clerk 
for  two.  \-e;irs.  In  i8yi  he  was  elected  su- 
jicrvisor  and  is  now  serxing  on  the  judiciary 
connnittee  and  chairman  of  the  committee 
on   naupers  of  the  cast  half  of  the  county. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Latham,  Xo.  358,  and  has 
filled  all  the  chairs.  His  pleasant,  genial 
manner  wins  for  him  many  friends  and  he  is 
a  man  of  influence  in  the  community  which 
he  is  so  ablv  serving  as  a  public  official. 


WILLIA^I  S.  BEA\'ER. 

William  S.  Beaver,  a  resident  of  Corwin 
township,  Logan  county,  is  a  native  son  of 
that  township,  born  June  21,  1S65.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Xancy  (STiasteen) 
Beaver,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Until  he  was  nineteen  years 
of  age  our  subject  attended  the  ?^lill  Grove 
school  during  the  winter  months,  while  he 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  during  the 
summers,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof 
until  his  marriage. 

On  October  15.  1893.  ^Ir.  Beaver 
wedded  I\Iiss  Anna  Margaret  Sliultz.  wlm 
was  burn  in  Logan  county,  ^^larch  18.  1871, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Lena  ( Burk- 
hart)  Shultz.  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Germany.  Soon  after  their  mar- 
riage her  parents  came  to  America,  locating 
first  in  \\"est  Lincoln  township,  Logan  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  but  later  they  lived  in  Sheridan 
township  for  twenty-three  years.  Mr. 
Shultz  now  resides  on  one  of  Mr.  Beaver's 
farms  in  Corwin  township.  Mrs.  Beaver 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  this 
countv.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beaver  are  as  follows:  Floyd  ^Marshall, 
born  October  29,  1895  :  Lena  May.  April  19, 
1896;  Bessie  Leona,  September  10,  1897: 
and  Willbert  Sherman,  July  i8',  1898. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  took 
charge  of  the  farm  he  now  occupies  and  is 
regarded  throughout  the  countv  as  one  of 


the  most  successful  and  progressive  agricul- 
turists and  stock-raisers  of  this  locality.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  short  horn 
cattle.  He  owns  four  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  some  of  the  finest  land  in  Logan 
county,  while  his  elegant  brick  residence 
would  do  credit  to  a  large  town,  in  its  ap- 
pearance and  modern  completeness.  Al- 
though ilr.  Beav?r  is  an  active  Republican, 
he,  like  his  father,  absolutely  refuses  to  ac- 
cejn  political  office.  His  religious  member- 
ship is  with  the  Methodist  church,  in  which 
he  is  prominent,  and  he  enjoys  the  esteem 
of  the  whole  communitv. 


FRAXCIS  M.  HARLEY. 

Francis  M.  Harley.  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous and  substantial  citizens  of  Atlanta  town- 
ship, wlidse  life  has  been  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  is  a  native  of  Lugan  coun- 
tv. 1)1  .rn  Julv  8,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Lewis 
and  Elizabeth  ( Haughey )  Harley.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
son  (,f  Abraham  and  Catherine  (Riff)  Har- 
ley. The  grandfather  was  born  in  Alont- 
gomerv  county,  Pennsylvania.  October  12, 
1790,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  which  he  follcjwed  for  some 
vears.  In  his  native  ccunty  he  was  married, 
Decemlier  22.  1814,  tu  Miss  Catherine  Riff, 
who  was  born  Februar}-  21,  1784,  and  five 
vears  after  his  marriage  removed  to  Ches- 
ter coutny,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  milling  Ixisiness  for  a  time.  Subse- 
quently he  lived  in  various  places  until  1830, 
when  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  ten  years 
later  came  to  McLean  county.  Illinois, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  other  pur- 
suits until  1863,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio, 
making  that  state  his  home  until  his  death, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


whicli  occurrred  in  Jamiary,  1880.  when  he 
was  ninety  years  of  age.  His  wife  Cath- 
erine passed  away  about  1853,  and  he  later 
married  again,  but  had  no  children  by  the 
second  marriage.  Those  by  the  tirst  union 
were  Elias :  Isaiah :  Abraham ;  John ;  Lewis, 
the  father  of  our  subject;  Jacob,  who  died 
in  infancy ;  and  Aaron. 

Lewis  Harle}-  was  born  October  Jj. 
ib.21,  and  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  various  removals  during  his  early  life, 
remaining  with  them  until  1847,  \vhen  he 
started  out  to  earn  his  own  lixelihood  as  a 
day  laborer  on  the  farms  in  the  vicinity  of 
his  home.  For  a  time  he  also  engaged  in 
milling,  and  in  1856  located  on  the  fami  in 
Atlanta  township,  this  county,  now  occu- 
pied by  our  subject.  On  February  ij,  1851. 
he  married  Miss  Elizaljeth  Haughey,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  who  was  born  August  7.  1831. 
She  came  to  tliis  county  with  her  parents 
and  settled  in  Atlanta  township  in  1848. 
]\fr.  and  Mrs.  Haughey,  however,  spent 
their  last  days  in  ^IcLean  county.  When 
the  father  located  upon  our  subject's  pres- 
ent farm  it  was  all  wild  and  unimproved, 
but  he  at  once  set  to  work  to  make  it  one 
oi  the  best  famis  in  the  county  and  in  this 
lie  was  successful.  His  farm  labors  were 
interrupted  in  1862  by  his  service  in  the 
army.  In  August  of  that  year  he  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Seven- 
teenth Illinbis  Infantry,  and  although  he 
ser\ed  three  years  he  was  ne\er  wounded 
or  never  off  duty,  but  was  with  his  regiment 
in  all  their  marches  and  battles.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  resumed  farming,  and  by  in- 
dustry, perseverance,  and  economy  was  able 
to  accumulate  a  handsome  property.  He 
died  January  3,  1S73.  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  His  most  estimable 
wife  now  makes  her  home  in  McLean  coun- 


ty. The  children  born  to  them  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Abraham  Thomas,  who  was  born 
January  22.  185 j,  and  died  Jime  22,  1S54; 
and  Francis  Clarion,  our  subject. 

To  the  country  schools  of  Logan  ctmnty 
Francis  M.  Harley  is  indebted  for  his  edu- 
cational advantages.  When  not  in  school 
his  time  was  devoted  to  the  work  of  the 
home  farm,  and  he  soon  became  thoroughly 
familiar  with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  agriculturist.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one he  commenced  farming  on  his  own 
account,  and  so  successful  has  he  lieen  that 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable  place  of 
six  hundred  acres,  on  which  he  has  a  fine 
brick  residence  and  a  good  set  of  farm 
buildings.  This  beautiful  place  is  conveni- 
ently located  on  section  14,  Atlanta  town- 
ship, within  four  and  one-half  miles  of  At- 
lanta and  two  miles  from  ^IcLean. 

On  February  i,  1877,  Mr.  Harley  mar- 
ried Miss  Delia  Tuttle,  a  daughter  of  Guy 
H.  Tuttle,  one  of  Atlanta's  most  prosperous 
and  wealth)-  farmers,  and  by  this  union  one 
child  was  born,  Edna,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Ed  Hawes,  a  leading  merchant  of  At- 
lanta, conducting  one  of  the  largest  dry 
goods  and  men's  clothing  establishments  in 
that  place.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
when  Mrs.  Hawes  was  two  years  of  age 
she  had  two  grandmothers,  one  grandfather, 
two  great-grandfathers  and  two  great- 
grandmothers  living. 

Socially  ^Ir.  Harley  affiliates  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  M(xlern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  po- 
litically he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  never  cared  for  the  honors- 
or  emoluments  of  public  office,  preferring 
rather  to. devote  his  entire  time  and  energies 
to  his  personal  affairs.  His  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful career,  and  his  course  has  ever  been 


■602 


THE   BIOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


such  as  to  commend  him  tn  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  all  with  whcm  he  has  heen 
brought  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  so- 
cial life. 


JOSEPH  P.  LUCAS. 

Among  Logan  county's  native  sons  who 
ha\e  become  well  known  in  agricultural 
circles  is  Joseph  P.  Lucas,  whose  home  is  on 
section  36,  Orvil  township.  He  was  born  in 
Corwin  township,  August  14,  1847,  '"s  par- 
ents being  George  ;\L  P.  and  Elizabeth 
( Pence)  Lucas.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Price)  Lucas,  who  were  born  in 
Morris  county,  New  Jersey.  The  great- 
grandparents  of  our  subject  were  Abraham 
and  Marcy  (Kelsey)  Lucas,  also  natives  of 
that  county. 

The  father  of  our  subject  spent  his  early 
life  upon  a  farm  in  Ohio  until  i8_m,  when  he 
acci:mpanied  his  parents  tm  their  removal  to 
Illinois,  settling  first  in  the  village  of  L-ish 
Grove  and  later  in  Pekin,  where  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  followed  his  chosen 
occupations  of  a  carpenter  and  millwright. 
From  Pekin  the  family  remo\-ed  to  Corwin 
township,  Logan  county,  where  George 
Lucas  was  married.  He  had  previously 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  under  his 
father's  direction,  and  followed  that  occu- 
patiiin  throughout  life,  being  employed  :;s 
one  iif  the  head  carpenters  in  the  erection 
of  the  old  state  house  at  Springfield.  In 
1840  lie  returned  to  Corwin  township,  this 
count V,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death  in  1895.  His  widow  still  survives 
him  and  resides  with  her  children.  She  was 
burn  near  Urbana,  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents, 
who  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
Corwin  townsliJ). 


Joseph  P.  Lucas  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  the  others 
being  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Wigginton  of 
West  Lincoln  township;  Minerva,  wife  of 
George  Kitson  of  Thayer  county,  Nebraska  ; 
]\Iary  Ann,  deceased  wife  of  Thomas  War- 
ren :  Eliza  and  Harriet,  both  deceased ;  Lor- 
etta,  twin  sister  of  the  latter  and  wife  of 
William  Martin,  who  lives  near  Mount  Pu- 
laski, this  county ;  and  Sarah  Jane,  the  eld- 
est, wh(_>  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  began  his  business  career  as 
a  carpenter  in  Logan  county,  and  followed 
that  pursuit  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
In  1872  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margaret  Flick,  a  native  of  Mason  county, 
Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Flick,  who 
now  resides  in  Linculn.  Six  children  have 
been  b(  rn  to  them,  namely:  George  O., 
Edgar  W.,  Katie  E.,  Sadie  C,  Elmer  J.  and 
Winnie  E.,  all  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lucas  removed 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  thirteen  years,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  settled  upon  his  present 
fine  farm  on  section  36,  Orvil  township, 
where  he  owns  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  well  improved  land  devoted  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Lucas 
has  held  several  minor  offices  in  his  town- 
ship and  is  a  firm  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  earnest  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Lincoln,  and  throughout  the  en- 
tire community  they  are  very  highly  respect- 
ed, numbering  their  friends  by  legions. 

URIAH  HILL. 

Uriah  Hill,  formerly  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  Lincoln,  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  rest  which  he 
has  trulv  earned  and  richlv  deserves  bv  rea- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


603 


st)n  of  his  industrious  efforts  of  former 
years.  He  was  Ixirn  ou  the  12th  of  August, 
1845.  i"  Plaintield,  Xew  Jersey,  of  which 
state  his  parents,  William  R.  and  CaroHne 
(Harris)  Hill,  were  also  natives,  the  former 
born  Augfust  14,  18 10.  the  latter  September 
20,  1814.  The  father's  family  is  of  Irish 
descent,  while  the  Harrises  are  of  Scotch  ex- 
traction. Our  subject's  maternal  grand- 
father was  James  Harris,  also  a  native  of 
Xew  Jersey.  William  R.  Hill,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  followed  contracting  and  build- 
ing as  a  life  work.  In  1857  he  came  with 
his  family  to  Illinois,  and  made  his  home  in 
Tazewell  county  until  1870,  when  he  came 
to  Lincoln,  and  here  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  April  15,  1889.  His  wife 
sun-ived  him  for  some  time  and  passed 
away  January  9,  1901,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-seven  years. 

Uriah  Hill  began  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Plainfield,  Xew  Jersey,  and  after 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  this  state  at- 
tended school  in  Lincoln  during  the  winter 
months  for  some  years.  He  remained  on 
the  home  farm  giving  his  father  the  benefit 
of  his  labors  until  1870.  when  he  com- 
menced clerking  for  J.  B.  Paisley,  a  grocer 
of  Lincoln.  Here  he  embarked  in  the  un- 
dertaking business  on  his  own  account  in 
1885.  and  carried  it  on  quite  successfully  un- 
til August,  1896.  when  he  disposed  of  his 
business  in  Lincoln.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
opened  a  branch  establishment  at  Green 
Valley,  Illinois,  which  he  still  retains.  In 
February,  1897.  Mr.  Hill  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  nephew,  F.  C.  Alexander,  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Alexander  &  Hill 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  until  April, 
1901,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  partner,  and 
is  now  practically  living  a  retired  life.  He 
owns  a  good  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Decatur  countv,  Iowa,  a  mile 


and  a  half  from  Garden  Grove,  which  he 
rents.  He  is  the  second  largest  stockholder 
in  the  Lincoln  Xational  Bank,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers  in  1885,  at  that 
time  taking  forty  shares  at  one  hundred 
dollars  each. 

On  the  _'9th  of  October,  1872.  Mr.  Hill 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet 
McCord  of  Lincoln,  a  daughter  of  Israel 
McCord,  who  also  came  to  this  state  from 
X'ew  Jersey,  and  became  one  of  the  promin- 
ent citizens  of  Lincoln,  ilrs.  Hill  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  Jacksonville,  Illi- 
nois. To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were 
born  three  children,  namely :  Caroline  ^L. 
now  the  wife  of  John  M.  Flick;  Luella  M., 
at  home:  and  George  P.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Politically  Mr.  Hill  is  identified  wiUi  the 
Democratic  party,  and  served  as  coroner  of 
Logan  county  for  four  years.  He  is  a  Scot- 
tish Rite  Mason,  a  memlier  of  Logan  Lodge, 
Xo.  210,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Lincoln  Chapter.  X'o. 
147,  R.  A.  yi.,  Mahomet  Temple  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine  at  Peoria,  and  the  Peoria 
Consistory,  and  he  also  belongs  to  Lincoln 
Lodge,  Xo.  204.  I.  O.  O.  F..  in  which  he  has 
passed  all  the  cliairs  and  is  now  deputy 
grand  master  of  the  local  district.  Relig- 
iously both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which 
they  united  in  1868.  and  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  its  board  of  stewards  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.  He  has  a  pleasant  home 
at  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  West  Si.xth 
streets,  where  he  is  now  living  in  ease  and 
quiet  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 
.\ccijmi)lishment  and  progress  ever  imply  la- 
Ixjr.  energy  and  diligence,  and  it  was  those 
qualities  that  enabled  Mr.  Hill  to  rise  from 
the  ranks  of  the  many  and  stand  among  the 
successful  few.  He  is  one  of  the  highly  re- 
sijected  citizens  of  Lincoln,  and  his  long  resi- 


6o4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dence  here  and  the  active  part  has  lias  taken 
in  advancing  its  interests  well  entitles  him  to 
representation  in  its  history. 


JACOB  B.   HARRISOX. 

Jacoh  B.  Harrison,  one  of  the  pr(jsper- 
ous  farmers  of  Logan  county,  whose  home 
is  on  section  8,  Laenna  township,  where  he 
carries  on  hoth  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  was  horn  in  Jackson  county,  Ohio, 
jMarch  15,  1851,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacoh 
L.  and  Sarah  (Schock)  Harrison.  The 
paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
AVilliam  and  Mary  (Fawcett)  Harrison. 
Jacob  L.  Harrison  was  a  native  of  Rocking- 
ham county,  Virginia,  and  in  early  life  was 
a  clerk  in  a  store  in  his  nati\e  state,  where 
he  li\-ed  until  middle  age.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  is  still  living,  aged  eighty-two, 
being  born  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1818. 

The  father  died  when  dur  subject  was 
only  two  years  of  age  and  the  family  was 
left  in  limited  circumstances,  and  from  early 
childhood  Jacob  B.  was  forced  to  work  very 
hard  so  that  he  hail  l)Ut  little  time  to  de\-ote 
to  acquiring  an  education.  Such  (jppor- 
tunities  as  were  offered  him,  however,  he 
eagerly  grasped,  and  helped  his  mother  on 
the  farm  whenever  needed,  and  she  was 
thus  enabled  to  keep  the  family  of  four 
children  together  till  of  age.  Three  are 
still  living. 

When  about  twenty-one  i\Ir,  Harrison 
left  home,  and,  coming  to  Illinois,  settled  in 
Logan  county  and  rented  land  in  partner- 
ship with  a  man  who  died  a  year  later. 
After  working  on  the  uncultivated  Illinois 
prairie  for  a  time  he  returned  to  his  Ohio 
home   and    remained    there    about    two   and 


one-half  years.  On  February  20,  1877,  he 
was  married  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  to 
.Miss  Sarah  Combs,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Ann  (^Rose)  Combs,  and  returned  with 
his  bride  to  Ohio,  where  they  resided  seven 
}ears,  he  being  in  charge  of  the  pumping 
station  on  the  Ohio  Southern  Railroad  at 
Simpson,  and  owning  the  property  on 
which  the  station  was  located.  In  1884 
they  came  to  Alt.  Pulaski  and  engaged 
in  farming,  and  in  1893  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Laenna 
township.  In  addition  to  this  he  controls 
about  twLi  hundred  and  fnrt_\-  acres  more, 
making  four  hundred  in  all,  and  operates 
the  property  according  to  the  latest  im- 
proved methods.  Mr.  Harrison  is  one  of 
the  well-knoAvn  horsemen  and  stock  dealers 
of  this  section,  keeping  some  fine  stock  on 
his  place  and  also  dealing  extensively  and 
successfully  in  both. 

Seven  children  ha\c  been  born  to  ]\Ir. 
and  ]\Irs.  Harrison,  namely:  Katie,  who 
stays  with  her  grandfather  Combs;  Perry 
Homer;  Anna  M. ;  Delia  H. ;  Helen  M. ; 
Alice  May;  and  Glenn  Hobart.  In  politics 
our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never 
sought  for  office.  Both  he  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  are  very  highly  respected  in  the 
community  in  which  they  make  their  home. 
yiv.  Harrison  come  to  this  locality  in  mod- 
erate circumstances,  and  by  his  c>wn  efforts 
has  prospered,  and  deser\es  a  prominent 
place  in  the  record  of  the  successful  men  of 
Logan  county. 


THOMAS  N.  BEAVER. 

Thomas  N.  Beaver,  who  is  one  of  the 
progressive  farmers  and  large  landowners 
of  Logan  county.  Illinois,  was  born  here 
June  29,   1857,  '"1'^'  's  a  son  of  James  and 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


J.   B.   HARRISON. 


MRS.  J 


HARRISON. 


UBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


607 


Xancy  (  Sliasteen )  Beaver,  \\li<i  are  repre- 
sented in  another  page  of  tliis  volume.  Born 
of  sturdy  ancestry  and  reare<l  in  a  pioneer 
home,  our  subject  grew  to  manliond  ])os- 
sessed  of  lx>tli  go<xl  liealth.  good  morals  and 
abundant  energy.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  district  school  known  as  Mill 
Grove  school,  in  Corwin  township,  where  his 
attendance  was  constant  during  the  winter 
months  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 
His  fathers  farming  and  cattle  interests 
were  extensive,  and  he  assisted  him  verv 
materially,  until  his  marriage. 

On  October  25,  1876,  Air.  Beaver  mar- 
ried Miss  Jennie  lanson,  of  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, who  was  born  in  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, September  6,  1S56.  She  was  a  daught- 
er of  William  lanson,  a  native  of  England, 
and  his  wife,  Matilda  (  Meeker)  lanson,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  in  which  state  they  were 
married.  As  a  young  man  Mr.  lanson  came 
to  America  and  located  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  When  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Beaver, 
was  alxmt  three  years  of  age,  he  started  on 
a  journey  to  England,  and  as  he  was  never 
afterward  heard  from,  it  was  supjKised  that 
he  died  on  Ixiard  the  shi]).  The  mother  sur- 
vived until  her  little  daugliter  was  six  years 
old.  and  then  she  too  passed  away.  In  their 
family  were  six  children,  namely :  John, 
died  unmarried,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years:  Xeoma  married  Edward  O'Flarrity. 
and  they  lived  until  death,  in  Havana,  Illi- 
nois, and  left  a  family  cf  six  children  ;  Mary 
married  Eli  (jray,  of  Havana,  and  both  are 
now  decea.se<l:  Grace  is  the  widow  of  John 
Stull  and  resides  in  Havana;  Moses  married 
Belle  Gilson  and  lives  in  Dakota :  Jennie  is 
now  Airs.  Beaver :  and  Charles  first  marrietl 
Anna  Kilaisbarger.  and  second,  Caroline 
Witter,  and  resides  in  Mason  county,  lili- 
n.ois. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beaver  seven  children 


were  born,  as  follows:  Zella  L..  born  May 
13,  1878,  was  married  Octolier  7,  1897,  to 
William  Richards,  a  farmer  of  Corwin 
township,  antl  they  have  two  children,  Xola 
ind  an  infant  daughter:  Sadie,  born  June 
24,  1 88 1,  is  at  home;  Edgar  and  Edward, 
twins,  were  born  Xovember  12.  1882,  and 
the  former  died  August  2S.  1898.  but  the 
latter  is  at  home:  Alma,  born  August  15. 
1888.  Clarence  E.,  born  May  i,  1893,  and 
TMioebe  C.  born  June  21.  1895.  are  all  at 
!i(  mie. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Beaver  came  to 
-J.c  farm  which  the  family  now  enjoy  and 
occupy.  It  consists  of  four  hundred  and 
forty-nine  acres  of  rich  land,  with  a  most 
attractive  residence,  commo<lious  barns  and 
accomuKxlations  for  large  herds  of  high 
grade  stock.  Air.  Beaver  making  a  si)ecialty 
of  shorthorn  cattle.  All  of  his  grain  raised 
on  tile  farm  is  fed  to  cattle  and  hogs.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  Rqniblican.  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  among  the  leading  mem- 
bers and  supporters  of  the  Methodist  churcii. 


r.EXJAMIX  F.  GARDXER.  M.  D. 

One  of  the  oldest  practicing  physicians 
and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  state 
of  Illinois  is  Benjamin  F.  Gard- 
ner, who  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren born  to  Rodman  and  Mary  (  Worstell) 
(lardner.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Xew  York  state  and  went  to  Ohio 
v>hen  a  cliild.  There  he  grew  to  manhood, 
following  the  life  of  a  farmer.  His  death 
occurred  in  that  state  in  1865  and  the 
mother  died  in  1881.  During  the  war  of 
1812  he  served  his  country  faithfully,  de- 
fending the  stars  and  strii)es  until  hostili- 
ties ceased. 


6o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Dr.  Gardner  was  born  on  the  old  liome- 
stead  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  June  22,  1818, 
and  his  boyliood  days  were,  spent  in  attend- 
liUce  at  tlie  comnKjn  schools.  When  a  mere 
lad  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and 
Avith  his  meager  earnings  supported  his 
mother  and  sister,  while  he  devoted  his  leis- 
ure time  to  the  study  of  medicine.  .Vt  the 
age  of  twenty  he  began  his  preparation  for 
that  profession  vmder  the  directions  of  Dr. 
Xorris,  of  Cincinnati,  graduating  from  his 
institution  and  from  the  Ohio  Eclectic  Aled- 
ical  Institute  of  the  same  city  in  the  year 
of  i860.  Prior  to  his  graduation  he  prac- 
ticed for  some  twenty  years,  serving  four- 
teeen  years  in  the  profession  at  Waynesville, 
Ohio',  four  years  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
one  years  at  Alton,  Illinois.  In  March,  1866, 
he  moved  to  Atlanta,  Logan  county,  where 
he  has  since  practiced  and  is  looked  upon  as 
one  of  the  most  conscientious  and  careful 
physicians  in  the  cnunty.  Immediately 
upon  coming  to  this  city  he  htted  U))  a  hand- 
some drug  store  with  various  modern  ap- 
pointments and  a  full  and  well  assorted  line 
of  drugs,  and  here  he  has  since  continued 
to  do  a  prosperous  and  successful  business. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1847,  the  Doc- 
t(jr  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Hauser.  Eight  children  blesscil  this  happy 
union,  of  whom  six  are  still  living. 

Dr.  Gardner  has  takeii  an  active  and 
leading  part  in  politics,  having  always  been 
a  stanch  and  ardent  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  In  fact,  he  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  that  political  biuly  in  both 
De\Mtt  and  Logan  counties.  Ahhuugh  al- 
ways a  busy  man,  he  still  fcmnd  time  to  de- 
vote to  the  interests  of  the  pulilic  and  the 
party.  He  stumped  both  De^^'itt  and  Lo- 
gan counties  during  Lincoln's  memorable 
campaign  and  his  advice  has  often  and  suc- 
cessfully been  sought,  not  only  Ii)-  those  in 


public  life,  but  by  a  large  number  of  friends. 
While,  as  has  been  said,  he  has  always  ta- 
ken a  dee])  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
party,  he  has  always  declined  to  become  a 
candidate  for  office.  At  the  present  time 
he  holds  the  position  of  \'ice-i)resident  of  the 
Atlanta  National  Bank. 

The  Doctor,  although  in  his  eighty-third 
year,  is  active  and  energetic  and  still  follows 
closely  the  currents  events  of  the  day  and 
keeps  himself  well  informed  on  matters  per- 
taining to  his  professi(jn  and  still  attends 
and  prescribes  fi.r  many  of  his  patient'^ 
whom  he  has  attended  fi;r  so  many  year>. 
His  store  still  presents  the  attractive  ap- 
pearance that  it  did  in  his  more  active  life, 
it  l>eing  stocked  at  present  with  drugs  and 
druggist  sundries  valued  at  nver  thirty-five 
hundred  dollars. 

In  his  lung  prufessional  career  he  has 
much  to  be  ])roud  of.  He  has  been  emi- 
nently successful  in  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession.  His  strength  has  been 
in  a  good  education,  a  sound  knowledge  of 
medicine,  and  a  careful  study  of  the  pa- 
tients under  bis  care;  His  private  life  has 
lieen  as  ]3ure  as  his  professional  life  and  he 
lias  e\-er  held  the  highest  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  the  community  in  which  he  has 
so  long  dwelt. 


CHARLES   P.   BRIDGE. 

One  of  the  most  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful men  in  Elkhart  is  Charles  P.  Bridge, 
whose  tenacit\-  and  business  capacity  is  best 
illustrated  1)_\-  the  fact  that  for  twenty  years 
he  has  missed  but  one  pay-day  as  telegraph 
operator  and  station  agent  for  the  Chicago 
(S:  Alton  Railroad  Company.  He  came  to 
Elkhart  in  1881,  and  has  since  made  his  in- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


609 


fluence  felt  in  the  business  and  social  life  of 
the  town,  and  is  foremost  in  promoting  the 
best  interests  thereof.  The  industr}-  and 
thrift  which  have  characterized  his  career 
are  noticeable  in  many  ways,  and  are  indi- 
cated by  his  delightful  home  and  tine  resi- 
dence, besides  personal  property  in  Elm- 
wo(xl  and  Giicago.  Politically  a  Republi- 
can, he  has  held  many  local  offices,  and  is  at 
present  city  treasurer  and  a  member  of  the 
\illage  board.  Fraternall\-  he  is  associated 
with  the  Elkhart  Lodge,  Xo.  307,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Him- 
self and  wife  are  members  of  the  Court  of 
Honor,  and  are  members,  workers  and  con- 
tributors to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
..f  which  Mr.  Bridge  has  Ijeen  Sunday-school 
superintendent  for  twelve  years. 

I'ntil  his  twelfth  year  Mr.  Bridge  lived 
in  New  York,  where  he  was  born  January 
2-j.  1847.  ^  son  of  Israel  and  Mary  Ann 
(  Henderson )  Bridge,  natives,  respectively, 
of  \'ermont  and  Xew  York.  The  parents 
were  married  in  Xew  York  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  1857,  locating  near  Joliet.  where 
the  father  engaged  in  fanning,  and  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1894.  his  wife 
having  pre-deceased  him  in  1888.  He  was 
a  Republican  in  national  politics,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  MetlKxlist  Episcopal 
church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Israel  Bridge 
were  bcrn  seven  children,  namel\- :  James 
H.  married  Harriet  Rout,  of  Xew  York,  and 
died  in  Joliet.  Illinois.  September  22.  1901  : 
Henry,  who  lives  near  Elwood.  served  dur- 
ing the  entire  Civil  war  in  the  One  Hun- 
dredth Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  hand  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga:  Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  J. 
Russel.  resided  near  Elwood  on  a  farm,  and 
died  about  1881  :  Rhoda  is  the  wife  of  ^^■. 
S.  Grant,  who  is  engaged    in    the    general 


merchandise  and  agricultural  business  at  El- 
wood; Fannie  is  the  wife  of  F".  A.  ThomiJ- 
son,  a  carpenter  and  contractor  at  Elwood; 
Charles  P.  is  the  next  of  the  family;  and 
John  H.,  who  married  Sarah  Shaffer,  is  the 
station  agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road Company  at  Wenona,  Illinois. 

The  education  of  Charles  P.  Bridge  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Xew  York 
and  Joliet,  Illinois,  and  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een he  commenced  fanning,  which  occupa- 
tion he  followed  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  mercantile  estab- 
lishment for  six  years.  On  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1868,  at  Elwood,  Illinois,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Enmia  Spaftord,  who  was  born  at 
that  place,  September  20,  1851,  a  daughter 
of  Miles  and  ilary  (Shoemaker)  Spafford, 
natives  of  Canada  and  Illinois,  respectively. 
Her  parents  were  also  married  in  Elwood, 
and  had  six  children,  namely :  Emma,  wife 
of  our  subject;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert 
Thornburgh,  a  farmer;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
J.  A.  Grant,  also  a  farmer;  Elias,  who  is 
now  engaged  in  literary  work,  and,  with  his 
two  eldest  sons,  Wallace  and  Miles,  served 
in  the  Spanish-.\merican  war  as  a  member 
(U'  the  Third  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry; 
Charles,  a  railroad  conductor,  living  in  Clin- 
ton. Iowa:  and  \\"allace  B.,  a  dentist  of  Chi- 
cago. The  father  of  these  children,  who 
was  a  merchant  of  Elwood.  enlisted  during 
the  Civil  war  in  the  One  Hundredth  Illinois 
\olunteer  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  His  widow  subse- 
quently married  John  Russell,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  who  had  been  a  comrade  at  anns  in 
the  regiment  with  Mr.  Spafford.  After 
farming  for  some  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rus- 
sell are  now  living  in  retirement  in  Elwood. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bridge  have  Ijeen  born 
hve  children,  namely :  Myrtle,  born  at  El- 
wcNxl.  June  16,  1872,  married  G.  H.  Brady. 


6io  THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


on    fiu'iiiin.i;   aiul  stoc 

k-raising-.      His  widow 

Mir\i\-Lil     liini     until 

1S94.    when    she,    too. 

passed  awa) . 

Our  sulijt'ct  was 

next  to  the  xoinigest  in 

order  of  l>irlli   iu  a 

family  of  ten  children. 

(-f   wlioui   seven   are 

still    living.      Like   the 

majority    of    farmer 

ho^■s.    Air.    (iasaway 

learned  to  work  u])oi 

1  his  father's  farm,  and 

attended      the      distr 

iet      school      until      he 

was     sixteen,     when 

he     entered    the    Lin- 

general  train  dispatcher  for  the  Illinois  Ter-  and  were  descendants'  of  the  Gasaways  of 
minal  Road  at  Alton,  and  has  one  so'n,_Har-  the  Shenandoah -Valley,  Virginia.  They  re- 
old.  Mrs.  Brady  was  formerly  a  telegraph  mo\-ed  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1851,  and 
operator,  and  assisted  her  father  in  his  w.  irk.  from  there  came  to  Logan  county,  where 
Charles  M.  Bridge,  horn  at  l-:iwood,  Xo-  the  father  entered  land  the  lollowing  year, 
vemher  4,  iS;'.,  married  I'.ertha  Drake,  of  ami  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
Elkhart,  lllin(.is,  and  is  chief  clerk  of  the  m  1893,  when  he  was  about  sixty-nine  years 
Chicago  &  Alton  freight  department  at  JiL  of  age,  he  owned  ahout  seven  hundred  acres 
iet,  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  I'ythias  of  land  on  which  he  had  extensively  carrie<l 
of,  Springfiehl,  the  Young  Men's  Christiar 
Ass(fciation  and  the  b:pworth  League.  luli 
son  W.  i'.ridge,  born  at  Coal  1 '.ranch  June 
tion,  December  31,  1878,  is  auditor  ui  tin 
otfice  of  the  Central  Pacific  &  St.  Louis  Kail 
road  Company,  at  Springlield,  Illinois,  am 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  ai 
Springfield.  I'lloise.  horn  in  1873,  died  in 
1889.  .\rthur.  born  I'ebruary  8,  1885,  is 
assisting  his  father  in  his  w^ork. 

.\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  Bridge  engaged  coin  Lniversity,  fr.,m  which  he  was  grad- 
in  clerking  in  a  dry  goods  store  for  three  uated  in  1886  with  degree  of  Ph.  P.  Later 
years,  and  theai  undertook  to  learn  the  art  he  was  graduated  from  Cumberland  C'ln- 
of  telegraphy,  his  first  employment  in  this  versify  at  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  with  degree 
line  being  as  night  .iperator  in  the  office  at  of  L.  L  P..,  in  the  class  of  1898. 
Elwool."  -\t  the  end  .  f  three  years  he  re-  In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1886  and 
moved  to  Coal  City.  IlliiKiis.  and  for  two  1887  he  taught  school  near  Lincoln, 
years  was  agent  and  ilav  o])erator,  after  and  after  graduating  from  Cumberland 
which  he  filled  a  similar  position  in  Joliet  Cniversity  he  taugJit  school  in  La- 
for  the  same  length  of  time.  In  1881,  as  tham  during  i8()i  and  189J,  when  he 
heretofore  state<l,  he  came  to  lUkhart,  and  was  admitted  to  the  l)ar  and  liegan  the  prac- 
has  since  b.cn  ideniiliul  with  the  most  pub-  lice  i:f  bis  jirofession  at  Decatur,  Illinois, 
lic-spinted  iimlertakings  of  his  adopted  -\fter  a  few  nK.nths  he  returned  to  Latham, 
iQ.^yu.  ;i'i'l  abr,ut  i8()8  became  interested  in  the 
*—* grain  business,  which  he  has  carried  on  cpiite 

extensively  in  addition  to  the  practice  of  his 

THOMAS    A.    (iAS.V\VAV.  profession.     Mr.  Casaway  is  a  man  of  great 

abilit\- ;  is  a  true  stutlent  of  human  nature. 

Thomas  A.  Gasawav,  a  grain  dealer  and  and  bases  his  judgments  upon  his  own  in- 

attorney-at-law     at     Latham,     Illinois,     was  f(irmation  gleaned  from  his  clients  and  wit- 

b.>rn  in  Lake  l^irk  township,  Logan  county,  nesses  themselves.  The  true  lawyer  is  born, 

.\uoust    J9.    i8()T.    and    is   a    son   of   James  not  made.  The  natural  and  irresistable  bent 

and  Martha   (  Colwell)   Gasaway.     His  par--  of  his  mmd  was  in  the  direction  of  the  legal 

cuts  were  bo'Ji  natives  of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  pn  fessii  n,  but  be  readily  accepted  close  ap- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


6ii 


plication  and  constant  study,  as  well  as 
hard  work  as  but  a  natural  part  oi  the  prep- 
aration to  aid  him  onward  and  upward. 

On  December  28.  1886.  Mr.  Gasaway 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Bentley.  of 
Logan  county,  a  daughter  of  George  R.  ami 
Sarah  J.  (  Kretzinger )  Bentley.  Of  the 
family  born  to  this  union  five  are  still  liv- 
ing, naniely  :  Edwin  Lee.  born  in  Latham  : 
Walter  Dean :  Paul  Revere ;  Ansta  Jean- 
nette:  and  Mary  E. 

From  boyhood  Mr.  (lasaway  has  been 
an  ardent  advocate  of  the  ])rinciples  of  De- 
UKxracy.  and  while  not  on  office-seeker,  he 
has  Ijeen  called  upon  to  respond  to  the  de- 
mands of  his  party  upon  his  time  and  abil- 
ity. His  political  honors  have  been  many 
and  to  the  gift  of  each  he  has  added  the 
lustre  of  his  learning,  the  value  of  his  in- 
vincible integrity,  sound  wisdom  and  inde- 
fatigable devotion  to  duty.  In  addition  to 
holding  all  of  the  minor  offices  of  the  city, 
lie  is  now  ser\ing  as  mayor  of  Latham,  and 
under  his  wise,  judicial  administration  the 
city  has  developed  in  a  remarkable  degree 
and  the  tax  payers  have  been  given  a  clean 
government  free  from  i>art}-  corruption. 
They  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
the  office  of  the  chief  executive  of  their  city 
is  filled  by  a  man  whose  entire  record  is 
without  a  blemish  and  whose  abilities  are 
such  as  to  enable  him  to  discharge  the  oner- 
ous duties  pertaining  to  such  a  pijsition. 

Socially  Mr.  Gasaway  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Latham  Lodge.  Xo.  853.  A.  F.  &  A. 
M..  in  which  order  he  now  ht)lds  the  po- 
sition of  Senior  Warden,  and  he  is  also  a 
member  cif  Mount  Pulaski  Chapter,  Xo. 
121.  R.  A.  M.,  Mount  Pulaski  Command- 
ery,  Xo.  39,  K.  T.  In  addition  Mr.  Gas- 
away is  a  meml)er  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, he  having  been  connected  with  this  or- 
der since  he  was  twenty-one.  antl  has  passe-d 


all  the  chairs  and  represented  the  lodge  in 
the  Grand  Lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Motlern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mr. 
Gasaway  and  his  family  reside  in  a  beau- 
tiful home,  which  he  has  erected,  and  are 
surrcundetl  by  all  the  comforts  of  life.  The 
success  which  has  attended  his  efforts  illu- 
strates what  can  be  accomplished  by  stead- 
fast efforts  and  untiring  industry,  ci>ml)ined 
with  great  natural  ability. 


P.   I.  TELFER. 


Among  the  worthy  and  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Logan  county  is  P.  J.  Telfer,  who 
resides  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born 
in  Elkhart  township.  Xovemljer  21,  1856. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Emeransa  (  Pot- 
ter) Telfer.  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Dumfries-shire,  Scotland,  and  the  latter  in 
Cortland  county,  Xew  York,  their  meeting 
and  marriage  take  place  in  Elkhart  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  Illinois,  in  1855. 

John  Telfer,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
entered  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  gov- 
ernment land  and  bought  an  addditional  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  adding  still  more 
land  as  time  went  on  until  he  posessed  four 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  this  township 
and  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Will- 
iamsville  township,  Sangamon  county.  Mr. 
Telfer  was  a  life-long  Democrat  and  held 
the  greater  number  of  the  local  offices,  serv- 
ing his  township  with  exceeding  good  judg- 
ment and  unflinching  integrity.  His  death, 
which  occurred  March  8.  1889,  left  a  va- 
cant place  in  the  Presbyterian  church  as  well 
as  in  his  home.  He  was  buried  in  the  old 
Williamsville  cemetery.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  still  survives,  and  makes  her  home 
with  a^  daughter  in  Williamsville  township, 
Sangamon  county. 


6l2 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


P.  J.  Teller  was  the  eldest  in  the  family 
of  se\en  children,  the  others  being  as  fol- 
lows :  I\Iary,  who  married  George  A.  Hob- 
kirk  and  resides  in  ^Villiamsville  township, 
Sangamon  connty;  Altheda,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years ;  Jessie,  who  was  the 
wife  of  William  Thompson,  a  resident  ct 
Sangamcn  county,  and  died  in  1886:  Bram- 
ble, who  died  at  the  age  nf  two  years;  Em- 
ma, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  and 
Thomas  A.,  who  married  Masey  Cooper  and 
resides  in   Seward  connty,  Nebraska. 

Onr  subject  obtained  his  education  mi 
the  ."^mith  school-house,  now  known  as  the 
Prairie  Seminary,  in  Williamsville  town- 
ship. Sangamon  county,  where  he  continued 
his  studies  until  the  age  of  eighteen,  remain- 
ing at  home  until  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
which  took  place  October  11,  1883,  in  Elk- 
hart township,  Logan  county.  His  bride 
was  Miss  Lillie  J.  Hobkirk.  who  was  born 
at  Mt.  Pulaski.  Illinois,  December'27,  1864. 
and  is  a  daughter  of  ^^■illiam  Hobkirk.  a 
native  of  Pebbleshire.  Scctland.  where  li; 
was  born  June  9.  1824.  The  mother  of 
Mrs.  Telfer  was  Ann  (  Rae )  Hobkirk.  who 
was  born  March  10.  1830.  in  Dumfries. 
Scotland.  The  parents  came  to  America 
while  young  and  were  married  in  Xew  York 
city  June  12.  1836.  Tlie  following  year 
they  removed  to  Illinois,  the  father  being 
engaged  as  o\-erseer  of  the  3ilt.  Pulaski  nur- 
sery. In  1870  Mr.  Hobkirk  removed  to 
Elkhart  township  and  settled  on  a  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  be- 
loved wife.  August  28,  1891.  broke  up  his 
home,  and  he  then  came  to  live  with  our 
subject  and  wife,  d}-ing  here  _\ugust  16. 
1899.  Both  parents  are  Imried  in  the  ]\It. 
Pulaski  cemetery.  In  his  political  sympathy 
he  was  a  stanch  Repul^lican,  and  a  Presbv- 
terian  in  religious  belief. 

Mrs.  Telfer    was    one    of    a    familv  of 


se\en  children,  as  follows :  George,  Avho 
married  Mary  Telfer,  the  sister  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  resides  in  Sangamon  county;  Em- 
ma, who  married  John  Dolvin  and  resided 
in  Spencer.  Iowa,  until  her  death.  December 
15.  1883;  Lillie  J.,  who  is  the  wife  of  our 
subject;  and  four  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  children  born  to  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Tel- 
fer were:  One  born  Decenber  28.  1886, 
died  in  infancy;  William  J.,  born  September 
24,  1888,  and  Emma  R.,  born  March  4, 
1891.  are  both  in  school,  and  are  most  prom- 
ising students. 

After  his  marriage  ]Mr.  Telfer  came  tO' 
the  farm  he  now  occuiiies  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  father,  which  continued 
until  the  time  of  the  latter's  death.  He  is 
a  large  land  owner,  jiossessing  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  sections 
6  and  7,  Elkhart  township,  and  here  he  has 
been  li:ng  engaged  in  raising  high-grade 
cattle  for  market  purposes.  He  is  well  pre- 
pared for  his  extensive  farming  and  stock 
operations.  ha\-ing  commodious  barns  and 
sheds,  granaries  and  improved  stables  ar- 
ranged in  such  a  way  as  to  be  healthy  and 
sanitary,  and  he  has  sold  thousands  of  dol- 
lars wurth  of  cattle.  ]\[r.  Telfar  also  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Kearne_\-  county.  Nebraska,  but  takes  the 
most  interest  in  the  breeding  of  horses,  cat- 
tle and  hogs,  believing  that  the  best  is  none 
too-  good.  He  breeds  Percheron  horses,  the 
rioted  "Bagarette"  being  at  the  head  of  his 
stud.  His  cattle  are  of  the  Holstein  breed 
and  his  hogs  are  Poland  Chinas.  At  one 
time  Mr.  Telfer  owned  the  greatest  milch 
LOW  in  the  world;  by  test  she  gave  eleven 
and  one-half  gallc  ns  of  milk  a  day  for  one 
month,  and  one  day  .she  gave  twelve 
gallons.  Mr.  Telfer  feeds  .all  of  his  grain 
to  his  stock  anil  buvs   from   his  neighbors. 

Aside  from  his  business  Mr.  Telfer  is  a 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


613 


progressive  and  liljcral-minded  citizen,  wlio 
enjoys  tlie  esteem  and  respect  of  all.  So- 
cially he  is  connected  with  the  Court  of 
Honor  order  and  the  Mndcrn  W(M.dnien. 
He  votes  the  Democrat  ticket,  and  lor  many 
rears  he  has  heen  an  elder  in  the  Preshy- 
terian  church. 


JOIIX   HARRIS. 

John  Harris  needs  no  special  introduc- 
tion to  the  readers  of  this  volume,  but  the 
work  would  be  incomplete  without  the  rec- 
ord of  his  life.  He  is  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  the  pioneer  families  of  Logan  county, 
whose  identification  with  its  history  dates 
hack  nearly  half  a  century.  He  is  one  of  a 
familv  of  eight  chiUlren  born  to  John  and 
Katherine  (Bowlin)  Harris,  both  being  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  In  his  younger 
days  John  Harris.  Sr..  emigrated  to  Ohio. 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  weaver, 
which  he  followed  for  a  livelihood,  but  in 
later  rears  became  an  extensive  farmer. 
which  occupation  claimed  his  attention  until 
his  death,  which  .  ccuned  May  11.  1843,  in 
Fayette  county,  elhi(  1.  when  he  was  seventy  • 
one  years  of  age.     The  mother  died  in  1839. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  .\pril  7, 
1810,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  ac- 
quired a  good  practical  education,  which  has 
litted  him  for  the  responsible  duties  of  life. 
He  continued  to  assist  his  father  in  the  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  of  the  farm  until 
1849,  when  he  b.-cated  in  McLean  county. 
Illinois.  In  1854  he  moved  to  Lig.an  coun- 
ty and  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land, 
which  he  has  put  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
ration,  and  has  also  ac(piired  ninety-hve 
acres  more.     He  was  alwa\s  an  acti\e  farm- 


er, and  has  one  of  the  most  highly  improved 
places  in  the  locality. 

In  M.arch.  1S44.  w;is  celelirated  the  mar- 
riage .if  .Mr.  Harris  and  .Miss  Mary  Stoth- 
anl.  b'onr  children  were  born  of  their 
union,  but  all  are  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Har- 
ris departed  this  life  June  18,  1848,  and  in 
I  S3  J  a  second  ceremony  was  performed 
which  united  Mr.  Harris  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Johnson.  To  them  were 
b(,rn  loiir  children,  as  foll.,ws:  Milton. 
wh(!  died.  ;iged  twenly-two  years:  .\nna ; 
Hell:  and  l-rank.  Mrs.  Harris  was  the 
adopted  daughter  of  .Mrs.  Washburn.  an<I 
first  married  Sanford  Johnson. 

Mr.  Harris  gives  his  political  suiijiort  to 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic 
]iart\'.  being  a  great  admirer  of  (General 
Jacks. ;n.  He  is  a  dexdted  member  of  the 
Meth.:dist  I-.pisc..pal  church.  .\t  the  imbli- 
cati.  n  .:f  this  w .  irk  Mr.  Harris  is  ninetx-.me 
\ears  of  age.  and  is  spending  his  declining 
rears  at  his  old  homestead  in  Eminence 
township.  He  has  always  enjoyed  good 
health  and  has  never  been  obliged  to  use 
glasses.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
everything  which  would  in  any  way  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  his  adopted  county.  He 
has  the  ha]>py  faculty  of  making  friends 
readilx-  and  strengthening  the  ties  of  all 
friendshii)s  as  time  adx'ances. 


RIA'.   JAMES  TUOHV. 

Rt\-.  James  Tuohy.  wlm  was  for  many 
years  the  h.ima-ed  recl.ir  i:f  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  church  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  was 
born  June  11,  183*).  in  County  Clare,  Ire- 
land, and  when  quite  young  attended  the 
Killalse  Classical  .\cademy,  which  was  con- 
ducted bv  his  father.     In  the  fall  of  1S34  he 


6i4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RFX'ORD. 


left  his  native  land  with  the  intentinn  of 
studying  for  the  priesthiiod  in  the  seminary 
of  St.  Snlpice.  Baltimore,  ^Maryland. 

After  completing  his  philosophical  and 
theological  studies  Father  Tuoliy  was  or- 
dained a  priest,  Decemher  12,  1858,  in  St. 
Joseph's  Cathedral  at  Buffalo.  Xew  York, 
by  the  Right  Rev.  John  Timon.  D.  D.,  who 
was  at  that  time  bishop  of  Buffalo.  After 
spending  several  years  in  missionar_\-  work- 
in  western  Xew  York.  Father  Tuohy  came 
to  Illinois  in  1875.  and  took  charge  of  the 
Catholic  church  at  ^vlacomb.  McDonough 
countv.  where  he  remained  until  transferred 
to  Lincoln  in  1878.  He  continued  his  pas- 
toral work  here  until  his  <leath,  which  oc- 
curred February   tj.    1901. 

On  the  i_nh  of  December,  1S83.  Father 
Tunhy  celebrated  bis  silver  jubilee,  it  being 
the  twentv-hfth  anniversary  of  his  ordina- 
tion to  the  priesthood,  and  on  that  auspicious 
occasion  was  the  recipient  of  an  address  and 
several  valuable  presents  from  the  members 
of  his  congregation.  He  was  untiring  in 
his  work  for  the  church,  and  was  a  man 
highlv  esteemed  l)y  all.  regardless  of  creed. 


PHILLIP  H.  OYLER,  M.  D. 

The  successful  physician  is  not  he  wIm 
has  a  broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  medicine,  but  be  win  1  has 
the  ability  to  accurately  ap])ly  bis  knowl- 
edge to  the  needs  of  suffering  humanity. 
^lany  a  man  is  versed  in  principles  who 
does  not  pass  beyond  the  mediocrity  in  his 
work,  owing  to  the  lack  of  quickness 
of  percqition  and  of  power  to  anticipate  re- 
sults, but  Dr.  Oyler  does  not  belong  to  that 
class.  Fie  is  widely  acknowledged  to  be 
one  of  the  most  skillful  and  able  physicians 


and  surgeons  of  Mount  Pulaski  and  the  sur- 
rounding country  and  therefore  enjoys  a 
large  patronage. 

A  native  of  I'ennsxhania,  the  Doctor 
was  born  in  Carli.sle.  October  13,  1846,  a 
son  of  George  and  Sarah  (Hickman)  Oy- 
ler. His  paternal  grandfather.  George  Oyler, 
was  a  native  of  England,  and  on  coming 
to  the  United  States  located  in  Baltimore, 
.\Iar\land.  where  his  son.  George  Oyler, 
Jr..  was  born  in  i8o<).  He  became  a  car- 
penter and  builder  by  trade,  following  that 
occui)ation  fi  r  many  years.  He  married 
Sarah  Hickman,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
\-ania  in  1816.  a  daughter  of  Philip  Hick- 
man. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oyler,  the  par- 
ents of  the  Doct(jr.  continued  to  reside  in 
the  Kevstone  state  until  called  to  the  home 
beyond,  the  fadier  dying  in  bis  eigthy- 
fourth  years,  the  mother  in  the  seventy-sec- 
m-ul  year  of  her  age. 

Dr.  Oyler  is  the  sixth  of  their  eleven 
children,  all  (;f  whom  reached  adult  age. 
He  acquired  his  early  education  in  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania.  In  i8C)J  he  oft'ered  bis  ser- 
vices tti  the  gnvernment  at  Wa.shington  and 
thence  im  until  the  close  of  the  war  served 
in  manv  cajjacities  in  lieu  of  the  soldier,  ac- 
cepting all  the  hardships  an4  privations  of 
the  enlisted  men.  He  was  first  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potnmac ;  was  subsequently 
with  General  Grant  until  the  army  arrived 
within  sixteen  miles  of  Richmond;  and  still 
later  was  with  the  division  of  the  army  in 
the  Shenandoah  \'alley.  .U  the  time  of 
President  Lincoln's  assassination  he  was  in 
Frederick  City,  Maryland,  on  his  way  to 
\\'ashington,  D.  C,  where  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  from  the  government. 
For  his  services  he  received  from  thirty- 
five  to  forty-two  dollars  per  month. 

.\t  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Oyler  began 
the  studv  of  medicine  with  Dr.    Keifer.  of 


DR.   P.   H.   OYLER. 


UBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


617 


Carlisle.  Pennsylvania,  and  later  in  ortler 
to  meet  his  expenses  while  preparing  for  his 
profession,  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana, in  1867.  and  engaged  i'^  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  Sarven  patent  buggy  wheel,  by 
which  means  he  accunuUate.f  oxer  three 
thousand  dollars.  He  ihen  resumed  the 
studv  of  medicine  in  c<iunccli(in  with  the 
drug  trade.  Later  he  entered  the  l.nuis- 
ville  Medical  College  of  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1878.  but  this  did  not  end  his  research 
in  the  the  field  of  medicine.  He  has  always 
been  a  close  student,  reading  many  medical 
journals  and  text  books,  and  in  189.'  he 
pursued  a  pi;st  graduate  course  in  the  Polx- 
clinic  College  of  Chicago,  and  in  the  spring 
of  190 1  he  took  a  complete  course  in  the 
Philadelphia  Post-Graduate  School.  Re- 
turning to  Mount  Pulaski,  where  he  had  first 
located  in  1878.  he  resumed  the  actixe  prac- 
tice of  his  professiciii  and  has  easily  main- 
tained a  position  in  the  foremost  ranks  of 
the  medical  fraternity  here,  for  he  is  well 
versed  in  his  chosen  calling  and  his  efforts 
have  Ijeen  attended  by  excellent  results. 
The  Doctor  is  surgeon  f..r  bdh  divisions 
of  the  Illinois  'Central  Kailn.ad  passing 
through  Mount  Pulaski.  He  has  a  large  and 
well  appointed  office  and  has  recently  equip- 
ped commodious  cpiarters  in  which  any  pa- 
tient connected  with  the  railroad  service 
may  receive  the  best  care  after  meeting 
with  an  accident. 

In  Xoveml^er.  1868.  at  Indianapolis.  In- 
diana, occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Oyler 
and  Miss  Sarah  J.  Westover.  a  daughter 
of  Jonathan  M.  and  Mary  (Bean)  West- 
over,  the  former  a  native  of  Xexv  York, 
and  the  latter  of  England.  The  Doctor  and 
his  wife  have  three  children:  Harry  S.. 
who  is  mentioned  l)elow ;  Ikssie  Lee  and 
Mav  Irene. 


In  affairs  pertaining  to  the  city's  wel- 
fare Dr.  Oyler  takes  a  deep  interest  and 
for  a  number  <if  \-ears  he  rendered  effective 
service  in  behalf  of  Mount  I'ulaski  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council.  During  his 
term  of  (.ffice  he  did  the  preliminary  work 
and  got  the  xvater  works  established.  He  is 
a  ])rominent  Mason,  being  connected  xxith 
Mount  I'ulaski  L<;dge,  of  which  he  was 
master  three  years,  and  which  he  repre- 
sented in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state  the 
same  length  of  time.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Mount  I'ulaski  Council  and  Mount 
Pulaski  Chaj.tcr.  K.  A.  M..  of  which  he 
xv;.')  high  priest  three  years,  and  was  on 
the  credential  committee  of  the  grand 
chapter  in  loOL  He  h.as  served  as 
eminent  commander  of  Mt.  Pulaski  Com- 
mandery.  Xo.  39.  K.  T..  and  has  rqjresented 
it  in  the  grand  ciMiimandery  of  the  state 
three  vears.  For  many  years  he  has  also 
lieen  trustee  of  the  Masonic  building  of 
Mount  Pulaski.  In  the  line  of  his  profe>- 
sion  the  Doctor  has  various  membership  re- 
lations. Ijelonging  the  Central  Illinois  Med- 
ical Society ;  the  International  Railway  Sur- 
geons Association:  the  .American  ]\Iedical 
Association:  the  Misis.ssippi  Valley  Medi- 
cal Society:  and  the  State  Medical  Society, 
of  which  he  was  for  one  years  first  vice- 
president,  a  .  fact  xvhich  indicates  his  high 
standing  in  the  profession.  Close  applica- 
tion, thorough  study  and  a  deep  interest 
in  his  calling  from  the  humanitarian  stand- 
piiint — these  are  the  salient  features  in  his 
enviable   success. 


H.XRRV    SCHCVLER   OVLKR.    M.    D. 

Dr.  Harry  Schuyler  Ovler.  wh..  has 
recentlv  become  a  member  of  the  medical 
fratenntv    of    Logan    couiUy     xvas    born    in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Indianapolis,  Indiana.  Decenber  26,  1870. 
and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Phillip  H.  and  Sarah  J. 
(Y\'estover)  Oyler.  a  sketch  of  whom  will 
lie  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Our 
subject  came  with  his  parents  to  :Mount  Pu- 
laski. Illinois,  in  1878,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
that  place,  graduating  frcun  the  latter  in 
1891.  In  the  fall  of  the  sa.ne  year  he  en- 
tered the  Uni\-ersity  of  Illinois  at  Cham- 
paign, where  he  spent  four  years,  taking  a 
special  chemical  course,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed as  assistant  to  the  chair  of  chemis- 
try in  the  :Marion-Sims  College  of  Medicine. 
St.  Louis.  Missouri,  whicii  jiosition  is 
usually  only  given  to  a  graduate  physician 
and  which  he  acceptably  tilled  for  four  years, 
in  the  meantime  taking  the  regular  medical 
course.  He  was  graduated  ivith  honors  in 
the  class  of  1901,  and  is  now  thoroughly 
equipped  for  his  life  work.  Socially  he  is 
a  memlier  nf  Mount  Pulaski  Lndge.  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. 

The  Doctor  was  married  September  12. 
1899.  to  Miss  Emeline  Duff,  of  Lincoln,  a 
daughter  of  William  D.  and  Emeline  H. 
(Larison)  Duff.  She  was  hc-n  October  22. 
1870.  and  was  educated  at  the  Lincoln  high 
school.  She  is  a  member  of  the  \\'oman's 
Club  of  Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  charter  member 
of  ^ilount  Pulaski  Chapter.  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star. 


ADOLPH  O.  VOXDERLEITH. 

Few  men  are  more  prominent  or  more 
widelv  known  in  the  enterprising  town  of 
:\Iount  Pulaski  than  Adolph  O.  \'onder- 
leith.  He  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
business  circles  for  a  number  (^f  years  and 
his  popularity  is  well  deserved,  as  in  him 


are  embraced  the  characteristics  of  an  un- 
bending integrity,  unabating  energy  and  in- 
dustry that  never  flags.  He  is  public-spir- 
ited and  thoroughly  interested  in  whatever 
tends  to  promote  the  advancement  and  pro- 
gress of  the  town  and  therefore  well  de- 
serves representation  in  this  volume. 

A  native  of  Logan  county,  Mr.  Vonder- 
leith  was  born  in  Mount  Pulaski  township, 
Xoxeniber  2.  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Catherine  (  W'eckel)  Vonderleith,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany,  the  fa- 
ther born  in  Hanover,  the  mother  in  Wur- 
temberg.  In  early  life  they  came  to  the 
United  States  and  were  married  in  Logan 
countv,  Illinois.  It  was  in  the  year  1838 
that  the  father  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  af- 
ter establishing  his  home  in  this  locality  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  brick-laying.  Later 
he  owned  and  operated  a  small  farm  ad- 
joining the  village  of  Mount  Pulaski.  His 
death  occurrred  in  1886  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine,  and  his  \\ife  passed  away  in  1878, 
when  si.xty-five  years  of  age.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children  who  reached 
\ears  of  maturity,  and  Peter  and  John  died 
in  childhood.  The  other  members  of  the 
familv  were:  Elizabeth,  who  became  the 
wife  of  G.  L.  Schafer,  a  blacksmith;  Anna, 
wife  of  C.  F.  Schafer,  a  hardware  merchant 
of  Mount  I'ulaski:  John  M..  who  died  in 
1885;  Catherine,  the  widow  of  Henry  Meis- 
ter ;  Adolph.  of  this  review :  and  George  \\'., 
who  died  in  1901. 

To  the  village  schoools  Adolph  \'onder- 
leith  is  indebted  for  the  educational  priv- 
ileges which  he  received.  He  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  old  courthouse,  which  had  been 
built  bv  his  father  and  which  was  used  for 
school  purposes  after  the  removal  of  the 
countv  seat  to  Lincoln.  His  father  also 
erected  the  first  brick  residence  in  ^Mount 
Pulaski.     After    completing    his    education.- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


619 


the  son  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  un- 
der the  direction  of  G.  L.  Schafer  and  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  f<^r  fifteen  years,  thus 
gaining  a  start  in  life  and  securing  thereby 
the  capital  to  embark  in  oilier  fields  of  activ- 
itv.  On  abandoning  his  trade  he  l)ccame  the 
general  suijerintendent  nf  the  L'ninn  Coal 
Company  at  Mount  Pulaski,  a  position 
which  he  held  for  seven  years.  While  still 
working  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  he  estab- 
lished a  brickyard  in  iHj/  at  the  edge  of  the 
city,  and  successfully  carried  it  <  n  while 
with  the  coal  company,  continuing  its  op- 
eration until  1893.  and  giving  enijjloyment 
to  fifteen  or  sixteen  men.  In  i8()8  he  be- 
came a  partner  of  R.  D.  Clark  in  the  real 
estate  .  insurance  and  loan  Imsiness  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Vonderleith  &  Clark. 
They  handle  considerable  valuable  property 
and  have  conducted  some  important  real- 
estate  transfers.  They  write  fire  insurance 
and  make  loans  on  city  and  farm  propert}' 
and  in  all  the  ilepartments  of  their  business 
they  are  meeting  \\ith  creditable  success, 
having  now  a  large  clientage. 

On  September  7,  1879.  Mv.  \onder- 
leith  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Lipp,  of  Lincon.  Illinois,  a  daughter 
of  John  X.  and  Catherine  Lipp.  who  were 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  Their  children 
were  Henry  L.  and  \\'alter  .\..  bi>th  grad- 
uates of  the  high  school  of  Mount  Pulaski. 
and  Lena,  who  died  at  the  age  of  live.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  August  14,  1887.  and 
'Slv.  Vonderleith  was  married  October  8, 
1889,  to  Anna  Lipp,  a  sister  of  his  former 
wife.  To  this  union  has  been  born  one  son. 
Julius  Edward,  who  is  now  in  the  ]\Iount 
Pulaski  school. 

Upon  its  organization  in  1884.  Mr.  \'on- 
derleith  became  a  director  of  the  People's 
Savings  &  Loan  Association  of  Monnt  Pu- 
laski and  ha-^  since  held  the  position  and  is 


also  at  present  filling  the  office  of  secretary. 
In  his  business  affairs  he  has  prospered  and 
his  success  is  the  legitimate  outcome  of  his 
own  well  directed  labors.  Energetic  and 
determined  at  the  outset  of  his  career  he  has 
advanced  steadily  as  the  years  have  gone 
bv  and  his  earnest  purpose  has  seen  fulfill- 
ment in  his  present  prosjierity.  He  has 
been  active  and  influential  in  the  affairs  of 
the  town  and  has  served  as  a  member  and 
president  of  the  village  board.  Mr.  Von- 
derleith was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  and  was  its 
hrst  chancelli  r.  He  is  also  a  charter  mi'm- 
lier  of  the  Mt;dern  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  belongs  to  the  Second  Lutheran  church 
and  withholds  his  cooperation  from  no 
movement  or  measure  which  tends  to  ad- 
vance the  material,  intellectual  or  moral 
progress  of  the  community.  His  entire  life 
has  been  passed  here  and  those  who  have 
known  him  from  boyhood  are  numbered 
auK  ng  his  stanchest  friends — a  fact  which 
indicates  that  his  has  been  a  useful  and  up- 
right career. 


WILLI. \M    SII.\W. 

William  Shaw,  o.ne  of  the  honored  vet- 
eran.-- of  the  Civil  war,  whose  home  is  on 
section  15,  East  Lincoln  township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  county  since  1855,  and  has 
been  actively  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests.  He  was  born  in  Liverpool,  Eng- 
land, July  21,  1838,  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  (  Gritfin  )  Shaw.  The  father  was 
born  in  luigland.  August  14.  i8ib.  and  the 
mother  in  the  same  country,  of  Welsh  an- 
cestry, Xivember  30,  181 7.  They  were 
self-educated  and  people  of  the  highest  re- 
S];ectal)ilitv.      In   1S48  the  family  emigrated 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  America  and  settled  in  Ohio,  and  in  1855 
took  up  their  residence  in  Logan  county, 
llHnois.  In  his  native  land  the  father  fol- 
lowed the  blacksmith's  trade.  l)ut  here  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  renmval  ti>  Lin- 
coln, where  he  spent  the  last  hve  years  of 
his  life  in  retirement  from  active  labor.  He 
died  February  y.  1901,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  April  5,  1899.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  of  whom  two  were  born 
in  England  and  one  died  in  that  country. 
The  three  now  living  are  William,  our  sub- 
ject; Rachel,  wife  of  William  Musick,  of 
Douglas  county.  Kansas;  and  Leah,  wife  of 
Andrew  Pinner,  of  York  count}-,  Ne- 
braska. 

William  Shaw  received  but  a  linutcd  ed- 
ucation in  the  common  schools  of  this  coun- 
t\-.  Being  the  oldest  sou,  he  had  to  assist 
in  the  work  of  the  farm  during  his  lioyhood 
and  \outh.  On  the  inauguration  of  the 
Civil  war  he  responded  to  the  President's 
first  call  for  volunteers  by  enlisting  as  a  pri- 
vate in  the  Seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  but 
was  afterward  promoted  to  corporal  of 
■Company  H,  and  still  later  to  sergeant.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry, 
Fort  Donelson.  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Swallow 
Bluff.  Florence,  Alabama,  and  Allatoona 
Pass.  After  the  last  named  engagement 
there  was  but  one  commissioned  officer  in 
the  regiment  able  to  assume  charge.  Mr. 
Shaw  followed  Sherman  on  his  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea.  and  took  jjart  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  and  the  battle  of  Benton- 
\-ille.  North  Carolina,  besides  several  minor 
engagements.  After  serving  three  years 
the  regiment  veteranized,  and  he  remained 
at  the  front  until  hostilities  ceased,  being 
honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
Tulv  TJ.  1865.  He  was  slightly  injured 
several  times  but  never  seriously  \\-ounded. 


On  his  return  to  Logan  county  Mr. 
Shaw  commenced  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  soon  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  15,  East  Lincoln  township, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  has  since  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming.  At  the 
time  of  purchase  the  land  was  swamjiy.  but 
he  has  tiled  and  drained  the  place  and  con- 
\erted  it  into  a  well-improved  and  highly 
producti\e  farm. 

;\ir.  Shaw  \\as  married,  .\])ril  27,  1871, 
to  ]^liss  Hannah  Cullip,  who  was  born  in 
Pike  county.  Ohio,  in  1848,  but  was  living 
in  Logan  county.  Illinois,  at  the  time  of 
their  marriage.  Eight  children  blessed  this 
luiion,  namely :  Elizabeth,  Martha,  Wary, 
Minnie.  Ethel,  and  Edith  and  Edie,  twins; 
and  William  Tecumseh.  who  died  in  in- 
fancv.  They  are  being  educated  in  the 
common  schools. 

Mr.  Shaw  gives  his  support  to  all  church 
and  charitalile  work,  and  is  an  honored 
member  of  Leo  W.  flyers  Post,  No.  285, 
(i.  A.  R..  and  the  Union  Veteran  Union  of 
Lincoln.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
but  in  local  .affairs  supports  the  men  best 
qualified  to  fill  the  offices,  regardless  of 
party  lines.  He  has  never  sought  political 
preferment,  though  he  held  the  office  of 
school  director  man)-  )-ears.  and  has  always 
taken  a  commendable  interest  in  public 
affairs.  In  vears  of  peace,  no  less  than  in 
those  of  war,  he  has  bravely  performed  his 
duty.  an<l  is  justly  entitled  t(j  a  place  in  the 
nation's  roll  of  honor. 


NANKE  HARRIS. 


Kanke  Flarms,  a  leading,  influential  and 
wealthy  farmer  residing  r,n  sectiou  2. 
Prairie  Creek  township,  has  lieen  a  resident 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


62  r 


of  Logan  county  for  more  than  a  third  of  a 
century,  and  (hiring  tliis  jieriod  he  has  risen 
from  a  humhle  financial  ix>sition  to  one  of 
affluence.  Brooking  no  obstacles  that  could 
lie  overcome  through  determined  and  earn- 
est effort,  he  has  steadily  advanced  toward 
the  goal  of  prosi)erity.  and  his  fine  famis  are 
now  the  visible  evidence  of  his  active  and 
useful  career. 

Mr.  Harms  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
April  14.  1844,  and  one  of  the  five  children 
of  Harm  and  Tina  (Rademaker)  Harms, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  same  country, 
whence  they  came  to  America  about  187 J. 
settling  in  Orvil  township,  Logan  county. 
Illinois,  where  the  father  spent  his  remain- 
ing days  in  honorable  retirement  from  la- 
bor. He  died  in  Emden  in  1884.  and  his 
widow  is  still  living  in  that  town,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Their 
children  were  Xanke:  Ella,  who  is  the  wid- 
ow of  D.  Erns,  and  resides  in  Iowa:  Fiaka. 
wife  of  H.  Klokkenga;  ]\lattie.  wife  of 
(ieorge  Klokkenga,  of  Eminence  township; 
and  Katie,  wife  of  John  Conrade,  of  Mis- 
souri. 

Like  the  other  children  of  the  family, 
Xanke  Harms  pursued  his  education  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  laws  of  the  fatherland, 
and  for  a  year  and  a  half  he  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  (ieripan  army,  jjarticipating  in 
a  battle  on  the  27th  of  June.  1866.  In  early 
life  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  in  (iermany  until  1866, 
when,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  he  crossed 
the  briny  deep  to  the  new  world  and  came 
at  once  to  Logan  county.  Renting  a  room 
in  a  farm  house  in  Prairie  Creek  township, 
he  then  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
a  year,  and  all  of  the  first  bouses  upon  the 
Scully  land  were  built  by  him.  Settling  on 
a  farm  north  of  Emden,  he  broke  the  Scully 
land  and  there  remained  for  ten  vears,  after 


which  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  township,  on  sections  13,  14,  23 
and  24.  There  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  for  eighteen  years,  and  on  the 
expiration  of  that  period  removed  to  his 
present  farm  in  1895.  Here  on  section  2, 
Prairie  Creek  township,  he  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  si.xty  acres  of  richly  devclojied 
lanil,  and  has  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  other  farms  and  a  quarter  of  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Tazewell  county.  He  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  to  some  extent  he  has  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  a  number  of  buildings  in 
the  county  standing  as  monuments  to  his 
skill  and  handiwork  in  that  direction.  As 
a  farmer  he  has  met  with  splendid  success, 
following  the  most  approved  methods  of 
agriculture.  s(  >  that  his  fields  have  been  very 
pnxluctive,  while  his  stock  have  been  an 
ef|ually  profitable  source  of  income,  .\lto- 
gether  he  owns  si.x  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  fine  land. 

Ere  leaving  the  fatherland  Mr.  Harms 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ^Nliss  Ella  Albers, 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  unto  them  were 
born  six  children :  Harm,  who  married 
Annie  Dierks  and  is  living  uixjn  a  part  of 
his  father's  old  farm  in  Prairie  Creek  town- 
ship: Giek,  who  wedded  Mary  Rademaker 
and  is  living  in  Tazewell  county :  Klaas,  at 
home :  Tina,  a  resident  of  Delavan :  Katie, 
who  is  also  living  in  Delavan:  and  Ehme. 
at  home.  The  mother  died  in  March.  1885. 
and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Harms  chose 
Miss  Hannah  Mattheessen.  of  Germany,  a 
daughter  of  William  Mattheessen.  who  died 
in  Germany.  Two  children  have  been  born 
of  the  second  marriage:  Chri.stina  and 
Willie. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harms  atv  consist- 
ent members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  nf  l-jnden.  and  in  politics  he  has  been 


-62  2 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


a  stalwart  Democrat  since  becoming  a  nat- 
uralized citizen.  For  several  years  he  has 
served  as  school  director,  was  connty  com- 
missioner for  three  years,  and  for  ten  years 
has  ser\ed  as  township  assessor,  being  the 
incumbent  of  the  office  at  the  present  time. 
When  he  arri\'ed  in  Logan  county  he  h;ul 
only  ten  dollars  in  his  pocket.  He  pos- 
sessed, howe\'er.  a  resolute  spirit,  strong  de- 
termination and  a  willingness  tO'  work,  and 
such  qualities  are  the  foundation  of  success. 
As  the  years  have  rolled  by  he  has  contin- 
ually added  to  his  possessions  until  he  is 
now  numbered  among  the  more  substantial 
agriculturists  of  the  community. 


JA^IES   BEAVER. 

Among  the  pioneer  settlers  and  leading 
citizens  of  this  county  no  one  was  mure 
thoroughly  identifietl  with  its  agricultural 
interests  than  was  James  B°aver,  who  de- 
parted this  life  November  lo.  189!).  A  man 
of  sterling  integrity,  of  public  spirit  and  pri;- 
nounced  activity,  Logan  cnunty  lust  in  hir.i 
one  of  her  best  citizens. 

]Mr.  Beaver  was  born  in  Ohio,  January 
9,  1820,  and  he  was  a  son  of  Michael  an<l 
Sarah  Beaver.  On  August  18,  1843,  '^^ 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Ivliss  Xancy  Shas- 
teen.  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  March  17, 
1823.  In  1847  li*^  ^'i*^'  ^'''s  family  decided 
to  remove  to  Illinois  and  occupy  some  of  the 
rich  lands  which  were  being  settled  upon  in 
Fulton  county.  Leaving  their  Ohio  home, 
they  took  a  boat  at  Portsmouth  and  sailed 
down  the  Ohio  river  until  they  reached  its 
junction  with  the  Mississippi,  then  up  that 
noble  stream  until  they  reached  the  Illinois. 
and  also  up  that  ri\-er  to  the  i)oint  known  as 
Copperas  Creek,  an  uncle  being  located  in 
this  vicinitv. 


Soon  Mr.  Bea\'er  began  farming  opera- 
tions, renting  a  farm  and  three  horses  from 
his  uncle,  Lewis  Beaver,  near  Fairview,  in 
Fulton  count}-.  Here  in  the  wilds  of  this 
great  prairie  state  he  boldly  and  courage- 
nusly  began  jjioneer  life.  His  agricultural 
implements  were  of  the  crudest  kind,  the 
harness  of  his  horses,  even,  being  fashioned 
Ijy  himself.  His  plow  was  a  "Diamond 
plow,"  one  Avell  known  tO'  farmers  of  the 
locality  at  that  date. 

One  year  later  ]\Ir.  Beaver  rented  a  saw- 
mill on  Copperas  creek  of  a  man  named 
Mongrel,  and  for  two  years  he  very  success- 
fully managed  this  mill,  returning  then  to 
farming  nn  some  land  rented  from  John 
G.  Graham,  located  two  and  one-half  miles 
north  of  Canton,  Illinois,  and  remained 
there  for  two  years,  after  which  he  removed 
to  Logan  county.  His  first  farm  in  this 
county  was  one  owned  by  Alvin  Barnes, 
southeast  of  Middletown.  and  one  year  later 
he  took  charge  of  the  farm  known  as  the 
Judge  Blackledge  Lynn  Gro\-e  farm,  later 
]nnx-hasing  the  property  upon  which  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Beaver  became  the  owner  of  ex- 
tensi\e  tracts  of  land,  w^hich  at  his  death 
were  divided  among  his  children.  He 
owned  one  secti(;n  on  Sugar  Creek,  in 
Sheridan  townshi]):  nine  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  acres  in  Corwin  township;  one-half 
section  in  Thayer  county,  Nebraska;  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Burt  county,  Ne- 
braska :  three  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  in 
West  Lincoln  township;  and  seventy  acres 
in  Broadwell  township,  this  county. 

Although  Mr.  Beaver  was  a  most  con- 
scientious citizen  and  a  leading  member  of 
the  Re]nil)lican  party,  he  could  never  be  in- 
duced to  accept  public  office,  remarking  that 
he  had  enough  of  his  own  business  to  more 
than  occupy  his  time,  and  to  make  it  neces- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


623 


sary  to  obtain  assistance,  and  lie  would  leave 
office-hulding  to  those  who  could  properly 
attend  to  such  duties.  He  was  a  great  cat- 
tle raiser  and  dealer,  believing  this  branch 
of  his  business  paid  best.  In  the  Methodist 
church  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
valued  members,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most 
liberal  contributors. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  Beaver  and 
■wife  were  as  follows:  Azariah  \\'.,  who 
first  married  Eliza  Preston,  aird  second. 
America  Hickey,  resides  upon  a  farm  in 
Sheridan  township:  Edward,  who  married 
IMatilda  Lynson,  resided  in  Illinois  until 
1 89 1  and  then  removed  with  his  family  to 
Nebraska,  where  his  first  wife  died  and  he 
married  Ryldia  Waters,  and  they  now  are 
residents  of  Red  Oak.  Iowa:  Syrildia  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years;  Seymour  H.,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Lynson,  resides  on  a 
farm  in  West  Lincoln  township:  James  and 
Xancy.  twins,  died  at  the  age  of  one  year; 
Thomas  X..  who  married  Jennie  lanson, 
resides  on  a  large  farm  in  Corwin  township : 
U.  S.  Grant  died  in  infancy;  and  William 
S.,  who  married  Anna  Shultz.  resides  on  a 
farm  in  Corwin  township,  all  of  the  sur- 
vivors being  among  the  prominent  residents 
of  their  respective  localities  and  worthy  rep- 
resentatives of  an  honored  familv. 


ZEXO  K.  WOOD. 

Among  the  grain  dealers  of  Logan 
county  few  have  been  longer  connected  with 
the  business  than  Zeno  K.  Wood,  of  Mt. 
Pulaski,  an  enterprising  and  reliable  busi- 
ness man.  whose  progressive  spirit,  activity 
and  determined  puqxise  have  enabled  him 
to  rise  to  a  position  of  financial  success. 

He  was  born  in  West  Yarmouth,  Massa- 


chusetts, September  29.  1841.  and  is  a  son 
of  Zeno  and  Sarah  (Crowell)  Wood,  both 
representatives  <^f  old  and  honored  families 
of  the  old  Bay  state,  which  were  of  Welsh 
origin.  Several  <'f  his  paternal  ancestors 
were  masters  in  the  merchant  marine.  Our 
subject  is  of  the  seventh  generation  of  the 
Crowell  family  in  America,  and  among  his 
ancestors  were  nmnliered  soldiers  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  original  spelling 
of  the  name  was  Crowie.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  lx>rn  in  Massachusetts  in  1809. 
and  for  some  years  was  captain  in  the  mer- 
chant marine  and  also  of  a  whaling  vessel 
out  of  Xew  Bedford,  but  he  at  length  aban- 
doned a  sea-faring  life  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  merchandising  in  Xew  Bedford. 
Zeno  K.  Wix)d,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  South 
Yarmouth,  and  there  he  began  his  educa- 
tion, which  was  continued  at  Xew  Bedford 
and  completed  by  graduation  at  the  Xew 
Bedford  high  school.  He  had  not  yet  at- 
tained his  majority  when  the  country  be- 
came engaged  in  civil  war,  but  with  patri- 
otic spirit  aroused  by  the  attempt  of  the 
south  af  secession,  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  Union  cause,  enlisting  in  Julv.  1862, 
as  a  member  oi  Coinpany  A,  Forty-first 
Massachusetts  \'olunteer  Infantrv.  which 
was  afterward  changed  to  the  Third  Massa- 
chusetts Cavalry.  He  was  mustered  out  in 
June,  1864.  to  accept  a  second  lieutenancy 
in  the  First  Xew  Orleans  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  he  assisted  in  raising,  and  was 
later  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  ad- 
jutant of  the  regiment.  During  one  year  of 
his  service  he  was  on  the  staflf  of  Major  Gen- 
eral T.  W.  Sherman,  as  acting  assistant  ad- 
jutant general  and  aide-de-camp.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  United 
States  service  at  Xew  Orleans,  June  i.  1886, 
his  services  being  no  longer  required. 


624 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Soon  afterward  ]NTr.  AA'nod  went  to  New 
York  city  and  from  there  tc  Chicago.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy  Railroad 
Company,  remaining  in  the  freight  audi- 
tor's office  for  abiiut  twehx-  mnnths.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  changed  the 
field  of  his  labors,  becoming  connected  with 
a  cattle  ranch  in  Kansas.  The  year  1875 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  Logan  county, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Lo- 
cating in  Latham,  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business,  personal]}-  superintending  his  in- 
terests there  until  iS(Si.  when  he  came  to 
Alt.  Pulaski.  Here  he  established  himself 
in  the  same  line,  also  continuing  his  grain 
lousiness  in  Latham,  where  he  is  associated 
with  Peter  Maus,  a  resident  of  that  place. 
Mr.  Wood  erected  a  good  ele\-ator  at  JMt. 
Pulaski,  where  his  office  is  also  located  and 
where  he  spends  most  of  his  time.  He  is 
one  of  the  oldest  grain  dealers  of  the  count)- 
in  vears  of  continuous  connection  with  the 
trade  here,  and  his  business  has  increased  ti> 
large  proportions,  his  annual  shipn-ients 
being  very  extensive. 

Mr.  Wood  married  ]\liss  Sarah  J.  Chase, 
a  daughter  of  Harvey  and  Sarah  J.  (  Wood- 
bury) Chase,  and  a  nati\-e  of  Illinois,  born 
at  Macomb.  They  have  two  children,  a 
son  and  daughter.  Harxe}-  C.  a  graduate  of 
the  Alt.  Pulaski  high  school,  and  Alargaret 
Crowell,  who  is  now  a  student  in  that  school. 
For  several  years  Mr.  Wood  was  a  member 
of  the  school  board  and  did  effective  service 
in  the  interest  of  education  here,  believing 
in  maintaining  a  high  standard  in  the  in- 
stitutions of  learning  in  the  city.  He  has 
also  been  a  meniber  of  the  city  council,  and 
for  three  years  was  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Illinois  State  Asylum  for  I-"eeble  Alinded 
Children  at  Lincoln.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  Alt.  Pulaski  Lodge,  Xo.  87,  A. 


F.  &  \.  M.,  of  which  he  has  served  as  mas- 
ter:  Alt.  Pulaski  Chapter,  No.  121,  R.  A. 
Al.:  and  Alt.  Pulaski  Commandery.  Xo.  29, 
K.  T. :  and  in  his  life  he  exemi)lifies  the  spirit 
of  beniHcence  and  brotherly  kindness  which 
forms  the  basis  of  the  fraternity.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  stalwart  Republican.  Imt  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  has  a 
fine  home  here  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  progressive  citi;^ens  of  Alt.  Pulaski, 
where  he  has  now  resided  foi"  twentv  \-ears. 


JOHN  AI.  TOAILIXSOX. 

John  AI.  Tomlinson,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  residing  in  Alount  Pulaski 
township,  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  having  been 
born  in  Jolmson  county,  that  state,  Alarch 
13,  1838.  His  jiarents,  Isaac  and  .\nninta 
(  l):.wson  )  Tomlinson,  were  both  natives  of 
Kentucky.  In  1841  they  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
Alount  Pulaski,  where  the  father  began 
fanning  and  continued  to  follow  that  occu- 
]iation  until  bis  retirement  from  active  labor 
in  1880,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  Alount  Pulaski,  where  he  died  February 
to,  i8()J.  His  wife  ])assed  away  in  Alay, 
i88<).  In  addition  to  his  farm  work  Isaac 
Tomlinson  engaged  in  teannng  for  many 
years,  hauling  the  merchandise  required  by 
the  business  men  of  Alount  Pulaski,  which 
was  obtained  at  Pekin,  Ouincy,  St.  Louis 
and   e\en   Chicago. 

.\t  an  early  age  John  AI.  Tomlinson  was 
re(|uired  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  farm 
and  teannng.  and  liad  liut  little  1  ip])ortunity 
to  avail  himself  of  the  educational  advant- 
ages afforded  b_\-  the  \n\h\k  schools  of  that 
day.  His  youth  and  early  manhood  were 
passed    in    the    school    of   rough    experience 


JOHN   M.  TOMLINSON. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


627 


which  has  turned  out  so  many  characters  of 
sterhng  wortli  whose  influence  lias  clone  so 
much  toward  bringing  about  tiiat  trans- 
formation that  has  taken  place  in  later 
years. 

On  the  5th  of  May.  1859.  Mr.  Tomlin- 
son  married  iMiss  Mary  E.  Riddle,  who  was 
lx)rn  in  Sangamon  county,  lllim^s,  Decem- 
ber 9.  1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Riil- 
dle.  of  that  county.  To  this  union  five  chil- 
dren were  ]>>rn.  of  whom  three  survive: 
Frank  L..  Elmer  S.  and  Clarence  A. 

;Mr.  Tomlinson  began  farming  upon 
what  is  now  a  portion  of  the  home  farm  sit- 
uated two  miles  east  of  [Mount  Pulaski. 
Since  reaching  manhood  he  has  been  active- 
ly engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  sjiecial 
attention  being  given  to  stock-raising,  the 
care  and  management  of  which  has  been 
to  him  a  constant  pleasure,  and  his  success 
in  these  lines  has  justly  given  him  cause  for 
satisfaction  and  pride. 

In  politics  Mr.  Tomlinson  has  been  a 
stanch  Republican  since  the  organization  of 
the  party.  While  a  man  of  strong  con- 
victions he  is  not  intemperate  in  die  expres- 
sion of  his  own  opinions  nor  intolerant  of 
the  opinion  of  others.  A  man  of  integrity 
and  honorable  in  his  conduct,  he  has  and  de- 
serves the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 


FRANK  L.  TOMLIXSOX. 

Tliis  well-known  and  ])rominent  attor- 
ney of  Mount  Pulaski,  is  a  native  of  Logan 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Mount 
Pulaski  township.  February  28.  i860,  his 
parents  being  J(ihn  M.  and  Mary  E.  Tom- 
linson. He  obtained  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Mount  Pulaski,  and 
later  was  for  three  years  a  student  at  Illinois 
College  at    Jacksonville,  leaving  that   insti- 


tution in  1884.  He  read  law  with  A.  G. 
Jones,  formerly  of  Moiuit  Pulaski,  now  de- 
ceased, and  also  with  Beach  &  Hodnett.  of 
Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  after  being  e.xamined 
before  the  supreme  court  at  Mount  Vernon, 
Illinois,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
fall  of  1887.  He  soon  afterward  opened  an 
office  in  Mount  Pulaski,  and  has  since  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  that  place.  He  is  thoroughly 
\ersed  in  the  law,  is  a  man  of  deep  research 
and  careful  investigation,  and  his  skill  and 
ability  are  attested  by  the  liberal  patronage 
he  enjoys.  Prominence  at  the  bar  comes 
through  merit  alone,  and  the  high  position 
he  has  attained  attests  his  superiority. 

In  October,  1892,  Mr.  Tomlinson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Leona  L. 
String,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  a  daughter 
of  Simon  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Beam)  String, 
of  that  city.  Politically  he  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Mount  Pulaski  Lodge,  No.  87,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M..  of  which  he  is  past  master;  also 
of  Mount  Pulaski  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  and 
]\[ount  Pulaski  Commandery,  K.  T..  of 
which  he  is  past  eminent  commander. 


OLIVER  T.  CAPPS. 

Xo  state  in  the  Union  can  1x>ast  of  a. 
more  heroic  band  of  pioneers  than  Illinois, 
for  to  this  rich  portion  of  the  Mississippi 
valley  came  strong  men  and  courageous 
women,  who  braved  the  hardships  and  trials 
of  frontier  life  in  order  to  make  homes  for 
themselves  and  aid  in  founding  what  has 
become  one  of  the  foremost  commonwealths 
in  all  the  Union.  Among  the  early  resi- 
dents of  Logan  coimty  were  the  members  of 
the  Capps   family.     Our   subject   was  only 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  few  months  old  when  brought  b\-  his  par- 
ents to  tlie  present  site  of  'Sit.  Pulaski,  and 
the  town  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  fa- 
ther. Jabez  Capps.  The  latter  was  born  in 
London,  England,  in  1796,  and  when  twenty 
years  of  age  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the 
new  world,  landing  at  Boston,  ^klassachu- 
setts.  He  made  his  way  thence  to  Phila- 
delphia and  on  across  the  Allegheny  moun- 
tains to  Pittsburg,  where  he  took  a  skiff  and 
floated  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Cairo,  Illi- 
nois. From  that  ix>int  he  made  his  way  to 
St.  Louis,  ^Missouri,  and  thence  he  remo\ed 
to  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1818.  There  he 
engaged  in  merchandising  until  1836,  and  in 
the  meantime  he  had  married  Prudy  Ann 
Stafford,  who  was  born  on  the  bank  of  Lake 
Champlain.  in  Vermont,  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Stafford,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  who 
fought  for  seven  long  years  for  the  liberty 
of  the  colonies. 

After  residing  in  Springfield  for  eight- 
een years  Jabez  Capps  brought  his  family 
to  Logan  county,  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
and  thereon  laid  out  the  town  of  Mt. 
Pulaski.  He  started  the  first  general  mer- 
cantile store  in  the  place  and  was  the  first 
postmaster  there,  continuing  in  that  position 
through  dift"erent  administrations  for  twenty 
years.  He  was  also  recorder  of  deeds  of 
Logan  county  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
built  and  operated  the  first  woolen  mill  in 
the  place,  also  the  first  carding  machine,  the 
latter  being  run  by  a  tread-wheel.  He  was. 
indeed,  the  prime  mover  in  every  enterprise 
calculated  to  upbuild  the  community,  and 
the  town  stands  still  as  a  monument  to  his 
untiring  labor  and  public  spirit.  .Ml  this 
time  he  continued  merchandising  until  his 
business  grew  to  be  the  largest  in  this  por- 
tion of  Illinois,  his  sales  amounting  to 
eighty  thousand  dollars  annually.  He 
bought  his  goods  of  eastern  parties  on  credit, 


being  allowed  a  year's  time  to  make  pay- 
ment. He  sold  his  goods  on  credit,  but  the 
latter  plan  ultimately  proved  his  ruin.  Kind 
hearted  to  a  fault,  he  did  not  make 
collections,  and  finally  lost  heavily  in 
this  wa\-.  At  one  time  he  was  a 
\er_\-  large  land  holder,  owning  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  the  choicest  land 
in  Logan  county,  including  three  thousand 
acres  in  one  body,  one  tract  adjoining  Mt. 
Pulaski  containing  fourteen  hundred  acres, 
while  in  adjoining  counties  his  landed  pos- 
sessions were  also  very  extensive.  He  had 
recei\ed  only  a  common  school  education  in 
England,  but  he  possessed  rare  business 
ability  and  sound  judgment,  and  thus  he 
acquired  a  handsome  fortune.  He  died  in 
Mt.  Pulaski  in  1896.  lacking  only  three 
months  of  being  one  hundred  years  old. 
Politically  he  was  an  old-line  \Miig  in  the 
early  days  and  a  stanch  opponent  of  slavery, 
antl  when  the  Republican  party  was  formed 
to  prexent  the  further  extension  of  slavery 
he  joined  its  ranks  and  continued  one  of  its 
loyal  defenders  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Capps  was  twice  married.  He  first 
wedded  Prudy  A.  Stafford,  in  1827,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  four  children : 
Charles  S..  who  was  an  extensive  nursery- 
man here  for  many  years,  and  Thomas, 
Ixith  deceased:  Ebenezer.  of  Wichita,  Kan- 
sas: and  Oliver,  of  this  review.  In  1836 
Mr.  Capps  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Betsy  Baker,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  who  accompanied  her  par- 
ents to  Illinois,  making  the  entire  journey 
on  horseback  and  locating  in  Rochester,  this 
state.  By  this  marriage  there  were  ten  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reached  mature  years: 
John,  now  deceased:  Prudy,  wife  of  S.  L. 
Biedler :  ^lary,  deceased  wife  of  ]\I.  5IcXat- 
ten:  ^\'illiam:  Benjamin:  Jabez.  deceased: 
Edward,  a  composer  of  music  in  Xew  \ork 


THE    lUOGRAPHlCAL   RECORD. 


629 


city;  Harry:  Maud,  now  Mrs.  Willis  Staf- 
fonl:  and  1-rank.  who  died  in  clnldhond. 
The  niiittuM-  died  in  187(1. 

In  the  villa-e  r.i  Mt.  Pulaski  Oliver 
Capps  was  reared  and  educated,  attending 
the  public  scIkhiIs.  He  remained  on  the 
liome  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age.  when 
he  began  assisting  his  father  in  the  store. 
He  was  married  in  1856.  and  for  nearlv 
twenty  vears  thereafter  continued  to  reside 
in  :\It.  Pulaski.  In  187(1  he  removed  to 
Wellington.  Kansas,  where  he  established  a 
general  store,  which  he  successfuUx'  con- 
ducted for  ten  years,  but  eventually  he  sold 
out  and  went  to  California,  where  he  resided 
five  years,  being  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Mt.  Pulaski, 
where  he  has  since  lived  practically  retired. 
his  attention  being  given  to  no  active  busi- 
ness affairs,  save  the  management  of  his 
pro]iert)-. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1856.  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Capps  and  Miss  Mary  Eliza 
Bush,  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  who  was  born  in 
Mt.  Vernon.  Ohio,  Fel)ruary  10.  1837. 
Her  father.  (ie<irge  PjUsIi,  who  was  an  ex- 
tensive farmer,  died  there,  and  later  her 
mother  came  to  Pekin,  Illinois,  where  she 
remained  until  her  death,  in  1X40.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Capps  have  four  children,  of  whom 
Arthur  Tliomas  is  the  eldest.  Anna  is  now 
the  widow  of  Dr.  A\',  S.  Mendenhall.  who 
was  a  wealthy  and  prominent  physician.  Of 
the  five  children  born  to  them  the  two  still 
living  are  Scott,  who  is  now  attending  the 
Morgan  I'ark  jireparatory  school  with  the 
intention  of  entering  Ru.sh  Medical  College; 
and  Paul,  who  lives  with  his  grandparents. 
Minnie  J.,  the  second  daugliter  of  our  sub- 
ject, is  now  deceased.  She  was  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Guthrie,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Grand 
Forks,   Xorth   Dakota.     Herbert   X.,   resid- 


ing in  Mt.  Pulaski,  is  married  and  has  one 
son.    l-..K\ard   I.. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  the  life  record  of  Oli- 
ver T.  (.'apjis.  who  through  many  years  has 
lieen  actively  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
Mt.  Pulaski  and  has  ever  borne  his  part 
in  its  progress  and  improvement. 

He  is  known  to  the  majority  of  the  old 
settlers  as  well  as  to  the  more  recent  arrivals, 
belonging  to  one  of  the  honored  pioneer 
families  of  the  county.  His  life,  honorable 
and  upright,  has  gained  him  uniform  re- 
spect, and  no  history  of  Logan  coiuuy  would 
be  complete  without  the  record  of  his  life. 


WILLl.XM   W.   SIMPSON. 

Among  those  whose  labors  have  en- 
abled them  to  reach  the  goal  of  prosperity, 
and,  therefore,  now  li\-e  in  retirement  after 
vears  of  active  association  with  the  business 
world,  is  William  W.  Simpson.  He  has  a 
wide  acquaintance  among  the  people  of  Em- 
den  and  Logan  county  and  enjoys  the  high 
regard  of  all  with  whom  business  or  social 
relations  have  brought  him  in  contact. 

He  was  born  January  14,  1837,  while 
his  parents,  William  and  Annie  (Leittle) 
Simpson  were  at  sea.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  England,  the  mother  of  Scotland,  and 
in  the  former  country  they  were  married, 
Mr.  Simpson  there  occupying  responsible 
positions  as  manager  of  two  woolen  mills 
and  two  cotton  factories.  His  time  was 
thus  occupied  until  1836.  when  he  sailed  for 
.\merica.  The  year  following  he  brought 
liis  family  to  the  new  world  and  they  lo-_ 
cated  in  Rhode  Island,  but  only  remained 
there  a  short  time,  going  thence  to  New- 
burvport,  where  the  father  worked  in  woolen 
factories.     He    was    employed  in  a  similar 


630 


'HE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


capacity  in  Lowell,  ^Massachusetts,  and  af- 
ter five  years  thus  passed,  on  account  of  fail- 
ing health  he  removed  westward,  in  1843,. 
coming  at  once  to  Logan  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  i>urchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
what  is  known  as  the  old  Delavan  Prairie 
in  Eminence  township.  At  that  time  there 
w-as  not  a  house  hetween  his  home  and  the 
village  of  Delavan,  fourteen  miles  distant. 
From  the  government  ^Mr.  Simpson  entered 
more  land  and  at  once  began  making  im- 
pro\-ements  upon  the  propert}-.  At  the  time 
of  his  arrival  he  knew  nothing  of  farming, 
but  practical  experience  soon  taught  him  the 
best  methods  of  tilling  the  soil,  and  with  a 
fair  degree  of  success  he  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1870.  He  was  a  \"ery  stanch 
Democrat,  and  always  stood  firmly  by  his 
principles  in  every  regard.  His  wife  died 
in  1888,  and  thus  the  county  lost  two  of  its 
honored  pioneer  settlers.  They  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are 
living,  namely :  Annie,  the  widow  of  John 
Davison  and  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Jane, 
widow  of  Jefferson  Bruner  and  a  resident 
of  Nebraska ;  Martha,  who  is  the  \\idow  of 
Henry  IMusick  and  makes  her  home  in  Kan- 
sas; Hannah,  wife  of  F.  A.  Musick,  of 
Wccdford  county,  Illinois;  Thomas  J.,  now 
of  Northport,  Missouri :  and  William  W. 
Those  deceased  are  Ellen,  who  married 
James  Phillips,  but  lioth  have  now  passed 
away:  Da\id,  wlm  died  at  sea:  Thomas: 
and  Mary  E.  All  were  educated  in  the 
common  schools  except  T.  J.,  who  attended 
the  college  at  Eureka,  Illinois. 

After  jnitting  aside  his  text-books  Will- 
iam W.  Simpson  began  farming  in  West 
Lincoln  township,  where  he  rented  a  farm 
for  two  years,  and  during  his  residence 
there  he  married  ]\Iiss  Lenora  French,  <il 
Xew   ^'i;rk,  a  daughter  oi  b>hn   French,  <;f 


that  state.  [Mrs.  Simpson  died  August  22,. 
1872.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren :  Annie  M.,  the  deceased  wife  of 
Charles  R.  Bowles,  of  Orvil  township;  and 
Thomas  O.,  who  married  Annie  Jacobs  and 
resides  in  Emden.  In  ^S/T,  Mr.  Simpson 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Mrs.  Jennie  (  Skirben)  Sheets,  the 
widow  of  Andrew  J.  Sheets,  of  Orvil  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Simpson  was  killed  in  a  run- 
away accident  April  22,  1892,  leaving  two 
children  cf  the  second  marriage:  W'alter 
F.,  who  married  a  ]\Iiss  Sampel  and  resides 
in  Eminence  township;  and  Charles  H.,  who 
is  li\ing  in  Fmden  with  his  father. 

After  his  first  marriage  ?\Ir.  Simpson 
followed  farming,  but  \\heu  the  war  broke 
out  and  the  need  of  more  men  was  strongly 
felt,  he  enlisted,  August  i,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany E,  One  Hundred  and  Si.xth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Latham 
and  Captain  Beesley.  The  company  took 
part  in  no  engagements  of  any  imix)rtance 
and  Mr.  Simpson  was  ne\-er  injuretl.  He 
was  discharged  at  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas, 
July  12,  1865.  Returning  home,  he  pur- 
chased another  farm  six  miles  east  of  Em- 
den in  Orvil  township,  and  there  he  and  his 
sons  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1893,  when  he  sold  his  proiperty  and  came 
to  Emden,  purchasing  a  residence  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  village,  where  he  has 
since  lived  retired.  His  enterprise  and  in- 
dustry as  he  tilled  his  helds  and  harvested 
his  crops  brought  to  him  a  handsome  com- 
petence, and  he  is  nmv  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  community.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  (juestions  of  the  day,  keeping 
well  informed  thereon.  Ft:r  one  term  he 
served  as  constable  in  Or\il  township  and 
fi;r  three  terms  has  been  alderman  oi  Em- 
den.    For  fourteen  \ears  he  has  been  school 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


631 


director  in  his  district,  and  in  these  posi- 
tions, as  in  ether  offices  which  lie  has  filled, 
he  has  discharged  his  duties  with  marked 
fidelity  and  promptness.  He  belongs  to  the 
Grand  Army  Post  of  Armington,  Illinois, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  of 
Emden.  in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of 
deacon.  His  life  has  been  upright,  his  ac- 
tions honorable  and  sincere,  and  he  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  the  county 
where  the  greater  part  of  his  years  have 
been  passed  and  where  he  is  often  spoken  of 
as  "Uncle  Billy" — a  term  of  affectionate  re- 
gard. 


TOHX   H.   LONG 


Among  the  successful  and  prosperous 
farmers  of  Corwin  township,  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  is  John  H.  Long,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio,  May  8,  1847.  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Bertha  Long,  also  natives  of  the  Buck- 
eye state.  The  i>arents  were  married  in 
Ohio  and  resided  there  on  a  farm  until  1853, 
when  they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on 
a  rented  farm  near  Elkhart,  in  Corwin 
township,  Logan  county.  After  two  years 
they  lx>ught  eighty  acres,  which  the  father 
brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Being 
a  thrifty,  energetic  man,  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  had  accumulated  two  hundred  and 
twenty-four  acres  of  land,  which  he  left  to 
his  heirs.  He  died  November  3,  1891,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  was  buried 
in  Evans  cemetery,  Corwin  township.  His 
wife  died  about  187 1.  They  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  as  follows:  Sarah,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Albert  Barrick,  and  both 
are  now  deceased;  Harvey,  who  married 
Mary  Lewis,  and  both  are  also  deceased; 
David,  deceased,  who  married  Delia  Kinney. 
wh(j  now  resides  in  Broadwell ;  Weslev,  who 


marrietl  Addie  Harrison,  and  resides  in 
Atlanta,  Illinois :  Xancy  is  the  widow 
of  Philip  Richhart.  and  n  )W  resides  in 
Lincoln.  Illinois:  Ellen,  deceased  wife 
of  Charles  }iIorris.  who  resides  n;ar 
Keokuk.  Iowa;  John  H..  our  subject;  An- 
nie, who  married  M.  I.  Burkett  and  resides 
near  Ket)kuk.  Iowa ;  and  a  son.  who  died  in 
infancy. 

John  H.  Long,  our  subject,  attended  the 
district  school  at  Linn  Grove,  Corwin  town- 
ship, until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  and 
then  worked  upon  the  farm,  assisting  his 
lather.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty-six  years  old  and  then  entered  the 
livery  business  at  Atlanta,  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  four  years,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  the  homestead  and  for  four  >ears 
more  managed  the  farm  for  his  father.  At 
this  time  he  married,  and  for  two  years  op- 
erated a  rented  farm,  but  his  father  needing 
his  services,  Mr.  Long  returned  to  the  home- 
stead and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  Here 
he  has  a  good  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of 
fine  land  on  sections  27  and  28,  and  he 
raises  high-grade  stock  for  the  market  in 
connection  with  his  general  farming.  His 
success  is  the  result  of  his  industry  ami  hard 
work,  and  his  prosperity  is  justly  merited. 

On  the  2(1  of  Marth.  1882.  at  West  Lib- 
ertv.  Ohio.  Mr.  Long  married  ^liss  Callie 
F.  \an  Meter,  a  daughter  of  John  K.  and 
Sarah  (Powell)  \'an  Meter,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Ohio.  Her  parents  were 
married  in  Ohio  and  resided  there  until 
their  deaths,  the  father  being  engaged  in 
farming.  Mrs.  Long  was  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  as  follows:  Jennie,  who  is 
single  and  resides  with  Mr.  Long;  Henry, 
who  married  Anna  Sieger  and  resides  in 
Ohio;  Callie  F..  who  was  Ixjrn  in  Ohio  and 
is  now  Mrs.  Long;  John,  who  married  Etlfie 
Stout,  now  deceased,  antl  resides  in  Ohio; 


632 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Maggie,  who  married  Charles  Scott  and  re- 
sides ill  West  Liberty,  Ohio;  and  a  son,  who 
died  in  cliildhood.  Mr.  and  !\Irs.  Long 
ha\e  two  interesting  children,  namel}' : 
Jessie  V.  and  Virgil  C. 

In  politics  Mr.  Long  is  a  Republican, 
and  lias  ser\-ed  his  party  as  mad  commis- 
sioner for  a  nunilier  <it  years  and  also  as 
school  director.  He  is  a  meml.ier  of  Myrtle 
Lodge.  Xo.  470.  I.  ().  O.  F..  of  :Middle- 
town.  of  which  he  is  jiast  grand.  He  has 
also  served  as  trustee  of  the  lodge,  and  has 
represented  it  in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  Methcidist  Kpiscojial  church  of  Spring 
Bank,  and  he  is  one  of  the  stewards  in  the 
same.  They  are  highly  respected  in  their 
locality,  and  in  their  pleasant  home  are  sur- 
rounded by  an  interesting  family  and  many 
friends. 


REV.   THOMAS  DAXIEL  KEXXEDV. 

Rev.  Father  Kennedy,  pastor  of  St.  Pat- 
rick's clunxh  at  Flkhart.  was  born  in  Xew 
York,  (in  the  16th  of  h'ebruary,  1870.  and 
is  a  son  of  John  B.  and  INIary  Rose  ( Fen- 
Ion)  Kennedy,  both  natives  of  County  Car- 
low.  Ireland,  the  former  born  in  1830.  the 
latter  in  1844.  His  father  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1852  and  settled  in  tienex'a.  Xew 
York,  and  four  years  later  his  mother 
crossed  the  Atlantic  with  her  parents  and 
located  in  .\uburn.  Xew  York.  They  were 
married  at  Geneva.  !\lr.  Kennedy  died  in 
Rochester,  that  state,  April  14,  1898,  but  his 
wife  is  still  living  and  continues  to  reside 
in  that  city.  They  had  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living. 

During  his  Ixiyhood  Father  Kennedy  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Waterloo.  Xew 
York :  later  was  a  student  at  the  Sisters  pa- 


rochial school  in  Auburn,  X'ew  York;  and 
next  entered  St.  Charles  Seminary  at  Elli- 
cott  Citv.  Maryland,  where  he  was  a  student 
in  1885-6.  He  later  attended  St.  Andrew's 
Seminary  at  Rochester.  Xew  York,  from 
1886  to  1890.  and  St.  Joseph's  Provential 
Seminary  at  Troy,  X'ew  York,  from  1890 
to  1892,  taking  a  course  in  philosophy  and 
theologv.  In  the  latter  year  he  entered  St. 
Alarv's  University  at  Baltimore,  ^Maryland, 
completing  his  sacred  theological  and  scrip- 
ture course  in  1894. 

On  the  J I  St  of  June.  1894.  Father  Ken- 
nedy was  ordained  a  priest  by  Cardinal 
Gibbons  at  Baltimore,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed secretary  to  Bishop  Sjialding  at  St. 
?ilarv's  Cathedral  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  three  months.  He  was  ap- 
pointed first  assistant  at  Holy  Trinity 
church.  Blooniington.  on  the  ist  of  Septem- 
ber. 1894.  but  October  i,  1895.  '^^'^s  recalled 
by  Bishop  Spalding  as  secretary  to  him  and 
acting  rector  of  the  cathedral  at  Peoria, 
which  positions  he  tilled  until  July.  1897, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  Lincoln  as  act- 
ing rector  of  St.  Patrick's  church.  On  the 
1st  of  July,  1898.  he  was  appointed  rector  of 
St.  Patrick's  church  at  Elkhart,  St.  Thomas 
.\(piinas  church  at  Mt.  Pulaski  and  St. 
Marv's  church  at  Atlanta,  and  is  still  in 
charge  of  these  three  congregations. 

St.  Patrick's  church  of  Elkhart  was  es- 
talilisbed  in  1856.  Twice  a  year  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Kennedy,  of  the  Chicago  diocese 
made  visits  here  and  said  mass  through  the 
central  portion  of  the  state.  In  1857  the 
Rev.  Father  Maher,  of  Bloomington,  came 
once  in  two  months  and  said  mass  in  John 
Bushel's  house,  which  stood  near  wiiere  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  depot  is 
now  located.  In  i860  he  began  say- 
ing mass  and  administering  the  sac- 
raments    in     ]\lr.   Rignev's     house,     whicli 


THE  BlOGRArillCAL   RECORD. 


633 


stood  then  in  Gillette's  Grove  nnd  af- 
terward was  ni(i\ed.  In  iSi)^  Kfv.  l-'atlu-r 
Martin,  who  was  ilien  pastor  ai  Linfuln. 
built  the  first  pcrniant-nt  structure  as 
a  church  at  Elkhart.  I'hc  new  church  was 
completed  and  dedicated  the  followini^-  year, 
and  in  1865  Rev.  F"ather  Herman,  who  was 
then  stationed  at  Lincoln,  took  chart^e.  He 
was  succeeded  liy  Father  Burke.  <it  the  same 
l)lace,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  I-'ather 
Daltoii,  and  his  successors  were  Father  Ilnd- 
nett  and  Father  Costa.  Bishop  SiJaldini;- 
then  aiijininted  Rev.  C.  M.  Rimmels  as  the 
first  rector  in  1S7S.  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Dunne  in  1885.  who.se  suc- 
cessor was  Rev.  J.  .\.  Fanning.  D.  1).  'i"he 
]-.resent  rector.  Rev.  Thomas  Daniel  Ken- 
ne<lv.  was  ne.xt  appointed,  in    i8()8. 


ROBERT  G.  GEMBERLIXG. 

Roliert  G.  Geml)erliug.  a  prominent 
farmer  and  owner  of  oue  of  the  finest  farms 
in  (Jrvil  township,  was  born  on  sectiou  u, 
that  township.  June  22.  1863.  His  par- 
ents were  Frederick  and  ^Iar\-  .\.  i  Sten- 
inger)  (iemberling.  both  natives  of  Penn- 
syK-ania.  who  came  west  at  an  early  date  and 
>ettle<l  on  a  farm  near  I'ekin.  Tazewell 
county.  Jllinois.  where  they  lived  several 
years.  They  then  removed  to  a  farm  near 
De1a\-an,  that  county,  and  a  few  \ears  later 
settled  on  section  u.  Orvil  township.  Logan 
county,  where  the  father  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  the  death  of  liis  wife,  which  occur- 
red May  2.  1S90.  when  he  remo\ed  to  Lin- 
coln, and  is  still  residing  there,  retired  from 
active  Ijusiness.  I''or  liis  second  wife  he 
married  Mrs.  Eliza  Kelly. 

Six  children  were  born  of  the  first  mar- 
riage,   nameh- :      David     II..     who    married 


Sarah  Bowles  and  resides  on  a  farm  on  sec- 

t'ou  I  J.  (  )r\  il  township;  C_\'rus.  who  is  eu- 
o;iged  in  the  lumber  business  in  the  \illage 
of  l'".mden;  James  .\lbert.  who  married  Iza 
(juiseulierr\-  .nnd  follows  farming  in  I'oyn- 
lou  township.  Tazewell  county:  Jennie,  who 
married  T.  .\lexaudcr.  a  farmer  near  Blooni- 
ington.  Illinois:  Robert  (i..  our  subject;  and 
Schuyler  C..  who  uiarric.l  May  .\ine  ,and 
resides  on  a  farm  in  ( )r\il  township.  There 
are  no  children  by  the  father's  second  mar- 
riage. 

(  )ur  subject  rtceiv'ed  a  good  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  this  county,  and  bad 
the  further  a.dvantage  of  a  course  at  the  uni- 
\ersity  in  Lincoln,  .\fter  completing  his 
education  he  took  a  trip  through  the  west, 
where  he  sjient  oue  year,  and  on  his  return 
settled  on  a  farm  on  section  i_',  Orvil  town- 
shi]).  While  living  there  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Marguerite  McCormick. 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza  (McGowan) 
McCormick.  who  were  born  in  die  east  but 
at  an  early  day  settled  in  Orvil  township, 
this  county.  Her  father  is  now  deceased, 
but  her  mother  is  still  living  and  makes  her 
home  in  Lincoln.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  (iember- 
ling  are  the  jiarents  of  three  children,  name- 
ly :      Louella.  Robert  Clyde,  and  Eva  Claire. 

.Mr.  Gemberling  continued  to  reside  on 
section  \2.  Orvil  towushi]).  until  i8(j4.  when 
be  removed  to  what  is  known  as  the  old  Mar- 
tin farm,  ou  section  35,  the  .same  township, 
baxing  ])urchased  the  same,'  which  he  made 
his  home  until  igoi,  when  he  bought  a  ])art 
of  the  old  .McCoianick  hiunestead  on  .sectio:i 
i).  (  )r\  il  townsbi]).  which  is  recognized  a.s 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township,  if  not 
in  the  entire  county.  He  now  <iwus  two 
lumdred  acres,  and  is  successfully  engaged 
in  agricultural  ])ursuits.  .\s  an  auctioneer 
bis  services  are  in  constant  demand,  and  he 
de\otes  c<-nsiderable  attention  to  th.at  busi- 


634 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ness  during  the  winter  months.  In  pohtics 
'Mlt.  Gemberiing  is  a  stalwart  Repubhcan. 
Both  he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  earnest 
members  of  the  Bethel  Christian  church  of 
Orvil  township,  and  he  is  one  of  the  leading- 
farmers  of  his  community,  \ery  popular 
with  all  classes. 


WILLIAM    E.    McCLELLAXD.    M.    D. 

Dr.  William  E.  McClelland,  a  pmminent 
and  successful  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Beason.  Illinois,  was  born  March  17,  1853, 
in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  E.  and  Margery  (\Mieeler)  ;McClel- 
land,  in  whose  family  were  six  children. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  and  continued  to  make  his  home  there 
until  coming  to  Illinois,  in  1855.  The 
mother  is  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  Wheeler.  Botli  parents  are 
now  li\ing  with  the  Doctor  in  Beason, 
where  they  expect  to  spend  their  declining 
years. 

Reared  in  this  state.  Dr.  ^McClelland  at- 
tended school  in  Decatur,  and  also  spent  one 
year  at  the  Westfield  College.  Deciding  to 
enter  the  medical  profession,  he  attended 
lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1878  with  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  Immediately  after  his 
graduation  he  located  in  Midland  City,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  for  nine  years,  and  in  1887 
came  to  Beason.  Logan  county,  where  he 
remained  ever  since.  Here  he  has  built  up 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  bears  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  straightforward 
and  conscientious  physician.  He  took  a 
special  course  at  the  Post  Graduate  !Medical 
School  and  Hospital,  Chicago,  in  1901,  and 


makes  a  constant  study  of  his  profession. 
He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  DeW'itt 
County  ]\Iedical  Society  and  also  of  the  Illi- 
nois State  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  McClelland  was  married  in  1880  to 
}iliss  Elizabeth  Alice  Parker,  a  daughter  of 
William  C.  Parker,  of  Midland  City,  and 
they  have  two  children,  namely:  Clarence 
E.,  born  May  24.  1883;  and  Bertha  C,  born 
August  5,  1886.  The  family  are  memiaers 
of  the  ^Methodist  church  and  are  people  of 
prominence  in  the  community  where  they 
reside.  The  Doctor  is  also  connected  with 
Wayne  Lodge,  Xo.  172.  A.  F.  &.  A.  M., 
of  Wa\iies\ille :  Goodbrake  Chapter,  Xo. 
39,  R.  A.  M..  of  Clinton:  and  Virginia 
Lodge,  X<x  391,  K.  P.,  of  Beason.  Politi- 
cally he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 
His  pleasant,  genial  manner  makes  him 
quite  ]K)pular  and  is  held  in  the  highest  re- 
erard  bv  all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE  R.  COUXCIL. 

The  two  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm 
belonging  to  George  R.  Council  is  one  of 
the  finest  properties  in  Logan  county.  Situ- 
ated on  section  i,  Hurlbut  township,  it  bears 
the  impress  of  the  enterprises  and  progres- 
siveness  of  its  owner,  is  well  cultivated,  ad- 
mirablv  fitted  with  laboring  saving  devices, 
and  tlevoted  to  general  farming  and  the 
breeding  of  high-grade  stock  for  market. 

In  scientific  farming  Mr.  Council  follows 
a  natural  inclination,  for  his  people  ha\-e 
for  many  years  been  successful  agriculturists 
and  stock-raisers.  So  far,  Illinois  seems  to 
him  the  best  ])lace  to  e.xercise  his  abilities 
and  reap  his  harvests,  a  preference  largely 
ilue  to  tlie  fact  that  he  is  a  son  of  this  great 
farming  state,  ha\ing  been  born  in  Sanga- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


635 


moil  county.  Septemlier  3,  1863.  His  ta- 
tlier.  John  H.  Council,  will  ever  l)e  remem- 
bered as  one  of  the  impressive  agricultural 
forces  of  Illinois,  and  as  a  man  who  con- 
ducted his  enteritises  on  a  large  and  telling 
scale.  In  the  family  besides  George  R., 
\vere  several  children,  all  of  whom  are  use- 
ful men  and  woman,  and  a  credit  to  the 
teachings  and  e.xamplc  of  their  ambitious 
parents. 

Mr.  Council  was  educated  in  the  Fancy 
Creek  district  schools,  and  when  twenty-one 
years  of  age  attended  the  Springfield  Busi- 
ness College  at  Springfield.  Illinois.  He  then 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  remaining 
at  home  about  a  \car.  In  the  spring  of 
1887  he  came  to  Logan  county,  and  assumed 
the  management  of  a  portion  of  his  father's 
farm  consisting  of  six  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  and  in  January  of  the  same  year 
he  married  Mary  Carpenter,  who  was  Ijorn 
in  Sangamon  ci^unty,  August  2,  1868.  Her 
father,  Samuel  Carpen.tei",  was  born  six 
miles  north  of  Springfield,  Xovemter  u. 
1824,  and  was  a  son  of  William  Carpenter, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  removed  to 
Springfield  with  his  parents  at  a  very  early 
day  and  became  cpiite  well  known  through- 
out the  central  part  of  the  state.  In  early 
life  William  Carpenter  read  law  for  a  time. 
He  entered  quite  a  large  tract  of  govern- 
ment land  in  this  state,  and  held  different 
local  offices.  His  wife  was  Margaret  Pence, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Pence,  of  Pennsylvania. 
Mrs.  Council's  father  grew  to  manhood  in 
Sangamon  county  and  received  the  custom- 
ary education  of  boys  at  that  time,  attending 
school  in  Springfield  to  some  extent.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  J.  Short,  and  to  them 
were  born  six  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Coun- 
cil is  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  The  others  are 
Anna,  wife  (f  Frank  Dunlap,  of  Sangamon 
'County;  William,  a  resident  of  Los  Angeles, 


California;  Carrie,  deceased  wife  of  James 
Reynolds,  who  lives  near  Springfield; 
Martha,  wife  of  Charles  W<K)d,  sheriff  of 
Sangamon  county:  and  Lena,  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Petefish,  who  lives  north  of  Springfield. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  1873. 
and  three  years  later  the  father  married  Mrs. 
M.  E.  H.  Johnson,  who  is  now  deceased. 
He  is  still  living  upon  his  fine  farm  of  seven 
hundred  acres  in  Sangamon  county,  and  is 
one  of  the  prominent  men  of  his  community. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
South. 

To  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Council  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Fred  W..  who 
was  born  August  5,  1888:  John  Samuel, 
who  was  born  April  13,  1890:  Jennie  Edna, 
who  was  born  October  9,  1891  :  Percy  R., 
who  was  born  May  24,  1893:  Marshall  C, 
whose  birth  occurred  November  12,  1896; 
George  Otis,  whose  natal  day  was  March 
29,  1898:  and  Everett  M.,  who  was  horn 
June  27,.   1900. 

Mr.  Council  devotes  all  of  his  time  to 
the  mauagement  of  his  farm,  and  has  there- 
fore found  little  occasion  to  enter  the  ranks 
of  jx)litics.  He  is,  however,  a  stanch  Re- 
puljlican.  and  votes  with  discretion,  and  re- 
gard for  the  qualifications  of  candidates. 
With  his  family  he  attends  and  supports  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  with 
his  wife  he  is  a  member. 


ISAAC  XEWTOX  EW  IXG. 

Among  the  many  prosperous  and  enter- 
prising farmers  of  Eminence  township  is 
the  subject  of  this  personal  history,  who  was 
born  March  6.  1848.  and  is  a  son  of  Ed- 
ward S.  and  Delia   (  Liiulsey)   Ewing,  and 


63b 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  grandson  of  Charles  F.  and  [Mary  Ewing. 
The  grandfather  was  born  in  1796  and  his 
wife  in  1795.  Bodi  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  1828  came  to  Logan  county, 
IlHnois.  settHng  in  what  is  now  Eminence 
township.  Charles  F.  Ewing  was  a  man 
of  considerable  wealth  and  influence  in  the 
county  at  that  time  and  liecame  tlie  owner 
of  fourteen  hundred  acres  if  land,  all  of 
which  was  in  Eminence  township.  He 
served  one  term  in  the  state  legislature,  be- 
ing sent  there  by  the  Whig  party.  In  dis- 
position he  was  retiring  and  after  serving 
the  people  one  term,  he  resigned.  He  was 
noted  for  his  generositv.  giving  freely  of 
his  wealth  to  the  poor  and  needy,  and  in 
those  earlv  days  there  were  many  calls  for 
assistance.  In  1870  he  was  called  to  hir. 
final  rest,  having  lived  to  see  Eminence 
township  grow  from  a  wild.  unculti\ated 
tract  of  land  to  one  of  the  most  prosjierous 
sections  of  the  state  of  Illinois. 

Edward  S.  Ewing.  die  father  of  the 
gendeman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  a  man  of  unusual  ability  and 
ranked  as  one  of  Eminence  township's  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens.  He 
made  farming  his  life  occupation  and  when 
he  passed  away  he  \vas  mourned  by  not 
only  his  own  immediate  family,  but  by  all 
with  whom  he  was  acciuainted.  He  died 
in  August,  1882.  Three  times  married,  his 
family  consisted  of  twelve  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living :  Margaret.  Charles 
A..  Francis  'SI..  James  E..  Sherman.  Xathan 
and  Isaac  X..  our  subject. 

Isaac  Xewton  Ewing  was  reared  in  Em- 
inence township,  where  he  received  more 
than  the  ordinary  education.  Soon  after 
the  completion  of  his  schooling  he  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Logan  county,  where  he 
gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  an  instruc- 
tor and    disciplinarian.     He    continued    in 


this  profession  for  thirteen  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  period  he  engaged  in  farming,  and 
by  good  judgment  and  financiering  he  has 
become  the  owner  of  over  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  Eminence  township,  sixty-four 
acres  being  on  section  2  and  the  balance  on 
section  3.  where  he  resides  with  his  family. 

On  March  2-.  iSjS.  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Frantz.  an 
accomplished  and  distinguislied  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Eliza  Frantz.  who  were  natives 
of  Indiana,  and  located  in  Logan  county  in 
1858.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  the  following  children :  Delia, 
Smith.  Lloyd.  Eva.  Martha.  Isaac,  and  Clif- 
ton C.  Delia,  the  oldest  child,  is  following 
in  the  footsteps  of  his  afther,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Logan  county. 

In  politics  ^Ir.  Ewing  is  independent 
and  casts  his  vote  for  the  candidate  whom 
he  believes  best  qualified  for  office.  He  is 
noted  for  his  kind  and  genial  manner,  and 
is  at  all  times  ready  and  willing  to  do  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  general  welfare 
of  his  countv. 


HEXRY  C.  MOXTGOMERY. 

Prcminent  among  the  citizens  of  Logan 
countv  who  liave  witnessed  the  marvelous 
de\elopment  of  this  section  of  the  state  in 
the  past  half  century,  and  who  have,  by  hon- 
est toil  and  industry,  succeeded  in  acquir- 
ing a  handsome  competence  and  are  now 
able  to  spend  the  sunset  of  life  in  quiet  and 
retirement,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch.  He  now  makes  his 
home  in  Atlanta. 

Mr.  ]\Ii  ntgnmery  is  a  native  of  the 
Hoosier  state,  born  in  Gibson  county.  Indi- 
ana.  October    n.     182^.    and   is  a   son   of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


637 


Thomas  and  Catherine  {Tee\)  Montgom- 
ery, natives  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
respectively.  This  worthy  couple  were 
noted  for  'their  hospitality  and  generosity. 
The  nn7tlKr  was  a  daughter  of  \\'illiani 
Teel.  During  his  hoyhood  our  subject  re- 
ceived only  a  limited  education,  such  as  the 
common  scho<:)ls  of  his  immediate  county 
afforded  at  that  early  day.  He  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  and  early  became  thoroughly  fa- 
miliar with  all  of  the  duties  which  fall  t.> 
the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  In  1847  he 
came  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  making  the 
journey  from  his  native  cnunty  <>n  horse- 
back. The  country  at  that  time  was  ex- 
tremely rough  and  the  principal  highways 
were  the  Indian  trails. 

On  his  arrival  in  this  ct>unty,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery took  up  his  residence  with  Harvey 
Turner,  under  whose  roof  he  remained  three 
years.  In  1850  he  purchased  a  farm,  ci in- 
sisting of  (lie  hundreil  and  sixty  acres 
of  land,  which  is  now  the  dd  hrnie- 
.stead.  As  time  passed  and  he  pros- 
pered in  his  farming  operations,  he 
kept  adding  to  his  landed  possessions  until 
now  he  has  nine  hundred  and  thirty-three 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  Atlanta  townshi]), 
Logan  county,  and  in  McLean  county.  He 
is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful and  prosperous  agriculturists  of  his 
county.  He  is  now  practically  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  .\tlanta  and  owns  one  nf  the 
finest  residences  of  the  place,  it  being  equip- 
ped with  all  modern  conveniences. 

In  Feliruary.  1854.  Mr.  Montgomery 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Celinda 
Andrews,  whose  parents  were  from  Rhode 
Island  and  Xew  York.  respecti\ely.  Twi^ 
children  blessed  this  union,  but  William  IT., 
the  younger,  died  at  the  age  of  three  months 
and  thirteen  davs.     Harvey  T.  is  to-day  one 


of  the  principal  traveling  salesmen  connect- 
ed with  one  of  the  largest*  business  houses 
of  Bl(K)mington,  and  receives  a  .salary  of 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  year  and  ex- 
penses. Me  has  lieen  very  successful  thus 
far  during  his  business  career  and  undoulit- 
cdlv  a  brilliant  future  awaits  him.  He  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  under 
cultivation.  Our  .subject's  first  wife  died  in 
July.  1857,  and  in  October.  1858.  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Lula  Beardsly,  of  Genesee  county, 
Xew  York,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, 
namely;  Tlicimas  E. :  Harriet  M.:  Minnie 
B.  :  Judson.  who  is  now  looking  after  his 
father's  t;.nning  interests:  and  Isaac  J.,  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Montgomery  is  a  member  of  the 
I^ee  Will  I'.aptist  church,  and  gives  it  his 
financial  sup])ort.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  but  has  never  sought  publicity 
in  an  official  capacity.  As  a  citizen  of  the 
community  in  which  he  has  so  long  lived 
and  been  so  active,  he  is  highly  respected 
and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  neigh'oors 
and  many  friends,  by  whom  he  is  regarded 
as  a  man  of  excellent  business  judgmer.t. 
In  all  transactions  his  word  is  considered 
as  go(;d  as  his  bond,  and  he  well  merits  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  is  uniformly  lield. 


PETER  OHCAMP 


This  well  known  resident  of  Lincoln  i.> 
one  of  the  leading  German-born  citizens  (  t 
Logan  county,  and  in  his  successful  business 
career  he  has  shown  the  characteristic  thrift 
and  enterprise  of  his  race.  Beginning  witli 
no  ca]iital  except  that  acqiured  by  his  ov.ii 
indu-^try.  he  has  built  u])  a  Lirge  trade  as 
a  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  li(|Uors.  ami 
is  also  a  successful  coal   operat<ir. 


■638 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


A  native  of  the  fatherland.  :\Ir.  Ohcamp 
was  horn  in  Prussia.  Germany,  ]^.Iay  31. 
1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Tihnan  and  Margaret 
(Finman)  Ohcamp.  who  spent  their  entire 
Hves  as  farming  people  in  that  country.  The 
father  survived  his  wife  and  attained  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-six  years.  Our  sub- 
ject spent  his  early  life  in  the  land  of  his 
birth,  and  acquired  his  education  in  its  pul)- 
lic  schools.  He  worked  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  attained  his  majority  and  then  re- 
•sol\-ed  t"  trv  his  fortune  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic. 

In  i8;3  ^Ir.  Obcamp  landed  in  Xew 
York,  and  went  direct  to  Jacksonville.  :^Ior- 
gan  county,  Illinois,  working  on  a  farm  in 
that  vicinity  for  one  year.  During  the 
vears  1856  and  1857  he  was  an  attendant 
in  the  state  insane  asylum  at  Jacksonville. 
:and  later  was  coachman  in  a  gentleman's 
family  in  that  city.  From  i860  until  1865 
lie  was  engaged  in  the  bakery  and  confec- 
tionery business  there,  but  finally  sold  out 
in  Mav.  i866.  and  came  to  Lincoln.  Here 
lie  embarked  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
liquor  business,  which  he  has  successfully 
carried  on  up  to  the  present  time.  He  was 
one  of  the  principal  organizers  of  the  Citi- 
zens' Coal  and  :Mining  Company,  of  Lin- 
coln, of  which  he  is  now  treasurer  and  the 
principal  stockholder.  This  enterprise  has 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  most  va]ual)le  indus- 
tries of  the  citv,  and  furnishes  employment 
to  a  large  number  of  men.  diereby  benefit- 
ing the  place  materially. 

Mr.  Obcamp  was  married  in  1864,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  :Miss  Mary  Claff- 
ley,  of  Jacksonville,  who  was  also  born  in 
Germanv  and  came  to  the  Lnited  States 
Avhen  four  years  old.  They  have  a  fam- 
ilv  of  six  children,  namely:  Emma,  now 
the  wife  of  Dr.  G.  Dennis;  Amelia:  \\'in- 
iam,  superintendent  of  the  oflice  of  the  Citi- 


zens" Coal  Company;  Edward,  who  is  also 
in  the  <.flice:  Annie  and  Clara,  both  at  home. 
Politically  Mr.  Obcamp  is  a  stalwart 
Democrat.  In  business  affairs  he  has  stead- 
ilv  prospered,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable realty,  including  valualile  property 
in  business  houses  of  Lincoln.  On 
his  arrival  in  Jacksonville  he  was  not  only 
without  capital,  but  was  two  dollars  in 
debt,  and  the  prosperity  that  has  come  to 
him  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  industry  and 
good  management,  which  has  enabled  him 
to  acquire  a  comfortable  competence. 


HOX.  JOSEPH  A.  HORN. 

This  well  known  and  prominent  attor- 
ney of  Mount  Pulaski  is  one  of  the  ablest 
lawvers  practicing  at  the  Logan  county  bar. 
A  man  of  sound  judgment,  he  manages  his 
cases  with  masterly  skill  and  tact :  is  a  logi- 
cal reasoner  and  has  a  ready  command  of 
English.  Mr.  Horn  was  born  in  Graham. 
Alamance  count>-.  North  Carolina.  :May  13, 
1848.  and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Scotch 
descent.  The  first  of  the  Horn  family  to 
C(ime  to  America  was  his  great-grandfa- 
ther, who  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  His 
grandfather.  William  Horn,  was  born  in 
that  part  of  Orange  county.  Xordi  Caro- 
lina, which  was  set  off  and  called  .Mamance 
countv.  and  he  married  Jane  Faddis,  a  na- 
ti\e  of  England. 

David  T.  Horn,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  July  5,  1814,  on  the  farm  in 
Alamance  county.  North  Carolina,  where  the 
birth  of  Joseph  A.  also  occurred.  After 
reaching  manhood  he  served  for  tweh'e 
vears  in  the  state  militia  as  first  lieutenant 
in  the  compaii}'  commanded  by  his  brother. 
Captain   A.    Horn,   well   known    in    ISIount 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


639> 


Pulaski.  In  1861,  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war.  both  were  ofFei-ed  commissions 
in  the  Confederate  army  by  Governor  Vance, 
of  Xortli  Carolina.  In  1830  David  T.  Horn 
married  Miss  Jane  H.  Tlnnias.  who  was 
born  in  the  same  locality.  November  2.  1813. 
and  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Millie 
(Stevens)  Thomas,  and  a  cousin  of  Gen- 
eral Lorenzo  Thomas.  In  March,  i860,  he 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Logan  county,  but  in  18^7  removed  to 
Brookheld,  Missouri,  where  he  made  his 
home  up/on  a  farm  until  called  to  his  final 
rest  three  years  later.  His  widow  subse- 
quently returned  to  this  county  and  died  in 
Mount  Pulaski,  in  April,  1899. 

Our  subject  came  with  his  family  to 
this  state,  and  also  accompanied  them  on 
their  removal  to  Missouri.  During  his 
boyhiXKl  and  youth  he  acquired  a  good 
practical  education.  For  seven  years  he  was 
connected  with  railroads  in  different  capac- 
ities, carrying  a  chain  for  a  surveyor  of  the 
Kansas  Pacific  Railroad  and  others,  in- 
cluding a  part  of  the  Union  Pacific,  from 
Denver  to  Cheyenne,  and  later,  after  being- 
admitted  to  the  bar,  he  was  claim  attorney 
for  one  division  of  the  Chicago.  Burlington 
&  Ouincy  Railroad  in  ^lissouri.  with  office 
at  Brookfield,  this  being  his  first  wi  irk  in  the 
legal  field. 

In  1897  Mr.  Horn  commcneced  the 
study  of  law  with  S.  P.  Huston,  oi  Br<x)k- 
field,  Missouri,  and  in  June.  1880,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  practice  at  that  place.  In  1888  he  re- 
turned to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  has 
since  made  liis  home  in  Mount  Pulaski, 
where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  general 
practice.  He  is  also  local  attorney  for  both 
lines  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  hav- 
ing Ijeen  a])pointed  to  that  position  in  Janu- 
ary.   1 90 1.      He  had   previously   served   as 


attorney  for  the  Peoria,  Decatur  &  Evans- 
ville  Railroad  for  seven  years,  until  that 
line  was  absorbed  by  the  Illinois  Central. 

.Mr.  Horn  was  married  in  iS()i  to  Mrs. 
.^ar;ih  i'"..  Starnes.  who  was  born  in  Ma- 
comb, Illinois,  in  1844,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  George  W.  Starnes  and  a  widi^w  of 
George  Starnes.  Fraternally  Mr.  Horn  is 
;i  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of 
Blount  Pulaski,  and  a  member  of  the  ad- 
visory board  of  the  Knights  of  ]u[uity  of 
St.  Louis.  In  his  political  views  he  is  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  has  taken  a  very  ac- 
tive and  inlluential  part  in  political  affairs. 
In  1896  he  was  elected  to  the  thirty-second 
general  assembly  from  the  thirty-second  dis- 
trict, comprising  Logan,  ilenard,  Cass  and 
^lason  comities,  and  most  creditably  and 
satisfactorily  did  he  fill  that  position.  He 
was  a  member  of  several  important  com- 
mittees, including  those  on  judicial  affairs, 
banking  and  charities.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  extra  session  called  in 
1897-8.  He  served  as  city  attorney  of 
INIount  Pulaski  for  six  years,  from  1881, 
and  later  for  two  years.  He  is  thoroughly 
versed  in  the  law.  is  a  man  of  deep  research 
and  careful  inxestigation,  and  his  skill  and 
ability  have  wm  him  a  lucrative  practice. 


SOUIRE  MYICKS. 


Among  the  farmers  who  have  found  in 
Illinois  a  field  of  great  opijortunity  may  be 
mentioned  Stpiire  Myers,  who  is  a  south- 
erner by  birth,  coming  from  Kentucky, 
where  he  was  born  in  1855.  Mis  father, 
John  Myers,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state,  where  for  many  years  he  car- 
ried on  successful  farming  pursuits,  and 
also  was  an  extensi\e  stock-raiser.     About 


-640 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1S60  he  changed  his  location  to-  Richland 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  continued  to  farm 
with  good  results.  He  married  Julia  A.  E\- 
ans.  and  (.f  the  children  hnrn  nf  this  unicin. 
h\-e  are  now  living,  Scjuire  Myers  heing 
second  oldest. 

^Ir.  I\Iyers  was  educated  in  the  puhlic 
schools  of  the  southern  part  of  tlie  state, 
and  in  his  youth  learned  farming  from  his 
father.  In  1874  he  shifted  his  field  of  effort 
to  Logan  county,  where  for  some  time  he 
worked  by  the  month,  before  engaging  in- 
dependently in  farming.  Mrs.  Myers  was. 
before  her  marriage,  Lizzie  Randolph,  and 
is  the  mother  of  one  child,  now  fifteen  \  ears 
of  age. 


ABEL  LARISO.X. 

.\mong  the  successful  farmers  and  high- 
ly respected  citizens  of  Atlanta  townshi])  is 
numbered  Abel  Larison.  He  is  of  Dutch 
descent,  his  paternal  grandfather.  James 
Larison,  having  been  a  native  of  Holland. 
On  reaching"  manhood  he  came  to  the 
United  States  in  the  year  1800,  and  settled 
in  Xew  York,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  great  many  years.  He  afterward  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  resumed  farming, 
and  made  his  home  there  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  June.  )8_'8.  ba\ing 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-.seven 
years.  The  family  is  noted  for  longe\-it)-. 
He  had  ten  children,  of  whom  Abel  Larison, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  youngest. 
He  was  torn  in  Maryland  and  followed  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  father,  making  farming 
his  life  work.  He  died  in  Galena.  Illinois, 
on  the  1st  of  April,  1845,  '^"^1  '"^  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rachel  Caton, 
passed  away.  They  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters. 


Abel  Larison,  Jr.,  wliose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  born  in  Morgan  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  April  15,  1822,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood upon  a  farm,  his  education  being  some- 
what neglected  for  want  of  time  to  attend 
the  poor  countr}'  schools  of  those  days  as  he 
had  to  assist  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  He 
conseciuently  "  attended  school  imly  six 
months.  At  the  age  of  twenty  }-ears  he 
came  to  Logan  county.  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  .Atlanta  township.  Being  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances he  was  only  able  to  purchase  a 
small  tract  of  land  at  first,  but  by  hard  work, 
as  well  as  the  strictest  econoni}-,  he  succeeded 
in  accumulating  considerable  property.  He 
has  given  all  of  his  children  a  good  start  in 
life  and  still  retains  the  old  homestead,  con- 
sisting of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
choice  land  on  section  31,  Atlanta  town- 
ship. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey  'Slv.  Larison  chose  Aliss  Julia  A. 
Stei)hens.  a  daughter  (_>f  Adam  Stephens, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  They  be- 
came the  ])arents  of  nine  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows : 
Mary  Jane,  June  24,  1847;  Leander,  Sep- 
tember 6,  1843  •  J^nies  A.,  October  1 1,  1852  ; 
John  E..  February  13,  1854;  Franlc  M.. 
October  7,  1857;  Lina.  January  ly.  185 1; 
Thomas  J.,  .\ugust  24,  i860;  Abel,  Sep- 
temlier  12,  1862:  .\nna.  March  17.  i8C)5, 
and  Adam  S.,  August  12,  1867;  Leander 
died  in  1806,  but  the  others  are  still  living. 
They  are  all  married  with  the  exception  of 
Thomas,  who  resides  in  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana, and  follows  the  trade  of  a  machinist, 
having  been  connected  with  that  industry 
for  se\'eral  years.  The  mother  oi  these 
children  was  born  July  14,  1828,  and  died 
September   17,   1888. 

Although  ]\Ir.  Larison  is  now  in  his 
eightieth  vear.  he  does  the  work  of  an  or- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


641 


dinary  man,  being  quite  robust  and  active, 
and  be  is  considered  one  of  tbe  briglitesi 
and  most  energetic  farmers  of  bis  commun- 
ity. He  is  a  member  of  tbe  Masonic  frater- 
nity, and  a  standi  supporter  of  tbe  Repub- 
lican party.  Kind  and  generous  i)y  nature, 
lie  makes  many  friends,  and  commands  tbe 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  wbo  know  liini- 
He  is  not  a  member  of  any  cburcb.  but 
financially  assists  in  tbeir  sujii^ort  wben 
calletl  uixin.  He  and  bis  family  are  noted 
for  tbeir  ability  as  violinists,  possessing  con- 
siderable talent  along  tliat  line.  At  inter- 
vals be  bas  spent  tbe  winter  montbs  in 
Colorado  on  bunting  expeditions  for  eiglit 
or  ten  years,  and  bas  many  tropliies  of  tbe 
cbase,  including  tbe  skin  of  tbe  only  elk  be 
ever  drew  bead  on.  togetber  witli  several 
skins  and  beads  of  deer  tbat  be  bas  sliot. 
He  has  been  a  noted  marksman  and  lias 
taken  great  deligbt  in  bunting. 


JAMES  A.  CEMBERLIXG. 

James  A.  Gemljerling.  better  known  as 
"Al,"  residing  on  a  farm  in  Boynton  town- 
sbip,  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  one-half 
mile  from  the  Logan  county  line,  conies  of 
a  family  which  settled  here  in  the  early  days 
of  this  county  and  has  many  representatives 
throughout  this  locality. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Union  county. 
Pennsylvania,  born  July  14.  1854.  and  is 
a  son  of  Frederick  and  Mary  Ann  (  Sten- 
inger)  Gemberling.  also  natives  of  tbat 
state,  who  came  west  in  1855  and  first  set- 
tled in  Tazewell  county.  Illinois,  whence 
they  removed  to  Orvil  township,  this  coun- 
ty. The  father  now  resides  in  Lincoln, 
where  he  is  living  a  retired  life.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Mrs.   Eliza  Kelly. 


They  have  a  pleasant  home  in  Lincoln, 
where  both  are  highly  respected.  There 
were  eight  children  born  to  the  lirst  mar- 
riage of  Frederick  Gemberling,  namely : 
David  H.,  wlio  married  Mi.ss  Sarah  Bowles, 
and  now  resides  on  a  farm  on  section  12, 
Orvil  township:  Cyrus,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  lum'.jer  business  in  the  village  of  Emden ; 
James  Albert,  who  married  Miss  Isa  Jane 
Ouisenberry,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Boynton 
township,  Tazewell  county:  Jennie,  \vho 
married  T.  Alexander,  and  lives  ,neai 
Blocmington :  Robert  C.  a  sketch  of  whom 
will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work ; 
Schuyler  C.  who  married  May  Xine,  and 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Orvil  township;  and 
Frances  and  Franklin,  both  of  whom  died 
young.  .Ml  of  these  children  received  good 
educations  in, tbe  common  schools  of  Orvil 
township,   and   in  Tazewell   county. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  attend- 
ing school  and  assisting  his  father  until  bis 
marriage,  which  occurred  on  February  10, 
1872.  Isa  J.  Ouisenlierry  liecoming  bis  wife. 
She  was  born  in  Orvil  townshp  and  is  the 
daughter  of  TlK.nias  H.  Quisenberry,  an 
early  settler  of  Logan  county,  now  de- 
ceased. Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gemberling,  namely:  Frank,  de- 
ceased: Cora,  wife  of  Charles  Clark,  of  Em- 
inence township,  this  county:  Etta,  wife  of 
Charles  Short,  a  farmer  of  Boynton  town- 
ship. Tazewell  county:  Frederick:  Leslie; 
Willnir  and    Edgar,   all   residing  at   home. 

.\fter  marriage  Mr.  (ieniberling  settled 
on  a  farm  near  tbe  Bethel  Church  in  Orvd 
township,  but  subsequently  removed  to  sev- 
eral farms  in  the  same  township,  living  a 
few  years  on  each.  In  March.  1886,  he 
located  on  bis  present  fami  in  Boynton 
township,  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  now  owns  one  bunderd  and  sixty  acres 
of  excellent  land,  on  which  is  a  substantial 


642 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


house,  a  good  barn  and  outbuildings.  In 
addition  to  this  he  also  oavus  anotlier  forty 
in  Tazewell  count)',  nurth  of  his  home;  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Eminen.ce  town- 
ship, Logan  county,  and  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Hamiltun  county,  Nebraska. 
All  this  land  is  well  imprnved  and  under 
cultivation. 

In  politics  .Mr.  (ieniberling  is  a  Republi- 
can and  both  he  and  his  wile  are  members 
of  the  Cumberland  Presb^'terian  church  of 
Providence.  Illinois.  Since  living  on  his 
present  farm,  our  subject  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful, and  so  popular  is  he  that  no  work 
of  Logan  county  would  be  complete  with- 
out a  record  df  his  life. 


ARTHUR  OULSENBERRY. 

Fiir  many  years  Arthur  Ouisenberry 
was  actively  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Logan  county,  but  is  now  prac- 
tically living  a  retired  life  in  Lincoln,  his 
home  being  at  21J  lludsi.jn  street.  He  was 
born  upon  a  farm  in  Christian  count}'. 
Kentuckv.  August  jy,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of 
Edward  Sanford  and  Lucy  (Catourj 
Oui.senberry,  both  of  wlmm  were  natives  of 
Virginia,  the  former  burn  in  1786,  the 
latter  in  1799.  On  the  paternal  side  his 
ancestors  were  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction, 
and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
the  Old  Dnminion.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Miss  Nancy  Tburlkeld,  of  Virginia, 
wdio  bore  him  fourteen  clhldren.  In  183 1 
or  1832  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Lucy  Catour,  -whose  family  removed 
to  Kentucky  in  181 5.  By  the  second  union 
there  were  five  children,  making  nineteen 
in  all,  nine  sons  and  ten  daughters,  all  of 
whom  li\-ed  to  be  grown  men  and  women. 


and  all  married  and  reared  families  with  the 
exception  of  three.  The  father  was  an  ex- 
iensi\-e  land  and  sla\-e  owner  in  the  south, 
but  from  conscientious  scruples  he  set  all 
his  slaves  free,  and  on  account  of  the  bad 
effects  of  slavery  he  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Illinois  in  1835.  Though  he  lost  most 
(if  his  property  in  this  way,  he  afterward 
met  \\  ith  success,  and  gave  tO'  each  of  his 
nineteen  children  a  good  farm.  He  became 
a  very  strong  abolitionist,  and  he  and  his 
nine  sons  were  among  the  first  to  join  the 
Ivepublican  party,  all  voting  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont in  1856.  On  first  coming  to  Illinois 
he  located  in  Tazew-ell  county,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1849,  and  then  removed  to 
Eminence  tOiwnshipi  Logan  count}-,  w-here 
he  continued  to  make  his  hon-ie  throughout 
life.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  w-ar  of  1812, 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  A  man  of 
good,  practical  common  sense,  he  prospered 
in  business  affairs  and  was  held  in  the  high- 
est esteem  for  his  many  sterling  cpialities. 
He  died  in  1864,  in  his  seventy-eighth  year, 
and  the  mother  of  our  subject  departed  this 
life  in  i88j.  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Arthur  (husenberry  passed  his  boyhood 
and  VdUth  upun  the  home  farm,  and  re- 
ceived .a  good  common  school  education, 
pursuing  his  studies  during  the  w-inter 
months  in  a  primitive  log  school  house  un- 
til seventeen  years  of  age,  and  aiding  in 
the  -work  of  the  farm  through  the  summer 
season.  On  the  i8th  of  February,  1858, 
he  married  ]\liss  Polly  Burt,  of  TazeAvell 
county,  whtiui  he  had  know-n  since  .she  was 
a  little  girl,  and  to  them  w-ere  born  four 
children,  namely;  Laura  B.,  now  the  wife 
of  John  E.  Richards,  of  Broadwell  town- 
ship, this  county;  George  H.,  who  owns 
and  successfully  operates  a  fine  farm  of  five 
hundred  and  fifty-eight  acres  of  land  in  Lo- 
gan count\- :  Pauline.  \\\v>  died  at  the  age 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


643 


of  five  years;  and  Arthur  Clifford,  who  was 
graduated  from  the  University  of  lUinois 
in  1900,  and  now  holds  a  position  in  the 
Lincoln   National   Bank. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ouisenberry  lo- 
cated on  a  fami  in  Eminence  township, 
where  he  owned  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
of  land,  and  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  the  breeding  of  short-horn  cattle  with 
marked  success  for  many  years.  As  time 
passed  and  he  prospered  in  his  farming 
oi>erations,  he  added  to  his  original  tract 
until  he  had  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  valuable  land  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. Renting  his  farm  in  1875.  he  re- 
moved to  Lincoln,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home,  his  attention  being  given  to  his 
general  interests.  In  1876  he  built  a  good 
residence  at  113  Hudson  street,  where  he 
lived  until  1901.  when  his  present  Ijeautiful 
home  at  212  Hudson  street  was  completed. 
He  now  has  some  good  city  property-,  and 
is  also  interested  in  Texas  lands,  owning 
at  one  time  twenty  sections  in  that  state. 
;Mr.  Ouisenberry  was  a  director  of  the  old 
Lincoln  Loan,  Trust  &  Savings  Bank, 
which  was  afterward  merged  into  the  Lin- 
coln National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  original  stockholders  and  still  fills 
that  position.  He  is  a  conscientious,  re- 
liable business  man,  and  well  deserves  the 
prosperity  that  has  come  to  him.  Buth  he 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  tiie 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and  while 
living  in  the  country  he  served  as  an  elder 
of  the  church  with  which  hr  was  connected. 


GUY  H.  TUTTLE. 


One  of  the  prosperous  and  substantial 
citizens  of  Atlanta  is  Guy  H.  Tuttle.  whose 
life  has  been  one  of  financial  success.     He 


was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  Felyruary 
5,  1831,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren whose  parents  were  James  and  Harriet 
(Hatch)  Tuttle.  The  lather  was  also  a 
native  of  that  state,  born  in  Athens,  in 
1806,  and  was  a  man  of  exceptional  abil- 
ity, having  mastered  several  trades.  In 
early  life  he  was  interested  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick  and  engaged  in  the  distilling 
business,  but  later  devoted  his  entire  time 
to  agricultural  pursuits  and  became  very 
prosperous.  He  lived  to  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-three,  and  was  still  well  preserved 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  14,  1899. 

L'pon  the  home  farm  (juy  H.  Tuttle 
passed  the  days  of  his  boyh(X)d  and  youth, 
and  as  the  schools  were  rather  scarce  in  his 
community  at  that  time  his  educational 
privileges  were  rather  meager.  Being  am- 
bitious to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
he  embarked  in  the  saw-mill  business  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  carried  it  on 
quite  sucessfully  for  ten  years.  In  1840  he 
remo\ed  to  a  farm  near  Atlanta,  and  has 
since  followed  farming  with  marked  success, 
having  accumulated  three  hurdred  and  twen- 
ty acres  of  the  best  land  to  be  found  in  Lo- 
gan county.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  and 
director  of  the  Atlanta  National  Bank,  and 
is  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  his  commun- 
itv,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  highly  es- 
teemed citizens. 

Mr.  Tuttle  has  been  twice  married,  his 
l-r-^t  wife  being  Miss  Martha  A.  Roach,  a 
daughter  of  N.  Roach,  and  to  them  were 
l)orn  five  children,  namely:  William  O. : 
Fidelia;  Thomas  M. :  Hattic.  wife  of  Asa 
Hutchin.son;  and  (jue  who  died  in  intancv. 
I-"or  his  second  wife  he  wedded  Miss  Mar- 
tha J.  Harness,  a  daughter  of  J.  Strong. 
The  onlv  child  born  of  this  union  is  now 
Mrs.   M.   Harlev.     Mrs.  Tuttle  is  a  devout 


644 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nieniljer  of  the  Christian  churcli  ami  a  niosi 
estimable  lady.  By  his  Ijallm  our  su'.jjeci 
sujiports  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  he  never  sought  t)r  cared 
for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  political 
office.  He  is,  however,  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  influential  men  <if  his  commun- 
ity. Though  conser\ative.  he  gives  liber- 
ally to  those  in  need,  and  is  ever  ready  to 
aid  any  enterprise  for  the  public  good. 


IRVING  G.  FIXFROCK. 

One  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  At- 
lanta is  Dr.  Ir\-ing  G.  Finfrock.  who,  \en- 
luring  upon  a  new  ground  In  reliexe  the 
sufferings  of  his  fellow-men.  has  proven 
that  each  day  we  reach  a  higher  jilane  of 
wisdom  in  the  relief  of  i)ain. 

He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Elizalietii 
(  Cass)  Finfrock,  being  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren. His  father  was  originally  fnun 
]'enns_\-lvania.  where,  as  a  means  of  liveli- 
hood, he  tilled  the  soil.  In  the  fall  of  1840 
he  moved  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  in  \\'aynes\ille,  where  he  had  the 
reputation  of  a  successful  farmer  until  his 
death  in  February,  1900.  The  home  farm 
is  still  conducted  by  the  widow. 

Our  subject  was  l)orn  in  Sangamon 
county.  Illinois,  on  the  30th  of  August.  1863. 
His  bovhood  days  were  spent  on  his  father's 
farm  in  attendance  at  the  neighboring  coun- 
trv  school.  Upon  leaving  the  farm  he 
engaged  in  stock  buying  to  a  con.siderable 
extent  for  some  five  years,  and  being  of  a 
thrifty  nature  he  accumulated  sufficient 
means  to  embark  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  the  state  of  Iowa.  He  later  entered  the 
School  of  Osteopathy  at  Des  Moines,  and 
after  finishing  there  took  a  course  at  the 
National  School  of  Chicago. 


Dr.  FinfrcKk  was  unitetl  in  marriage  to 
.Miss  Jane  Marvel,  a  daughter  of  James  K. 
Marvel,  of  W'aynesville.  Illinois.  Five  chil- 
dren ha\e  brightened  their  home,  being 
known  as  Raup  M..  Leta  L..  L.  Ruth,  B. 
Cass  and  DeWitt  L. 

The  Doctor  has  a  lucrative  practice  in 
1  )e\\'itt  county,  in  fact  having  so  many  calls 
upon  his  professional  skill  from  the  adjoin- 
ing" county  that  he  finally  o]3ened  a  branch 
office  there. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  take  an  acti\e 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  their  little  town, 
being  de\out  members  of  the  Methodist 
E]>iscopal  church.  The  former,  in  i>olitics, 
supports  the  Republican  i)latform :  he  also 
Ijelongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

.V- doctor,  ab'ive  all,  is  a  minister  of 
mercy:  no  call  ever  comes  in  vain:  no 
sufl'erer  is  turned  from  his  door  without 
at  least  a  kind  word. 


ADO.  J.  H.\RMSEX. 

.\mong  the  enterprising  farmers  of  Or- 
\  il  township,  Logan  county.  Illinois,  is 
Atlo  J.  Harmsen,  residing  on  section  8, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  since  1870. 
He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  }ilay  lb. 
]8()0.  and  is  a  son  of  Tonjes  K.  and  Wen- 
delke  {  Smith )  Harmsen,  also  natives  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1866, 
landing  in  Xew  York.  From  that  city  they 
went  tc;  Pekin.  Illinois,  where  they  resided 
three  \ears,  while  the  father  isursued  his 
trade  of  blacksmithing.  Their  next  re- 
nic)\al  was  t<>  a  farm  near  San  Jose,  Ma- 
son county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
They  resided  on  that  farm  for  one  year,  and 
then  located  on  the  farm  where  the  father 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


645 


and  our  subject  still  live,  the  gcKjd  mother 
having  dietl  in  February.  1897.  In  the 
family  were  five  children,  namely ;  Klaas. 
ileceased:  Ado  J.,  our  subject:  Harim.  de- 
ceased; Tonjes,  a  resident  of  Orvil  town- 
ship: and  Herman,  deceased.  All  of  the 
children  were  well  educated  either  in  (ier- 
niany,  Pekin.  Illinois,  or  Logan  county,  as 
their  ages  permitted. 

The  property  on  which  our  subject  arid 
his  father  reside  was  first  settled  by  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Barnum.  and  from  him  they 
])urchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  All 
of  the  improvements  ujxw  the  farm  ha\c 
been  made  by  them,  and  the  neat,  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  the  place  shows  conclusively 
that  they  thoroughly  understand  their 
chosen  calling.  They  are  successfully 
carrying  on  general  fanning  and  stock-rais- 
ing. 

Ado  J.  Harmsen  was  married  in  Febru- 
ary. 1888.  to  Annie  W'rage.  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  a  daughter  of  John  W'rage,  a 
blacksmith  and  farmer  in  Mason  county. 
Illinois,  now  deceased.  Six  children  have 
lieen  born  to  them,  namely :  Tony.  John. 
Winnie.  Edward,  Ruth  and  Walter,  all  at 
home.  Mr.  Harmsen  is  a  Democrat  in  politics 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker  and  does 
not  desire  to  figure  in  public  life.  His  wife 
is  an  earnest  member  of  the  German  Luth- 
eran church  of  Emden.  The  family  is  well 
known  and  highly  respected  in  this  locality. 


THOMAS  BREXXAX. 

The  life  of  Thomas  Brennan  was  such 
r.s  to  ennoble  any  community  and  to  ad- 
vance the  best  moral,  intellectual  and  ma- 
terial interests  thereof.  For  more  than 
thirty-five  years  he  was  a  familiar  and  hon- 
ored figure  in  the  business  and  S(Kial   life 


of  Elkhart,  and  his  death  was  an  irrepara- 
ble loss  to  the  village  which  had  for  so 
long  regarded  him  as  the  i)ersonification  of 
commercial  integrity,  true  manliness  and 
noble  citizenshi]).  Owing  to  an  unflinch- 
ing industry  and  shrewd  business  abilitv  he 
accumulated  large  worldly  ix)ssessions.  but 
one  of  the  finest  traits  of  his  character  was 
embodied  in  the  fact  that  he  never  lost  track 
of  his  early  struggles,  or  never  passed  be- 
yond the  ken  oi  the  ambitious  Irish  boy  who 
started  out  in  the  world  without  a  cent  and 
overcame  all  obstacles  with  the  ease  of  those 
who  feel  themselves  destined  to  fill  an  im- 
portant place  in  the  world. 

From  one  who  has  looked  well  into  the 
early  traditions  of  the  family  it  Ls  learned 
that  as  far  back  in  history  as  A.  D.  350 
the  Brennans  were  a  mighty  tribe  in  Coun- 
ty Carlow,  Ireland,  and  held  large  posses- 
sions in  this  and  adjoining  counties  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  then  kingdom  of  Ire- 
land. Originally  Protestants,  their  motto 
was  "Fidelity."  and  after  they  l>ecame  Cath- 
olics, the  sign  upon  their  banner  was  "Thou 
Shalt  Conquer."  In  the  same  country  where 
the  shineherd  Saxons  had  been  trodden  un- 
der heel  by  the  invading  Xonnans.  Thomas 
Brennan  was  born  March  12,  1833,  a  son 
of  Patrick  and  Ann  (  Burns)  Brennan,  also 
natives  of  County  Carlo.  In  the  same  fam- 
ily beside  Thomas  was :  Bridget,  who,  with 
her  husband,  Patrick  Welsh,  is  deceased, 
had  eight  children,  and  lived  in  Illinois; 
Sarah,  first  the  wife  of  John  White,  and  af- 
ter his  decease  the  wife  of  John  Doyle,  lived 
at  Iresdale.  Illinois,  and  has  one  child  by  her 
first,  and  two  children  by  her  second  mar- 
riage: Mary,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  James  Ryan,  of  Lincoln.  Illinois,  and 
was  the  mother  of  ten  children;  Matthew, 
who  married  .\nna  Shammesy.  has  nine 
children,  and  li\es  in  .\lliance.  X'ebraska. 


646 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD.- 


When  seventeen  years  of  age  Mr.  Bren- 
nan  landed  in  New  York,  and  was  em- 
ployed by  a  firm  in  the  city  for  two  years 
at  five  dollars  a  month,  receiving  also  the 
privilege  of  attending  school  for  one  month 
each  winter,  for  during  the  cold  weather, 
when  work  was  scarce,  he  received  only  his 
board  for  his  services.  After  a  similar  ex- 
perience in  \'ermont,  he  removed  U<  'Mich- 
igan and  was  emplo\ed  l>y  the  I\l.  S.  K. 
Railroad  for  a  time,  his  lines  being  next 
cast  in  Springfield.  Illinois,  wliich  he  reached 
March  4,  1854.  In  the  western  town  he 
was  varii)usly  empUjyed.  his  (jccupations  in- 
cluding liveryman,  hotel  butler,  drayman, 
mail  carrier,  and  bus  dri\er,  and  by  some 
strange  and  well  remembered  coincident 
he  served  the  illustrious  Abraham  Lincoln. 
After  ai  time  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  near  \\'illiams\ille.  and  liy  iniprcn - 
ing  opportunities  unseen  b\-  i:thers  managed 
to  accumulate  a  little  money,  principally  Ijy 
planting  twenty-five  acres  of  cnrn  with  a 
hoe,  the  harvest  of  which  yielded  him  se\- 
enty  cents  a  bushel.  He  also  profitably  ran 
a  threshing  machine  in  the  neighborhocd, 
and  in  fact  turned  his  capable  hand  in  many 
directions.  After  locating  in  Elkhart  he  led 
a  purely  CDmmercial  existence,  and.  by  rea- 
son of  the  perse\-erance  which  had  brought 
nu'.ch  to  the  penniless  emigrant  bi;\-  in  Xew 
"^'ork,  he  succeeded  as  ail  such  men  do. 

On  Sei)tember  29.  1861.  Mr.  Brennan 
married,  in  Elkhart,  I\Iary  Kavanaugh,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  Fa- 
ther IMartin.  at  the  residence  of  O.  ;\IcCal)e. 
Mrs.  Brennan  was  born  in  County  Carlow. 
Ireland,  March  ij.  1845.  ''"'l  ^^'i*  the 
daughter  of  James  antl  Catherine  (  Mor- 
risey)  Kavanaugh.  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
ty. The  parents  were  married  in  Ireland 
and  came  to  America  in  1850,  li\-ing  in  Al- 
ban\-,   Xew    York,    for   se\-en   vears.      The\- 


then  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  what  is 
no\^  Elkhart,  but  which  was  then  but  a 
watering  tank  for  the  railroad.  At  the  time 
they  bought  all  necessities  at  Springfield, 
and  about  1870  they  remo\ ed  to  Johnson 
count}-,  Nebraska,  where  they  purchased 
three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  where  the 
father  died  April  26,  1889,  his  wife  follow- 
ing him  ten  days  later.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church, 
and  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
liim.  To  this  couple  were  born  the  follow- 
mg  children :  John,  who  married  Mary 
Cilinn,  and  lives  in  Tecumseh,  Nebraska ; 
Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Brennan ; 
Bryan,  who  married  Kate  Joyce,  and  li\es 
at  Crab  Orchard,  Nebraska ;  Catherine,  who 
is  the  wife  of  ^ilichael  Shaunnesy,  and  li\  es 
at  Tecumseh,  Nebraska;  Bridget,  who  ma'- 
ried  Joseph  Keegan,  and  is  also  a  resident 
of  Tecumseh,  Nebraska:  Johannah,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  Robert  Taggart,  of  Vesta,  Ne- 
braska; and  Charles,  who  married  Tillie 
Taggart,  and  lives  near  Crab  Orchard.  Ne- 
braska. 

To  2\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Brennan  have  been 
born  ele\en  children,  namel\' ;  Patrick,  who 
married  Amanda  Shockev,  and  lives  near 
Elkhart,  on  a  farm;  Anna,  who  is  the  wife 
of  (j.  F.  Thompson,  has  two  children,  and 
lives  at  Lincoln.  Illinois;  Alatthew,  who 
married  Alice  Sextiin,  has  four  children. 
and  is  in  the  lumber  business  in  Chicago; 
Sadie,  who  li\es  with  her  mother;  Cath- 
erine, who  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Gleason, 
has  fi\-e  children,  and  lives  on  a  farm  near 
Elkhart ;  James,  who  died  in  infancy;  Thom- 
as, who  married  }vlary  Lee,  has  two  chil- 
dren, and  li\es  on  a  farm  west  of  Elkhart. 
John,  who  married  Kate  Wahen,  of  Spring- 
field, has  one  child,  and  lixes  on  a  farm  near 
Elkhart;  Marv.  who  is  the  \.ife  of  Charles 
Lee,  and  is  living  near  Elkhart ;  lames  C, 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 
UmVERSITy  OF  ILLINOIS 


C.   E.   NINE. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


647 


who  dietl  in  infancy;  Edmund,  who  lives  in 
Elkliart :  Charles,  who  lives  at  honip :  and 
J'rvan.  wiio  lives  with  his  mother. 


CHARLES  C.  REEDER. 

As  a  contractor  and  builder  the  subject 
■y:i  this  sketch  has  been  actively  identified 
Avith  the  development  of  Lincoln  and  the 
surrounding  country,  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  its  leading  business  men.  A  native 
of  the  Buckeye  state,  he  was  born  near  Leb- 
anon, Warren  county,  Ohio,  October  28. 
1848.  His  parents,  Charles  C.  and  Sarah 
(Hart)  Reeder.  were  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  the  same  state,  and  there  the  father 
followed  farming  until  i860,  wlien  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Flora,  Clay  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  tl^e 
remainder  of  their  lives.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Hart,  alsci  a  native  of  Ohio. 
Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  sons  namely :  John,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war:  William  L. :  Charles  C,  of  this 
review  :  Oscar,  who  died  in  1893  ;  and  Zeph- 
eniah.  James  and  Alfred,  all  residents  of 
Omaha,  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Reeder  was  a  lad  of  twelve  years 
when  the  family  removed  to  Flora,  Illinois, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood,  his  education 
being  mainly  acquired  in  the  village  schools. 
-After  leaving  school  he  commenced  learn- 
ing the  carpenter's  trade  with  a  Mr.  Parker, 
and  after  completing  his  apprenticeship  con- 
tinued with  him  until  coming  to  Lincoln  in 
187 1.  Here  he  has  successfully  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building  on  his  own  ac- 
count, erecting  many  churches,  school 
houses  and  business  blocks,  liesides  private 
residences,  not  only  in  Lincoln,  but  through- 
out Logan  county,  and  during  the  busy  sea- 


son he  often  employs  as  many  as  fifteen  men. 
He  is  an  excellent  workman,  and  always  con- 
scientiously tuihlls  his  part  of  every  con- 
tract. 

In  187-'  Mr.  Reeder  maiTied  .Miss  Ella 
l\eed.  of  1^'liira.  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Sarah  (  Munton)  Reed.  She  was  lx)rn 
in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  and  came  west 
with  her  parents  when  young.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Reeder  ha\e  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  namely:  Frank  H.,  a 
farmer;  Xettie,  wife  of  George  Webster; 
Ernest,  a  telegra))h  operator  of  Juliet,  in  the 
employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alti>n  ivailroad; 
I-^-ffie.  Grace.  ClKirles  Forest.  Pearly  F.  and 
lames  M..  all  at  hnme. 


C.  E.  XIXE. 

The  Emden  Xews  is  one  of  Logan  coun- 
ty's up-to-date  and  progressive  newspapers, 
which,  in  connection  with  the  job  depart- 
ment, is  an  enterprise  of  which  the  citizens 
of  the  thriving  village  of  Emden  should  be 
jircud.  The  publication  is  a  seven-column, 
four-page,  all-home-print  paper,  and  is  issued 
weekly  on  Thursday.  Its  appearance  is  al- 
ways clean  and  bright,  an<l  the  history  and 
currents  events  (  f  the  citw  surrounding 
communities  and  count}-  are  recorded  in  in- 
teresting style  and  good  diction.  It  contains 
C(.rrespondence  from  all  surrounding  points 
of  interest,  advertisements  that  are  attrac- 
tive and  so  well  designed  tliat  they  are  fol- 
lowed by  other  papers  of  the  county,  an'! 
in  all.  it  is  one  nf  the  brightest,  newsiest  am! 
must  reliable  papers  in  the  county  outside 
of  the  county  seat. 

The  editor  and  jjublisher.  C.  V..  Xine, 
certainly  deserves  .-ni  unlimited  animnit  of 
credit    for   the   energy,   ambition   and   judg- 


648 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ment  utilized  in  managing  the  piiljlication  so 
successfully  under  tlie  hindrances  and  diffi- 
culties that  generally  attend  the  publication 
of  a  newspaper  in  a  town  of  fi\-e  hundred 
inha1)itants.  It  is  conceded  and  must  lie 
acknowledged  that  nothing  snort  of  hust- 
ling, patience  and  perseverance  can  bring  to 
the  publisher  success.  The  people  of  the 
town  and  community  should  ai^preciate  the 
enterprise  and  encourage  it  witli  their  sup- 
]>ort,  fur  nci  one  knows  tlie  amount  of  lalxir, 
tact  and  expense  that  is  required  to  keep 
the  institution  on  a  firm  basis  and  in  run- 
ning order  excei)t  one  who  has  had  the  act- 
ual experience. 

Charles  Edward  Xine  was  horn  one  and 
one-half  milts  northwest  of  Iinulen.  near 
the  northern  bdundary  line  of  Logan  coun- 
ty. April  J(S,  1S78.  and  was  reared  at  the 
home  i:f  his  parents.  Air.  and  Mrs.  hdeming 
Nine,  situated  on  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  the 
northeastern  portiini  of  I'rairie  Creek  t(jwn- 
ship.  Early  in  life  the  subject  nf  this  sketcli 
manifested  an  interest  in  educational  and 
public  affairs,  and  improved  every  oppor- 
tunit}'  of  obtaining  knowledge  and  experi- 
ence in  those  avenues  with  marked  success. 
After  finishing  the  course  at  the  home  coun- 
try school.  Pleasant  Hill,  he  took  a  four 
years'  course  in  the  Delavan  high  school,  and 
was  graduated  therefrdm  June  17,  iS()iS, 
with  the  "banner  class."  cinisisting  of  twcn- 
'ty-three  members,  being  one  of  the  three  ex- 
cused from  the  final  examinatious.  He  also 
vi:n  highest  grade  on  his  graduation  ora- 
tion, entitled.  "The  E\-olution  of  JMind." 
was  selected  as  one  of  the  eight  to  partici- 
pate in  the  graduation  program,  and  in  the 
deli\-ery  of  his  oration  established  a  recortl 
as  an  orator. 

On  August  8,  1898.  he  assumed  entire 
control  of  the  Emden  News,  which  was  es- 
tablished .August  1,  1895.   Erom  the  time  he 


entered  the  business  the  paper  began  to  im- 
])ro\e,  and  in  a  few  months  had  to  be  con- 
verted into  an  all-home-print  local  paper,  in 
order  to  contain  the  business,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  prosper  and  grow  in  influence  fn_)m 
that  time  forward.  The  editor  has  a  large 
circle  of  acquaintances,  enjoys  society — so 
much  so  that  he  has  not  yet  taken  unto  him- 
self a  better  half,  which  fact  necessitates  tlie 
nmission  of  his  family  history  in  this  sketcli. 
He  is  one  among  the  few  of  his  profession 
who  has  no  bad  haliits,  and  who  cannot  he 
mfiuencefl  h>  depart  from  his  early  training 
and  mciral  jirinciples,  which  is  a  ipialitv 
needed  in  more  of  our  public  men  who  mold 
public  opinion  and  exert  their  influence  over 
the  community. 

The  field  covered  by  this  paper  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  state  for  its  size.  Eour  miles 
southeast  is  a  sister  city — Hartsburg,  whicii 
is  a  valuable  assistance  and  support;  east  is 
the  beautiful  and  rich  country  surrounding 
P>ethel.  Eminence  and  .Vrmington :  north 
are  Boyntou  and  Delavan,  in  Tazewell  coun- 
ty, which  are  \-alual)le  contributaries ;  south 
and  west  are  the  Prairie  Creek.  Harness 
and  San  Jose  neighborhoods,  all  of  which 
r.re  interested  in  the  happenings  of  the  entire 
CI  mmunity.  The  grain  and  stock  market 
cannot  lie  eipialed  anywhere,  and  is  large!}- 
the  source  r,f  lunden's  prosperit}'  aiul 
growth  in  e\-ery  a\-enue.  The  News  ser\-es 
as 'a  valuable  medium  in  heralding  the  joy- 
ful tidings  far  and  near  with  freedom  and 
generosity.  The  News  has  puldished  two 
special  editions  that  would  ha\-e  keen  n 
credit  tO'  a  city  of  ten  times  the  jjopulation. 
The  first  was  a  Eourth  of  July  edition 
(189C)).  jirinted  in  national  colors,  was 
double  in  size  and  contained  a  full  list  of  the 
personal  and  real  estate  property  assess- 
ments of  Orvil  and  Prairie  Creek  town- 
ships,   besides    the    other   ajipropriate    patri- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


649 


otic  features.  The  second  was  a  Pan-Amer- 
ican Souvenir  Edition,  under  date  of  Xo- 
vember  14,  double  in  size,  printed  on  Ixmk 
paper  in  red.  white  and  bhie,  giving  a  tlnill- 
ing  account  of  the  aUtor's  visit  at  tlie  E.\- 
position  and  .Xiagara  Falls,  and  al.so  a  full 
page  account  if  the  assassination  of  the  late- 
President  McKinley.  his  funeral  and  burial. 
all  of  which  has  jjmfuselv  illustrated. 
The  tditur  claims  the  distinctinn  i-i  be- 
ing the  youngest  editor  in  the  county,  and 
entering  the  business  younger  than  an\-  edi 
tor  in  the  state.  He  is  a  young  man  ci 
good  character,  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  at  Emden.  has  talent  in  nearl\- 
every  line,  and  is  a  willing  worker  in  ;ind 
promoter  of  public  affairs;  and  it  is  fortr.n- 
ate  that  the  pen.  which  is  "mightier  than  the 
swcnl."  is  held  and  guided  by  one  wlm  is 
fearless  in  rejjresenting  the  trutli.  which  is 
and  should  be  the  purpose  of  the  press  and 
which  should  be  the  nrntto  >  f  e\ery  editor 
and  i)ublisher. 


RICHARD  MOXXETT. 

This  well-to-do  and  highly  respected 
farmer,  residing  on  section  24.  Eminence 
township,  only  a  short  (list  mce  from  At- 
lanta, was  born  March  5.  1)^44.  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  six  children,  wlmse  parents 
were  Simcna  and  Sarah  (  Larimore )  Mmi- 
nett.  The  father  was  born  in  1-rance  in 
1824,  and  received  a  good  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  land,  graduating  there- 
fnjm.  On  coming  to  the  l'nite<l  States  he 
stopped  for  a  short  time  in  Xcw  \i>\-k  and 
then  proceeded  tf>  Logan  CMunty,  Illinois. 
locating  on  Kickajiod  creek,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1847.  On  disposing  ot 
bis   farm  he  engaged   in   the  hotel   business 


in  Lincoln  for  a  few  years,  and  then  re- 
nii)\ed  tci  .\tlanta.  where  he  continueil  to 
make  his  iKnne  until  called  to  his  final  rest 
in  i8y2.  He  left  many  friends  to  mourn  his 
loss  as  well  as  his  immediate  relatives. 

Richard  .Monnett  l:as  .spent  his  entire 
life  in  this  ci:unt\'  and  is  indebted  ti>  its  cnni- 
nmn  >cli(iols  Uw  \u<  educatinnal  ad\-antages. 
At  the  age  r.>  twelve  years  he  left  home  and 
C'immenced  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the 
montli  and  was  etuplcyed  in  that  capacity 
when  the  Civil  war  bmke  cut.  Prompted 
i)_\'  a  spirit  nf  ])atri(  tism  be  enlisted  in  t.'e 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  llliudis  X'nlnnteer 
Infantry,  and  served  with  distinctinn  fnr 
eighteen  nmnths.  when  cm  .acccunt  nf  se- 
vere illness  he  was  honcn-ably  discharged. 
Since  the  war  .Mr.  Monnett  has  been  en- 
gaged in  fanning  with  excellent  results,  and 
IS  tcc-da\'  the  owner  of  a  line  f.arm  of  two 
hundred  and  fc  rty  acres,  which  i-  well 
tiiuipped  with  e\er\thing  found  upi  n  a 
model  farm  of  the  i)resent  day.  His  resi- 
dence is  a  handsome  structure  and  up-to- 
date  in  all  is  appointments  and  furnishings. 

On  the  3d  c:f  March.  iSf.7.  Mr.  Alounett 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliz;ibelh 
.\dams.  the  claughter  c;f  l-'phraim  .\daniv. 
an  honored  pioneer  (.f  this  county,  who 
came  here  from  Tennessee,  and  like  most 
of  the  peojile  who  came  from  that  state  was 
ujited  fc;r  his  he  spitality  and  genial  man- 
ner. He  died  in  l.og.'in  county.  Jatniavy  jj. 
i8i)i.  (  )in-  snbiect  and  his  wife  had  four 
children,  natnely  :  Xanc\'.  who  was  born  in 
i86(j  and  died  in  1873:  Laura  15..  who  was 
born  February  3.  1873.  and  is  now  .Mrs. 
Frank  llrewer:  Xellie  (1..  who  was  born 
y-'ebruary  u,  1871;.  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
H.  C.  ( juisenberry.  one  of  luninence  town- 
ship's most  ])rogrtssi\e  farmers:  and  l-"-<- 
tella.  deceased.  Mr.  .Monnett  and  his  fam- 
ilv   are   members   of   the   Christian    church. 


6so 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  he  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Repul)hc  and  the  .Ancient  Order  of  United 
\\'orkmen.  In  his  puhtical  affihations  he  is 
a  stanch  Repuhhcan,  and  is  a  man  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  \\ho  know 
him. 


J.  T,  WEBSTER.  M.  D. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Weljster,  a  popular  and  suc- 
cessful physician  and  surgeon  nf  Atlanta, 
is  a  native  of  this  state,  born  in  Roscoc, 
in  June,  1849,  '"^fl  i-''  "^  son  of  Peter  E.  and- 
Laura  ( Tower)  Webster.  The  father  came 
originally  from  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
and  after  following  farming  for  some  years 
in  Illinois,  he  remox-ed  to  S])arta,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  still  carries  on  that  occupation. 
In  his  family  were  eight  children. 

Dr.  Webster  obtained  his  ])rimar\-  eilu- 
cation  in  the  cc^untry  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home,  I)nl  he  later  attended  high 
sclu.iol  and  business  college,  graduating 
from  both  institutions.  He  began  his  Iju^i- 
ness  career  as  clerk  in  a  general  store,  and 
while  thus  emjiloyed  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine.  In  1S73  he  entered  the  drug 
department  of  the  same  store  and  remained. 
there  some  si.x  years,  in  the  meantime  con- 
tinuing his  medical  studies.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count from  ]8<S2  until  September,  1887. 
when  he  entered  a  medical  college  at  Chi- 
cago, where  he  was  graduated  in  1881).  Ik- 
then  located  tem]ii>rarily  at  Darian,  ^\'is- 
consin,  where  be  spent  si.x  months,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1890  removed  to  Lyndon,  that 
state,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
bis  profession  for  three  years.  It  was  in 
February,  1893,  that  Dr,  Webster  came  to 
Atlanta  and  has  since  successfullv  engaged 
in  practice  at  this  place,  being  looked  upon 


by  the  community  in  general  as  one  of  the 
leading  ph}-sicians  of  the  place.  He  was 
graduated  with  honors  from  the  Harvey 
]\Iedical  College,  and  has  not  only  spent 
much  time  in  visiting  the  various  hospitals 
of  this  country,  but  in  the  spring  of  1901 
Axent  to  lun-ope  with  the  intention  of  visit- 
ing the  bosiiitals  of  London,  Liverpool, 
Glasgow  and  lidinburg,  in  the  interest  of 
his  profession,  spending  three  months 
abroad. 

The  Doctor  was  united  in  marriage  with 
]\Iiss  Martha  Stubbs,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
S.  Stubbs,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
England.  TwO'  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  namely :  ]Mattie  E.  and  Roy  H. 
Mrs.  ^\'ebster  holds  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church,  while  the  Di>ctor  is  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  church.  Socially  he 
is  a  Master  Mason,  and  politically  is  a 
strong  Repulilican.  In  March,  1901,  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Atlanta,  and  is  now  filling 
that  office  in  a  most  capable  and  satisfactory 
manner.  He  is  ]>opular  both  as  a  physician 
and  citizen,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  with  whom  he  is  brought  in  contact. 


TOHX  S.VAIS. 

John  Sams,  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
and  stock-raisers  of  Mount  Pulaski  town- 
shi]),  bis  home  being  on  section  21,  township 
18,  range  i,  west,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Momit  Pulaski,  Decemlier  26,  185Q,  and  is 
a  son  of  Xicholas  and  Catharine  (  Kessell ) 
Sams.  He  was  quite  small  when  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  a  farm  and  there  he  was 
reared  to  manhood,  receiving  a  fair  common 
school  education. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  Mr. 
Sams  was  married  in  Belmont,   Illinois,  to 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


651 


Miss  Catharine  Molidore,  who  was  born  in 
Sangamon  county,  this  state.  Politically  he 
is  identified  with  the  Democratic  paity.  He 
has  efficiently  filled  the  office  of  highway 
commissioner,  and  while  serving  in  that  ca- 
l>acity  the  first  two  iron  bridges  were  built 
in  his  township,  while  many  roads  were 
graded  and  improved,  and  some  new  ones 
opened.  Religiously  ^Nlr.  Sams  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church,  having  been  con- 
firmed at  the  age  of  fourteen  \ears  at  Lin- 
coln, Bishop  Spalding  officiating. 


JAMES  ^^^  howser. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  agri- 
culturists of  Orvil  township  is  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  his 
home  being  on  section  2.  He  is  a  native  of 
Logan  county,  born  in  Eminence  township, 
May  16,  1840,  and  is  the  only  child  born 
to  Solomon  and  Xancy  (Hawes)  Howser, 
though  by  a  former  marriage  to  Mary  Bix- 
ler  the  father  had  three  children,  all  now 
deceased.  Both  parents  of  our  subject  were 
nati\es  of  Kentucky.  As  early  as  1830 
Solomon  Howser  came  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Logan  county,  being  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Eminence  township.  There  and 
in  Orvil  township  he  followed  fanning 
throughout  the  ranainder  of  his  life,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  Eminence  township  in 
1874.  The  mother  of  our  subject  passed 
away  in  1841. 

During  his  boyhood  James  W.  Howser 
attended  the  district  schools  of  this  county 
and  aided  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  When 
the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  August 
12,  1862,  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  Beesley  and  Colonel  Latham.     His 


regiment  was  in  the  rear  during  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  but  was  in  no  other  import- 
ant engagements,  though  it  always  faithful- 
ly performed  any  work  assigned  to  it,  and 
was  never  lacking  in  bravery.  The  war 
having  ended.  Mr.  Howser  was  at  length 
discharged  at  Pine  PJluff.  Arkansas,  July 
12,  1865. 

After  he  returned  home  he  sold  his  farm 
in  Eminence  township  and  removed  to  his 
present  place  on  section  2,  Orvil  township, 
where  he  now  has  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  fine  fanning  land  under  a  high  state 
of  ailtivation  and  well  improved.  Here  he 
is  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming, 
and  besides  this  valuable  tract  he  owns 
eighty  acres  of  land  near  Mindon,  Kearney 
county,  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Howser  married  Miss  Frances  Sum- 
mers, who  was  born  in  Ohio,  August  28, 
1840.  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Jefferson  and 
Charlotte  (Carnahan)  Summers.  Her  fa- 
ther, who  was  both  a  farmer  and  a  ph\- 
sician,  removed  from  Ohio  to  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois,  and  later  came  to  Logan 
county,  where  he  and  his  wife  both  died. 
Unto  ;Mr.  and  ^Mrs.  Howser*  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  seven  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely :  Louyern,  wife  of  O.  A.  Lem- 
on, a  resident  of  Utica,  Nebraska;  Leona. 
deceased;  Dora,  wife  of  John  Rogers,  of 
Tazewell  county.  Illinois;  ^Nlary.  deceased; 
Luther,  traveHng  salesman,  residing  in  Pe- 
oria. Illinois;  Alta.  wife  of  T.  T.  McCor- 
mick.  of  Lincoln;  Fred,  who  is  now  living 
in  the  west;  Imegene  and  Edna,  both  at 
home:  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Politically  'Sir.  Howser  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  socially  affiliates 
with  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Lincoln. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  leading  and  prom- 
inent meml^ers  of  the  Bethel  Christian 
church  of  Orvil  township,  of  which  he  is 


652 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


one  of  the  elders,  and  they  take  a  very  ac- 
tive part  in  all  church  work,  and  are  among 
the  most  highly  respected  citizens  uf  their 
commnnitv. 


JESSE  D.  SPARKS. 

One  of  the  eminently  successful  and 
highly  res])ected  farmer  citizens  of  Logan 
county,  mini  lis,  who  owns  a  line  farm  in 
Oran  township,  is  Jesse  1).  Sparks,  whose 
birth  occurred  March  7,  1864.  He  is  a  son 
of  James  and  Martha  (Weaver)  Sjiarks. 

In  1837  the  grandi)arents  of  our  suh- 
ject.  Samuel  and  Ahuy  Sp.irk-.,  left  ilieu- 
home  in  Ohio  and  locateil  in  l.og.in  county, 
Illinois,  where  the  former  died  at  the  age 
of  sixtv-five  years,  and  the  latter  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years,  hoth  of  them  heiiig  laid  to 
rest  in  Lucas  cemetery.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children,  hve  of  whom  still  sur- 
vive, as  follows:  Samuel,  who  lives  in 
Sheridan  t<iwnship;  Jesse,  who  lives  in 
Washington.  Illinois:  Sarah,  who  married 
])r.  Flenung.  lives  in  Oklahoma:  Evaline, 
who  is  the  wife  of  E.  Douglas,  and  lives  in 
Mason  county;  and  Afary.  who  married  G. 
Douglas.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Xash\illc,  Tennessee,  in  December, 
1835.  and  now  resides  on  the  old  home  farm, 
in  West  Lincoln  township.  The  father  of 
our  subject,  James  .Sparks,  ca.me  to  Log^i" 
county  with  his  parents,  when  he  was  but 
eleven  years  old.  and  resided  here  until  his 
death,  in  Fel)ruary,  1901.  at  the  age  of 
se\-entv-four  years  and  ten  months. 

James  Sparks  was  through  life  a  very 
active  and  industrious  man,  gi\ing  his  per- 
sonal attention  to  his  farming  oiierations. 
He  liegan  life  as  a  farmer  and  saved  his 
earnings.  His  hrst  purchase  consisted  of 
one  hundred  and   niuetv-two  acres  of  land 


in  West  Lincoln  township  and  this  property 
he  placed  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
continued  its  im])rovement  until  his  retire- 
ment from  active  life  a  few  years  previous 
to  his  death.  .Mr.  Sparks  was  a  well  known 
and  highlv  respected  man.  Although  he 
was  not  a  memljer.  he  was  a  liberal  sup- 
])orter  iif  the  P.a])tist  church  and  was  a  man 
of  inlluence  in  his  community,  but  would 
never  accejit  political  office.  To  him  and 
wife  were  horn  six  children,  two  of  w^hom 
died  in  early  childhood,  anil  one  beautiful 
daughter,  Mary,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen.. 
Those  >ur\iving  .are:  Emma,  the  wife  of 
A.  J.  llo\\;ir(l,  residing  in  P.roadwell  town- 
ship: Jesse,  our  subject:  ;ind  George,  who 
resiiles  with  his  mother  on  the  home  farm, 
which  he  has  ne\er  left.  He  has  one  .son 
and  two  daughters.  All  of  the  children 
were  afforded  educational  advantages  i.n  the 
district  schools  and  remained  under  the 
shelter  of  die  ])arental  roof  until  they  mar- 
ried. 

Jesse  Sparks  was  reared  on  the  hue  old 
farm  in  West  Lincoln  township,  and  during 
the  winter  mon.ths  he  was  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  school.  l)ut  with  other  farmer  boys, 
he  assisted  in  the  farnung  operations  during 
the  summers.  Lntil  he  was  twenty-six. 
wears  old  he  remained  with  his  father,  re- 
lieving the  latter  of  nuich  of  the  hard  labor, 
and  becoming  a  thoroughly  instructed  agri- 
culturist. 

Mr.  Sparks  was  m.arried  June  i.  j8t;o, 
to  Miss  Sar;ih  L".  l'.ea\'er.  who  was  born  in 
Broadwell  township,  .\,.vember  21,  1868. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Sarah 
.\.  Peaxer,  the  former  of  whom  was  long 
one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Broarlwell 
township.  Conaway  Pence,  Mrs.  Sjiarks" 
grandfather,  was  a  ])ioneer  of  Corwin  town- 
ship, and  for  years  was  surveyor  of  Logan 
county.      Mrs.  Beaver  makes  her  home  w  ith 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


65J 


her  daughter,  Mrs.  Sparks,  the  other  mem- 
bers of  her  family  being:  Commodore, 
who  lives  in  Xeliraska :  Alice,  who  is  the 
wife  of  J-  J.  Duff  and  lives  in  Oran  town- 
ship; ^\'ilson.  who  lives  in  Lincoln:  and 
Elmer,  who  resides  in  Nebraska.  All  of 
these  were  educated  in  the  .^clmols  of  Lin- 
coln. 

In  1891  Mr.  Sparks  removed  to  Oran 
townsliip  where  he  rented  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  belonging  prin- 
cipally to  Mr.  Beaver,  and  there  he  carried 
on  general  farming  for  nine  years,  but  in 
the  spring  of  1900  lie  removed  to  his  present 
place,  it  l)eing  the  old  Beaver  homestead, 
consisting  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
This  is  one  of  tlie  most  desirable  tracts  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Sparks  also  has  an  in- 
terest in  his  fathers  place,  and  in  addition, 
a  farm  near  Lincoln.  He  has  always  taken 
an  intelligent  interest  in  his  agricultural 
work  and  thoroughly  understands  every 
feature  of  it. 

Five  children  have  lieen  l)orn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sparks,  namely:  James  E..  Ruth. 
Commodore  X..  Jessie  K.  and  an  infant 
son.  Like  his  father,  Mr.  Sparks  has  taken 
an  interest  in  public  affairs  in  his  county, 
but  has  never  accepted  office.  He  is  known 
as  one  of  the  progressive,  reliable,  public- 
spirited  and  liberal  members  of  his  cxnn- 
munity.  who  well  represents  the  best  class 
of  the  citizens  of  Logan  countv. 


XEWTOX   S.   DUXX. 

Xewton  S.  Dunn,  wiio  owns  and  operates 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  Sheridan  townshi]), 
has  been  a  resident  of  Logan  county  since 
1857.  He  was  Ixjrn  in  Cumberland  county. 
Kentucky.  July  18.  1837,  a  son  of  James 
and  Xancy   (Jones)   Dunn,  both  natives  of 


that  state.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  1848  the 
familv  first  located  in  Sangamon  count_\% 
where  the  father  followed  farming  until 
1837.  when  tliey  removed  to  Logan  county, 
.settling  near  Elkhart,  where  he  continued 
to  follow  that  occupation  until  his  death  in 
1877.  The  mother  died  in  1874.  They  had 
nine  children,  of  whom  four  still  survive, 
namely :  Roger,  who  is  now  living  retired 
in  Cornland.  this  county:  Alexander,  a  mail 
carrier  of  Piatt  county,  Illinois:  Daniel,  -m 
engineer  of  Harrisilale,  Illinois :  ami  Xesv- 
ton  S..  of  this  sketch.  Some  of  the  children 
died  in  Kentucky  and  others  in  Springfield. 
Illinois,  while  two  sons  died  in  the  anny 
('KU"ing  tlie  Ci\il  war. 

Like  the  other  members  of  this  family. 
Xewtcn  S.  Dunn  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon sch<>)ls.  Feeling  that  his  country  need- 
ed his  services  during  the  tlark  days  of  the 
Rebellion,  he  enlisted  in  August.  1862.  in 
Compau}  F.  Seventy-third  Illinc;!:;  \'olun- 
teer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Jaques.  while 
tiie  company  was  first  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Montgomery  and  later  by  Captain  Al- 
^^ap.  With  his  regiment.  Mr.  Dunn  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Prairieville.  Stone 
River.  Chickamauga,  ^lissionary  Ridge, 
Peach  Tree  Creek.  Atlanta  and  Xashville. 
but  fortunately  was  never  wounded.  .\t  the 
close  of  the  war  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  1863  at  Ouincy.  Illinois.  He 
was  at  that  place  when  the  news  came  of 
the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln. 

On  being  discharged  from  the  service 
Mr.  Dunn  returned  to  Elkhart.  Logan  coun- 
ty, but  lie  was  in  ill  health  for  about  six 
years.  He  married  Mrs.  Matilda  Hot>ker. 
a  native  of  Ohi(\  and  a  daughter  of  Silas 
Morris,  who  came  to  this  county  at  an  early 
day  and  died  here.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  two  children,  twins:  Ollie.  now 
the"  wife  of  William   Baker,  a  nurserxman 


'654 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  ]\Ieiiard  county,  Illinois ;  and  Clarence, 
a  A-eterinary   surgeon   of   Oklalmma. 

After  his  marriage  I\Ir.  Dunn  removed 
to  Nebraska,  but  after  a  short  time  spent  in 
that  state,  he  returned  to  this  count}-  and  in 
1873  settled  on  his.  present  farm  on  section 
7,  Sheridan  township,  where  he  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich  and  arable 
land,  improved  with  a  good  house  and  sub- 
stantial barn.  It  is  one  of  the  most  desira- 
ble ])laces  in  the  locality. 

As  a  Republican  j\Ir.  Dunn  has  taken  a 
somewhat  active  part  in  local  politics,  and 
efficiently  served  as  deputy  sheriff  and  con- 
stable for  a  short  time.  Socially  he  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  regard 
bv  his  fellow-citizens. 


GIDDIXGS   H.    STROXG. 

Since  1867  this  gentleman  has  been  a 
residents  of  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Lincoln.  He  was 
born  in  ^larlborough,  Windham  county, 
^'ernll)nt.  I\Iarch  6,  1820,  and  belongs  to  an 
old  Xew  England  family  of  English  origin, 
which  was  founded  in  this  country  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  His  parents,  David 
and  Al>igail  (Pinney)  Strong,  were  both 
nati\es  of  Connecticut,  but  spent  the  greater 
part  of  their  lives  as  farming  people  in  \'er- 
nmnt,  where  the  father  died  at  the  age  of 
-sixtv-seven  vears,  the  mother  at  the  age  of 


eighty-six.  In  their  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  seventh  in 
order  of  birth  and  is  now  the  only  survivor. 

^Ir.  Strong  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  state  and  there 
grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  On  the 
joth  of  June,  1847,  he  wa^  united  in  mar- 
riage with  INIiss  Sarah  A.  Thomas,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  ^^'inchester, 
Xew  Hampshire.  Twi>  children  lilessed  this 
union.  l)oth  Ijorn  in  the  east,  namely:  Ches- 
tina  A.,  wife  of  \\"\]\  P.  ^^'akenlall,  of  Lin- 
coln, whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  volume;  and  George  F.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years  and  tlu'ee  months. 

During  his  early  life  ]\Ir.  Strong  was 
])rincipally  engaged  in  farming,  but  for 
eight  years  was  interested  in  the  lumber, 
])aint  and  oil  Inisiness.  Selling  his  property 
in  the  east,  he  removed  from  Franklin 
county.  ]\Iassachusetts,  to  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  in  June,  1867,  and  purchased  a 
]iartially  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
East  Lincoln  township,  where  he  made  his 
home  for  twent_\-  years.  Since  1890  he  has 
lived  in  Lincoln,  where  he  purchased  a  lot 
and  erected  a  nice  residence.  He  has  laid 
aside  all  business  cares  and  is  spending  his 
declining  \ears  in  ease  and  cjuiet.  He  sold 
the  first  farm  which  he  purchased  in  East 
Lincoln  township,  and  then  bought  another 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
12,  the  same  township.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the  ^leth.- 
odist  Episcopal  church. 


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